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While vaginas are naturally self-cleansing, let’s face it: many women have had times when they’ve noticed itching, an uncomfortable odor, or other discomfort. Sometimes it’s due to a vaginal or urinary tract infection. Other times it’s related to external factors – such as fluctuating hormone levels, wearing tight underwear or pants, or using harsh soaps.
You should always speak with your gynecologist or other healthcare provider about any concerning symptoms. However, there are OTC products available to assist with daily hygiene and the treatment of symptoms associated with yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and more.
This article was written by
Feminine Hygiene & Menstrual Health
Feminine Hygiene & Menstrual Health
Feminine Hygiene & Menstrual Health
Funding for content provided by Bayer®
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While vaginas are naturally self-cleansing, let’s face it: many women have had times when they’ve noticed itching, an uncomfortable odor, or other discomfort. Sometimes it’s due to a vaginal or urinary tract infection. Other times it’s related to external factors – such as fluctuating hormone levels, wearing tight underwear or pants, or using harsh soaps.
You should always speak with your gynecologist or other healthcare provider about any concerning symptoms. However, there are OTC products available to assist with daily hygiene and the treatment of symptoms associated with yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and more.
Daily Hygiene: Feminine Washes, Anti-Itch & Yeast Infection Treatments, & Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptom Treatments
To maintain vulvar (the external part of the female genitalia) and vaginal health, a woman must ensure pH and bacterial balance. Doing so will help prevent infections and discomfort. While there are several actions you can take to care for your vulva and vagina, such as wearing 100% cotton underwear and using a mild soap for washing underclothes, there are also OTC products available to help.
Feminine Washes
Cleansing the vulva should be a part of your daily hygiene routine. While warm water or unscented and mild soap is all you need to adequately clean the vulva, there are some OTC products available to help with cleansing, moisturizing, or freshening up.
Common OTC feminine wash brands:
- TUCKS®
- Summer’s Eve®
- Vagisil®
Itching or irritation can occur anywhere on our bodies. Yet, when it occurs in an area as sensitive as the vagina or vulva, it can be especially uncomfortable. While most cases of genital itching and irritation aren’t necessarily a major concern, it’s always a good idea to call your healthcare provider as it can be a sign of an infection. There are also OTC products available to help treat certain infections or safely relieve their symptoms.
Anti-Itch & Yeast Infection Treatments
If you are experiencing irritation, burning, or itchiness, along with a thick, often white-colored vaginal discharge, you may have a yeast infection. Nearly three out of every four women will develop a yeast infection at some point in their lives. It occurs when there is an overgrowth of the fungus candida albicans, which can be triggered by certain antibiotics, menstruation, hormonal changes, immune deficiencies, and even wearing wet underwear or bathing suits for too long. Luckily, there are OTC antifungal treatments that can treat and cure the infection.
Common OTC anti-itch & antifungal treatment brands:
- Monistat®, GoodSense®, Vagistat®
Contains the active ingredient Miconazole Nitrate
- Vagisil®
Contains the active ingredient Benzocaine
- Cortizone-10®, Monistat®
Contains active ingredient Hydrocortisone
Urinary Tract Infection Symptom Treatments
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, mainly because of a woman’s anatomy. Harmful bacteria from the anus can enter the urethra, which leads to the bladder. Symptoms include painful burning upon urination, an urge to urinate (but not much comes out), back or pelvic pain, and bloody or cloudy urine, sometimes with a strong smell.
You can reduce your risk of a UTI by staying hydrated, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills, wiping from front to back, and emptying your bladder after intercourse. Once you have a UTI, prescribed antibiotics are typically necessary, but some OTC products can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort that accompanies UTIs.
Common OTC UTI symptom relief brands:
- Cystex®
Contains the active ingredient Methenamine
Safe use tips for feminine hygiene products:
Always read the Drug Facts label carefully. The label tells you everything you need to know about the product, including the ingredients, what you are supposed to use it for, how much you should use, and when you should not use the product. Use feminine washes externally. Wash from front to back when using wipes.
Anti-itch products are for external use only. Do not apply them over large areas of the body. Before using anti-itch products to treat children under 12 years of age, consult a doctor. Before using an OTC yeast infection treatment, talk to your doctor if it is the first time you have had symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection. Also consult your doctor if you have infections often, or before using to treat children under 12 years of age.
OTC urinary tract infection products will treat urinary symptoms but will not cure a urinary tract infection. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat an infection. Those under 18 years of age should only use OTC urinary tract infection products as directed by a doctor. Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
From the onset of menstruation to menopause, a woman’s body experiences a monthly menstrual cycle. During this monthly cycle, which typically lasts 28 days, the lining of a woman’s uterus builds up to prepare for a potential pregnancy. If you do not get pregnant, your hormone levels begin to fall, and very low levels of estrogen and progesterone tell your body to begin menstruating. During menstruation, or your “period,” the blood and tissue lining the uterus (womb) breaks down and leaves the body. For many women, menstrual bleeding can last from four to eight days. There are several OTC products available to make that time of the month less uncomfortable.
Menstrual Personal Care
Blood is a favorable environment for bacteria to grow, which is why it is recommended to rinse the genital area at least twice a day while on your period. There are also sanitary products available that absorb or collect the blood and tissue that comes out of your vagina during your period.
Tampons
No one wants their monthly flow to leak. One way to prevent that is by using a tampon, typically a cotton, organic cotton, or rayon-based plug that a woman inserts into her vagina during her period. Tampons, which come in different absorbency levels, must be changed every four to eight hours.
Common tampon brands:
- Playtex®
- Sustain Natural®
- Tampax®
Menstrual Pad
A menstrual pad is a rectangle of absorbent material that sticks to your underwear to collect menstrual blood. Just like tampons, pads come in different absorbency levels. They should be changed when they are soaked with blood, or every three to four hours.
Common menstrual pad brands:
- Always®
- Poise®
- Sustain Natural®
Menstrual Cups
Unlike tampons or menstrual pads, a menstrual cup collects your flow instead of absorbing it. Menstrual cups are an eco-friendly alternative as they are reusable. It is a bell-shaped rubber, silicone, or soft plastic device you insert into your vagina to collect the blood. Cups come in different sizes and can be used for six to 12 hours, depending on the brand.
Common menstrual cup brands:
- Sustain Natural®
- Tampax®
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that many women experience in the lead up or during their period. In fact, more than 90 percent of women report PMS – such as bloating, cramps, headaches, and mood swings. There are OTC products available to relieve some of these symptoms.
Menstrual Cramps
Unfortunately, most women experience painful menstrual cramps in their lower abdomen or back, either before or during menstruation. The cramps are triggered by prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance in the uterine lining. Many OTC medicines can relieve menstrual cramps.
Common OTC menstrual cramp relief brands:
- Midol®
Contains the active ingredients Acetaminophen, Caffeine, and Pyrilamine Maleate
- Pamprin®, Premsyn PMS®
Contains the active ingredients Acetaminophen, Pamabrom, and Pyrilamine Maleate
Safe use tips for feminine hygiene products:
Always read the Drug Facts label carefully. The label tells you everything you need to know about the product, including the ingredients, what you are supposed to use it for, how much you should use, and when you should not use the product. Tampons and menstrual cups are associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but serious disease that may cause death. Never wear a tampon for more than eight hours. Remove the tampon or menstrual cup immediately and call for medical help if you get a sudden fever, or feel faint, have nausea, diarrhea, fever, and a rash that looks like sunburn – all signs of toxic shock.
Never use a tampon or menstrual cup when you don’t have your period. Make sure you wash your hands before and after each use and clean menstrual cups thoroughly after use. Some OTCs used to relieve menstrual cramps contain caffeine. Avoid getting extra caffeine from other sources, such as coffee or soda, when taking these medicines. When taking menstrual cramp relief OTCs that contain an antihistamine, avoid alcoholic beverages and use caution when driving as these medicines can make you drowsy. Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
Homeopathic Products
Homeopathic feminine health products are derived from plants, minerals, and animal substances that are known for their pharmacological or biological actions. For safety, read all instructions and warnings on the product label before taking any homeopathic product and follow all dosing instructions.
OTC homeopathic feminine health products include:
- Caulophyllum thalictroides
- Cimicifuga racemose
- Folliculinum
- Pulsatilla
- Sabina
- Sepia officinalis
