Images

Is there a natural way to treat a vaginal infection?

Post author By om4u
Post date September 20, 2017

By Amery Baker, PA-C

The best answer to this question is: not really.

Natural remedies for treatment of vaginal infection have theoretic science behind them and limited evidence supporting use. When compared to available medications (including over the counter treatments) for vaginal infections, however, they do not help enough for doctor recommendation. Some remedies are even harmful. Here are the most notable natural/ alternative therapies and little about their use:

Vaginal yogurt with honey. Yogurt contains live bacteria and is thought to help restore good bacteria and decrease yeast overgrowth. While the bacteria in yogurt (lactobacilli) is similar to vaginal bacteria, it is not the same. Honey is a natural antibiotic/ antifungal. Small studies show that when yogurt with honey is inserted vaginally it can help a yeast infection in some patients, but is far inferior to antifungal treatments available over the counter. Also, there is a concern that using yogurt vaginally can promote resistant strains of vaginal bacteria.

Probiotics: Probiotics are thought to restore healthy balance of vaginal bacteria. Oral probiotics are generally thought to be safe and are reasonable to try. Using probiotics in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis is showing promise in overseas studies, but they are still inconclusive. Probiotics are not shown to be helpful for a yeast infection.

Garlic. Garlic has natural antifungal properties. Studies show when taken orally, it has no effect on a vaginal infection. There are no studies on the use of garlic vaginally.

Boric Acid: While not natural, this is probably the most used alternative treatment for vaginal infections. The boric acid is thought to restore the natural pH of the vagina, thus promoting the growth of good bacteria. It can be used to treat a vaginal infection if used vaginally. It is better for treatment of yeast than bacterial vaginosis and doesn’t work as well as antibiotics or antifungals. It is a poison if ingested orally and very dangerous if not handled correctly. It is recommended to discuss this option with your doctor before using.

pH douches: Vaginal douching destroys the normal vaginal bacteria. It is not a treatment for a vaginal infection, and is often harmful. It can cause a vaginal infection or worsen an already existing infection.

With little effective natural options, what can you do?

First, practice good vaginal hygiene. Anything that can cause irritation, decrease beneficial bacteria or change the pH in the vagina can make an infection worse. Here are a few things to do to help your body heal.

Use water only to clean the genitals. Using too much soap, even if it is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, or for sensitive skin clears the good bacteria and causes irritation on the vaginal mucosa. Bubble baths are also not advised.
Keep the vaginal area dry. Change out of work out clothing or swim suits as soon as possible. Don’t use minipads or, if you do, change them often.

Second, you can determine what kind of vaginal infection you most likely have. There are common signs that help differentiate between the two most common causes of vaginal infections:

Yeast infections:

Main symptom is vaginal itching and irritation
Discharge is either white and thick or there can be an increase in vaginal dryness (especially with intercourse).
Yeast infections are more common after the use of an antibiotic

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV):

Main symptom is vaginal odor. The smell is almost always described as “fishy”. This odor is worse after intercourse.
Discharge is almost always increased and yellow, thin.
This infection can be associated with mild pelvic cramping.

If you think you have a yeast infection, over the counter treatments are very effective. These include Monistat and Gynelotrimin. If you think you have bacterial vaginosis (BV), there are no over the counter options and a prescription antibiotic is needed. If neither or both seem likely, an exam by your OBGYN is the most beneficial.

Signs that something more severe could be going on:

Fever
Irregular vaginal bleeding
Severe vaginal or pelvic pain
Recent intercourse with a new partner

Do I have to have an exam?

Most OBGYN doctors encourage an appointment for a vaginal infection due to the many potential causes of vaginitis. While most vaginal infections are related to overgrowth of normal organisms in the vagina, some can be very serious and lead to significant problems. These include chlamydia, herpes, trichomoniasis and other sexually transmitted infections. Getting the right diagnosis decreases healing time and ensures that nothing more serious is the cause. Also, if you are or could be pregnant, you should always check with your doctor before diagnosing or treating a vaginal infection.

If you would like to make an appointment with Spokane OBGYN, please complete our online form or call us.

Tags best ob spokane, best obgyn spokane, c-section, discharge help, female itching solutions, natural remedies, natural remedies female itching, spokane ob, spokane obgyn, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching

Latest News

Once a C-section, Always a C-section?

Post author By om4u
Post date June 1, 2017

By Mark Schemmel, M.D.

Patients often ask if having had a cesarean once means that they will always require a cesarean. The fact is that most women who have had a single prior cesarean are candidates for what we call TOLAC, or a trial of labor after cesarean. Many of these women have a high likelihood, 60-70% or better, of succeeding in achieving a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Individual likelihood of success is variable depending on a number of factors. This can be determined through consultation with your obstetrician as part of an overall discussion of the pros and cons of TOLAC.

When discussing chances of vaginal deliver after cesarean, your doctor will consider the reasons for having had a prior cesarean as well as medical conditions and disorders, gestational diabetes, and current pregnancy complications. There is always a risk associated in attempting a vaginal delivery after cesarean. Risks to the mother include having another unsuccessful labor leading to repeat cesarean. Risk to the baby (and mother) include uterine rupture.

Your obstetrician will assist you in consider all of this information and deciding whether or not TOLAC is the best choice for you.

Tags best ob spokane, best obgyn spokane, c-section, c-section birth plans, csectin options, csection, csection birth, csection spokane, nutrition pregnancy, pregnancy health, spokane ob, spokane obgyn, spokane pregnancy doctor

Latest News

Dietary Supplements During Pregnancy

Post author By om4u
Post date April 12, 2017

By Dr. Jason Reuter

It is important to maintain healthy nutrition during pregnancy. Taking the time to meal plan and shop for healthy food is essential. In addition to obtaining nutrition from food, some women turn to nutritional supplements to maintain good health during pregnancy. Nutritional supplements are intended to aid in acquiring nutrients lacking from food consumption, or that are in extra demand due to the pregnancy. However, controversy and confusion exist when it comes to the safety, type, and quantity of nutritional supplements.

In general, there are two categories of nutritional supplements: (1) elemental supplements, or vitamins; and (2) herbal or plant supplements. Each of these categories is addressed in turn below.

Elemental Supplements found in Prenatal Vitamins

Elemental supplements, also referred to as vitamins, play an important role in the health of the mother and development of the fetus. Elemental supplements have been well studied for decades and have undergone rigid and comprehensive safety studies to determine the quantity that is safe for a healthy pregnancy. As a general guideline, the safest practice is for pregnant women to take only prenatal vitamins. Vitamins such as folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin D, potassium and many of the “B” vitamins (thiamine, niacin and riboflavin) are found in prenatal vitamins.

Herbal or Plant Supplement Safety

Herbal or plant supplements may be regarded as “safe” by the public, but there is often no scientific data to support this. While elemental supplements are purified and the dosing range is established, the same is not true for herbal or plant supplements. Herbal or plant supplements are sold in many different preparations by many different companies. As a result, they are sold without prior testing and their makers have no obligation to report adverse events. The lack of oversight of the herbal supplement market allows companies to make inaccurate and/or false claims of the reported benefits of the supplements without recourse.

Another concern for pregnant woman is many manufacturers of herbal supplements use fillers and unlisted ingredients, such as metals, to decrease their cost of production.

The lack of prior testing of herbal supplements is concerning for pregnant women, because the risks are simply unknown. A lack of proof of harm should not lead a pregnant woman to assume herbal supplements are safe. Due to the unknown safety of herbal or plant supplements, it is standard practice to recommend that women avoid taking herbal supplements during pregnancy.

Discuss all nutritional supplements with your medical provider

Please note this posting is not meant to be a comprehensive discussion, but rather, a starting point for further discussion with your medical provider. In addition to the nutritional supplements discussed above, two other items to be discussed with your medical provider include caffeine and omega 3 supplements. These items are beyond the scope of this article, but a pregnancy woman should be aware these may pose a concern during her pregnancy, should she choose to use them.

Tags best ob spokane, best obgyn spokane, herbal supplements pregnant, nutrition pregnancy, plant supplements during pregnancy, pregnancy health, pregnancy supplements, prenatal, prenatal vitamins, spokane ob, spokane obgyn, spokane pregnancy doctor, supplements

Latest News

Non Invasive Prenatal Screening or Cell free DNA Testing

Post author By om4u
Post date January 12, 2017

Non Invasive Prenatal Screening ( N.I.P.S.) or Cell free DNA Testing

By Dr. Stovall

Introduction: Chromosomal testing with gender identification in the first trimester

New to prenatal screening is the N.I.P.S. testing. It is a chromosomal test for Down’s syndrome and other genetic disorders. It is getting a lot of attention not only for increased sensitivity to check for Down’s syndrome, but its ability to find out the baby’s gender in the first trimester. This blog article will go over that testing and when it is appropriate to order.

History of testing for genetic disorders

Amniocentesis was the first testing for genetic conditions such as Down’s syndrome. This was not a popular test as it is invasive and carries a risk of harm to the baby. Now we have many non-invasive options for screening that can give information about the genetics of the baby without the potential harm of an amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is the only chromosomal study to give absolute assurance that the baby does not have a genetic disorder, but the new screening tests are getting better.

Current screening options for genetic disorders

Current tests used to screen for genetic conditions are serum (or blood) tests on the mother with or without an ultrasound. Here are a few of the most popular:

Quad screening

Blood draw from the mother at about 15-20 weeks of pregnancy. Four proteins, including the alpha fetoprotein that come from the placenta are evaluated by calculating the amount in the mother’s blood.

1st Trimester screen

An ultrasound down in the first trimester to look at the back of the baby’s neck and to measure the nuchal translucency. This is combined with a blood test at the time of the ultrasound measuring different proteins and hormones from the placenta.

Integrated screening

Combines the Quad screen and the first trimester screen.

These tests, except amniocentesis, are considered screening tests. They separate out the high risk pregnancies from the low risk pregnancies. If any of these tests showed that the baby was at increased risk for Down’s syndrome or other genetic disorders, then we would offer to do a targeted ultrasound and amniocentesis to obtain fluid from the sac around the baby to do chromosome studies.

NIPS: the newest genetic screening test

The newest genetic screening is the N.I.P’s or cell free DNA testing. DNA from the placenta that is in the mother’s blood is tested for chromosomal problems. (such as Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18, and sex chromosome problems). Because this is a chromosomal test, it can give results about the gender of the baby. It does not, however, test for all possible genetic disorders. For example, if the mother or the father has an inherited condition like cystic fibrosis, that is tested with a separate genetic test. The advantage to this test is that it is a chromosomal test without the risk of an amniocentesis.

N.I.P’s testing is done when the integrated screening or other genetic testing shows an increased risk for Down’s syndrome. If the NIPS test is negative, then we can be 99% sure the baby does not have Down’s syndrome, but it does not mean that the baby does not have another genetic disorder or syndrome. In this way the NIPS testing decreases the amount of invasive testing (or amniocentesis) done for positive screening.

Problems with the NIPS testing

NIPS sounds great with its ability to find out the gender of the baby in the first trimester and the high sensitivity for Down’s syndrome, but it comes with a down side as well. The first is the cost. It is more expensive than the other screening tests and it is not covered by all insurance carriers without a positive integrated screen or advanced maternal age (age over 35.) The NIPS only screens for about 60% of possible genetic disorders. Also, NIPS testing does not test for birth defects such as spina bifida or anacephaly, both of which are tested with current screening recommendations.

Conclusion

In the near future, as the cost to do DNA testing goes down, we will probably switch to NIPS testing with the first trimester screen as a standard to test for genetic disorders and birth defects. For now, we are recommending using NIPS in high risk patients or patients with a positive integrated screen.

Tags cell free DNA Testing, dna testing spokane, NIPS, NIPS screening spokane, non invasive prenatal screening, prenatal screening, spokane ob, spokane obgyn

Latest News

Why Do I Feel This Way? Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Post author By om4u
Post date September 3, 2016

A photo of thoughtful woman sitting on window sill. Young female is holding digital tablet while looking away. She is wearing casuals in brightly lit room.

By Shelley L. Northern, ARNP

You survived 9 long months of pregnancy, hours of labor and the birth, and now you are home and settling into your new life with your newborn baby. Although this is typically a very special time in your life, it can also be emotionally challenging. Approximately 70% of all new moms will experience symptoms of the baby blues in the first two weeks postpartum and 1 out of every 7 women will experience postpartum depression.

Baby blues is very common. The symptoms are generally mild and typically come and go. A woman with baby blues may feel tearful, insecure, vulnerable and moody. Baby blues will resolve after a few weeks as your hormones level out and you begin to adjust to your new life with your baby. Although it is no fun to feel this way, it is important to keep in mind that you have just been through a profound life experience both physically and emotionally. If you are experiencing baby blues it is helpful to rest as much as you can, stay hydrated and nourished, and spend some time going for short walks outside with your partner or a friend.

Postpartum depression is different than the baby blues. The symptoms of postpartum depression may start any point during the first year after the baby’s birth and last for several months if left untreated. Women who have postpartum depression may feel sad, disconnected from their family and their baby, have difficulty concentrating, have a disrupted sleep routine and a change in their appetite as well. In more severe cases, a woman may have thoughts of hurting herself or her baby.

Postpartum depression is a serious condition and requires medical help. If you think that you could be struggling with postpartum depression, please make an appointment to talk with your care provider so that they can help you to start to feel better. Spokane OB GYN is here to listen and to help you get the care that you need to feel better soon. Just call either the down town clinic at 838-4211 or 928-2866 at our Valley location. We want to help.

Tags ARNP, baby blues, northern spokane, postpartum, potpartum depression, shelley, Shelley L. Northern, shelley northern, spokane obgyn

Latest News

Welcome Eric M. Tyler, MD!

Post author By om4u
Post date July 26, 2016

Dr. Tyler is from a small town in northern Arizona. He graduated from Arizona State University. He then went on to complete both his medical school and residency at the University of Iowa. He is making his home in Spokane with his wife and 5 year old daughter, with one more Tyler girl on the way soon. He is a member of the Army National Guard. He enjoys spending time with his family, as well as participating in various sports and recreational activities.

Dr. Tyler has a broad range of interests including minimally invasive surgery, high risk obstetrics, and office procedures. He is very invested in medical student and resident education. He is looking forward to laying down roots in the Spokane community and having the opportunity to care for the wonderful families that are a part of it.

Spokane OBGYN is excited to welcome Eric to our team!

Tags dr tyler, eric tyler spokane, erictylermd, male ob, male obgyn, obgyn spokane, spokane obgyn

DOWNTOWN SPOKANE

SPOKANE VALLEY

LATEST NEWS

Mark Schemmel, M.D. interviewed by local news companies about COVID vaccination in Pregnancy

A letter to our Patients