From the 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, and 2Section of Geriatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; and 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
Menopause. 2014 Mar;21(3):281-5. doi: 10.1097/GME.0b013e31829a3216.
The objective of this descriptive study was to quantify the personal hygiene habits/practices of, as well as the over-the-counter (OTC) products used by, postmenopausal women. Specifically, we were interested in any product that would contact the vulva or vagina.
We performed a cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women seeking routine gynecologic care. We developed a questionnaire on their personal hygiene habits/practices and the OTC products that they use that would contact the vulva or vagina. We recruited postmenopausal women seeking gynecologic care from two separate gynecology practices. Descriptive statistics were performed as appropriate to characterize the frequency of reported treatments and practices.
The questionnaire on OTC treatments and perineal hygiene was completed by 114 postmenopausal women. Fifty-eight women (50.9%) reported using at least one OTC vulvovaginal treatment in the last 3 months, including barrier treatments, topical anesthetics, powders, and antifungals. Women often used more than one OTC product. Thirty-seven women (32.5%) reported the use of two or more OTC products. Powders were used by 34 women (29.8%). Talcum powder was the most commonly used powder (26 of 34; 76.5%). Nine postmenopausal women (7.9%) reported douching in the last 3 months.
We found that more than half of postmenopausal women seeking gynecologic care have used an OTC product for vulvovaginal symptoms in the last 3 months and that one third of women use two or more products. Because the use of OTC products is very common, our study highlights the need for a detailed history inquiry about OTC product use and perineal hygiene practices.
本描述性研究的目的是量化绝经后妇女的个人卫生习惯/实践，以及她们使用的非处方（OTC）产品。具体来说，我们对任何会接触外阴或阴道的产品感兴趣。
我们对寻求常规妇科保健的绝经后妇女进行了横断面研究。我们制定了一份关于个人卫生习惯/实践以及她们使用的会接触外阴或阴道的 OTC 产品的问卷。我们从两家不同的妇科诊所招募了寻求妇科保健的绝经后妇女。适当进行描述性统计以描述报告的治疗和实践的频率。
114 名绝经后妇女完成了关于 OTC 治疗和会阴卫生的问卷。在过去 3 个月内，58 名妇女（50.9%）报告使用了至少一种 OTC 外阴阴道治疗方法，包括屏障治疗、局部麻醉剂、粉剂和抗真菌药。女性经常使用不止一种 OTC 产品。37 名妇女（32.5%）报告使用了两种或更多种 OTC 产品。34 名妇女（29.8%）报告使用了粉剂。最常用的粉剂是爽身粉（26/34；76.5%）。9 名绝经后妇女（7.9%）报告在过去 3 个月内冲洗过阴道。
我们发现，在过去 3 个月内，寻求妇科保健的绝经后妇女中超过一半使用过 OTC 产品治疗外阴阴道症状，三分之一的妇女使用两种或更多种产品。由于 OTC 产品的使用非常普遍，我们的研究强调了详细询问 OTC 产品使用和会阴卫生实践的必要性。
