THE EFFECT OF VAGINAL INFECTIONS ON WOMEN’S DAILY LIVES AND EVIDENCE-BASED ALTERNATIVE THERAPY APPROACHES

Abstract

With the deterioration of the defence mechanisms constituting the structure of the reproductive system by microorganisms, reproductive system infections occur. Seen rather frequently in adult women, the reproductive system infections are among the most frequently encountered complaints in outpatient applications. One of these infections, vaginitis is the infection or inflammation of vagina.Vaginitis is characterised by bad smell, pain, irritation, inflammation, itchiness and vaginal discharge. Left untreated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease. This circumstance may conduce to complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, low-birth-weight baby and chorioamnionitis. All these complaints affect women’s reproductive health and sexual health, quality of life, and even their psychology adversely. Daily lives of women diagnosed with vaginitis are also extremely negatively affected. In the studies conducted, women stated that they felt depressive and upset with accompanying negative body image, low self-respect, disappointment and desperation due to the symptoms of vaginitis. The effect of evidence-based, current alternative therapies and aftercare against these infections, which are exceptionally simple and which a woman encounters at least once in her life cycle, in recent years is at an undeniable level. Viewing the literature, the genital hygiene practices, the use of probiotics/yoghurt, propolis, and herbal treatments and microbiota studies are highlighted in the treatment of vaginitis. The primary roles of the nurse in the management of vaginal infections are changing the risky health behaviours, prevention of the emergence and repetition of the vaginal infections, and, following the current literature, providing education and consultancy.

Keywords

• Vaginal Infections
• evidence-based application
• alternative therapy

VAJİNAL ENFEKSİYONLARIN KADINLARIN GÜNLÜK YAŞAMINA ETKİSİ VE ALTERNATİF TEDAVİ YAKLAŞIMLARI

Abstract

Üreme sisteminin yapısını oluşturan savunma mekanizmalarının mikroorganizmalar tarafından bozulması ile üreme sistemi enfeksiyonları oluşur. Yetişkin kadınlarda oldukça sık görülen üreme sistemi enfeksiyonları kadınların poliklinik başvuruları arasında en sık karşılaşılan şikayetler arasında yer almaktadır. Bu enfeksiyonlardan biri olan vajinitler; vajinanın enfeksiyonu veya inflamasoyunudur. Vajinitler; vajinal akıntı, kaşıntı, yanma, irritasyon, ağrı ve kötü koku ile karakterizedir. Tedavi edilmedikleri zaman pelvik inflamatuar hastalığa neden olabilir. Bu durum ise infertilite, ektopik gebelik, preterm doğum ve düşük doğum ağırlıklı bebek, koryoamnionit gibi komplikasyonlara neden olabilir. Tüm bu şikayetler kadınların üreme sağlığı ve cinsel sağlığını, yaşam kalitesini hatta psikolojisini olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Vajinit tanısı alan kadınların günlük yaşamı da son derece kötü etkilenmektedir. Yapılan çalışmalarda kadınlar vajinit semptomlarında dolayı negatif bir beden imgesi, düşük benlik saygısı ve hayal kırıklığı ile umutsuzluk hisleri ile beraber üzgün ve depresif hissettiklerini ifade etmişlerdir. Son derece basit ve kadının hayat döngüsü boyunca en az bir kez karşılaştığı bu enfeksiyonlara kanıt temelli güncel alternatif ve tamamlayıcı tedavilerin etkisi de son yıllarda yadsınamaz düzeydedir. Literatüre bakıldığında vajinit tedavisinde genital hijyen uygulamaları, probiyotik/yoğut, propolis kullanımı ile bitkisel tedaviler ve mikrobiyota çalışmaları ön plana çıkmaktadır. Vajinal enfeksiyonların yönetiminde hemşirenin birincil rolü, riskli sağlık davranışlarını değiştirmek, vajinal enfeksiyonların ortaya çıkmasını ve tekrarlamasını önlemek güncel literatürü takip ederek eğitim ve danışmanlık vermektir.

Keywords

• vajinal enfeksiyon
• kanıta dayalı uygulama
• alternatif tedavi

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