Gynecological disorders include ones in the internal and external reproductive organs of a female. The vulva refers to the external genital organs of the female and includes the labia majora and minor, clitoris, and entrance to the vagina. Several skin disorders may afflict this area and may be brought upon by internal or external factors. They affect women from pre-puberty to post-menopausal age.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts on the hands, feet and genitals. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and cause cervical cancer. An HPV vaccine may reduce a woman's risk of two cancerous HPV strains and two HPV strains that cause warts. There are several strains of HPV virus. For instance, types 6,11, 33 and 35 cause warts. Types 16 and 18 do not, but may lead to cervical cancer. A Pap smear can detect them. HPV warts during pregnancy may be larger and bleed, but are rarely passed on to offspring.
Cancer can take 10 years to develop after infection with certain strains of HPV. For precancerous HPV surgeries loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), which involves the removal of a tissue using a wire loop, may suffice. Treatments include laser therapy or cryotherapy. Once cancer is in an advanced stage, more invasive cervical surgery or even removal of the uterus may be necessary. If the cancer is around another genital area or anus, invasive surgery is performed there. Trichloracetic acid and 5-fluorouracil cream can be used for most strains of virus.
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Genital herpes, or the herpes simplex virus (HSV), enters the body through sexual or other contact. The disease does not go away. The virus stays in nerve cells and resurfaces to the skin every so often in most people and causes outbreaks of blisters. One may not have symptoms for two to 12 days. The woman may first feel like she has the flu. She then develops blisters around the vaginal or anus area, or other area where the virus entered the body. Symptoms include itching, burning, numbness or pain. The virus can be passed to a child during labor. Because of their immature immune systems, babies can develop severe malfunctions as a result of HSV, and Caesarian sections are performed if the physician knows the mother has HSV.
Treatment of HSV includes curettage, or the removal of the growth lesions in the vagina, and keratolytic agents. Sexual contact should be avoided until the region is healed. Drugs used include acyclovir, famlycovir, and valacyclovir.
Candidiasis
Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is very common. Yeast, or Candida, thrive in moist areas such as the mouth, armpits and vagina. A vaginal yeast infection is usually caused by Candida albicans and can be acquired through contact with the yeast or can be a side effect of using certain antibiotics. Symptoms include inflammation of the vagina, or vaginitis. Yeast is normally present in a woman's vagina. When a higher amount of yeast is introduced from the external environment, or because antibacterial or immunosuppressant drugs cause an increase in the amount of vulvar yeast, candidiasis may result. Symptoms include itching, pain during urination or intercourse, and vaginal discharge. If it gets to your blood, you may get sick with or without a fever, and if it gets to your brain, you may have a change in mental function.
Candidiasis can be treated at home with over-the-counter drugs such as: Miconazole (Monistat-Derm, Monistat Vaginal), Tioconazole (Vagistat Vaginal); Butoconazole (Femstat); and Clotrimazole (Femizole-7, Gyne-Lotrimin). If the condition lasts over a week, consult a doctor. Doctors often put patients on azole medications. They are antifungal drugs that block the manufacture of ergosterol in the yeast cell wall. They also prescribe polyene antifungals such as nystatin and amphotericin B. Amphotericin B is reserved for more serious systemic fungal infections.
