HEALTH AND MEDICAL PRODUCTS:FEMININE HYGIENETR EATMENTS (1).

FEMININE HYGIENETR EATMENTS (1)

The term “vulva” (or “pudendum”) refers to the external genitalia of the human female. The vulva includes the mons pubis, labia, clitoris, and structures associated with the vestibule. Located anterior to the vaginal and urethral openings, the mons pubis is a rounded elevation of adipose tissue covered by skin and coarse pubic hair that overlies and protects the underlying pubic symphysis. Extending inferiorly and posteriorly from the mons pubis are two sets of elongated labia (“lips”), the labia minora (thin hair-free skin folds that contain oil glands) and the enclosing outer labia majora (hair-covered fatty skin folds that contain oil and apocrine sweat glands). The clitoris is a small, cylindrical mass of erectile tissue and nerves located at the anterior junction of the labia minora. A layer of skin called the prepuce is formed at the point where the labia minora anteriorly unites and covers the body of the clitoris. A central recessed space bounded by the labia minora is called the vestibule. The vestibule contains the external opening of the urethra (exit site of urine) and the vagina (birth canal; the female organ of copulation). Glands located within the vestibule include the lesser vestibular glands, the greater vestibular glands (also called Bartholin’s glands), and the paraurethral glands (also called Skene’s glands). These glands release mucus into the ves- tibule, helping to maintain a moist, lubricated vestibular environment. The vestibule is also moistened by secretions originating from the cervical mucus glands located in the inferior region of the uterus. These secretions are metabolized to acidic products by resident bacteria within the vagina. These acidic products are subsequently released through the vagina, and this low-pH environment serves as a natural defense against pathogenic infection.

Pruritus vulvae is a condition characterized by persistent itching of the vagina and frequently the surrounding vulva. Many of the causes of vulvar and vaginal itching are related to irritation of the skin and may elicit symptoms such as genital area pain and burning in addition to itching. Common causes include exposure to chemical irritants (e.g., detergents, fabric softeners, chemical sprays) or medications, vaginal infection in con- junction with antibiotic use, vaginal yeast infection (monilial vaginitis), vaginal discharge caused by infections from Trichomonas vaginitis or bac- terial vaginosis, diabetes mellitus, vulvovaginitis before puberty, meno- pause (decreasing estrogen levels), pinworms, lichen sclerosis, or certain vulvar skin conditions. Factors that cause vulvar and/or vaginal itching frequently are attributable to a pH change in the normal acidic vaginal environment. While particular over-the-counter steroid creams or ointments (corticosteroids) may be effective in treating symptoms relating to tissue inflammation, other anti-itch preparations are available to treat other symptoms related to vulvar and/or vaginal itching. Topically applied preparations including creams and ointments often contain analgesics/ local anesthetics (e.g., benzocaine [ethyl 4-aminobenzoate]), antiseptics (e.g., resorcinol [formaldehyde-substituted carbomonocycle resin]), skin- soothing and -moisturizing herbal preparations (e.g., Aloe barbadensis) and vitamins (e.g., cholecalciferol, retinypalmitate, tocopheryl acetate), or antihistamines that relieve minor irritation, itching, and soreness.

Other over-the-counter preparations that relieve minor vulvar and vaginal irritation, itching, and soreness include douches. A vaginal douche is the process of rinsing or cleansing the vagina by forcing water or an- other solution into the vaginal cavity to flush away vaginal discharge or other contents. Containing ingredients such as water, pH-regulating chemicals (e.g., vinegar [acetic acid], citric acid, or baking soda [sodium bicarbonate]), cleansing antimicrobial agents (e.g., povidone-iodine [polyvinyl pyrrolidone complexed with iodine], octoxynol-9), and various fragrances, these preparations are used after menstruation or sexual intercourse or to clear away vaginal secretions and reduce vaginal odors.