How Vaginal Infections Impact Women's Everyday Life : Women's Lived Experiences of Bacterial Vaginosis and Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

摘要

Reoccurring symptoms and persistent problems that continue post treatment can becharacteristic of the vaginal infections Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and recurrent vulvovaginalcandidiasis (RVVC). The purpose of this study was to describe women’s lifeexperiences in managing the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis and Candida. Sixteenwomen were recruited and participated in an interview study when they contacted aSwedish gynecology clinic with vaginal complaints that ranged from and includedabnormal discharge, irritation itching along with serious malodor. An interpretivephenomenological approach was used with an individual interview to get a more intimateunderstanding of the women experiencing these problems. The finding of thisstudy shows that managing the recurrent symptoms of the infections remains to be achallenge for women as it has a clearly negative impact on the quality of their lives.Four themes developed: frustration and mood disorders, intimacy changes in the relationship,exposure, hope and relief. The women had high hopes of eliminating thesymptoms within the six-month study period. The treatment program, with itswell-developed guidelines and continuity of care within the context of the studygreatly improved the quality of life of these women. Women had feelings of frustrationand anxiety when nothing could cure their problem while they had also a greathope to get rid of the symptoms with a long striking treatment. Well-developedguidelines and continuity of care can help these women to have an improved qualityof life.