Introduction
About 75% of all women suffer from vaginal mycosis at least once in their lives. About 10% of symptomatic women even have a chronic recurrent course, in which a vaginal mycosis can occur up to 4 times a year. Tormenting itching, pain and an unpleasant odor are the result of the annoying fungus.
Understandably, the interest in drugs and treatment options for vaginal mycosis is therefore very high. Itching in the vagina The vaginal fungus, which is also called candida vulvovaginitis in the technical terminology, can be treated with various drugs. A distinction is made between locally effective and systemically effective drugs.
There are also different groups of active ingredients that can be used depending on the severity of the symptoms. In the following article, important questions about the topic “Medications against vaginal mycosis” will be answered. The most important drugs are presented and explained in more detail with regard to interesting aspects.
Which groups of active ingredients are there?
The vaginal mycosis is one of the so-called mycoses or fungal infections. Drugs that are directed against fungal infections are called antimycotics. Within the antimycotics there are different groups of active ingredients, which partly differ in their effect and chemical structure.
An important group are the so-called imidazole derivatives. These are so-called broad-spectrum antimycotics, which are intended for local application, e.g. in the form of a cream. The term “broad spectrum” means that the drug is effective against many different types of fungi.
In vaginal mycosis, the active ingredients Clotrimazole (Canesten®) and Miconazole are used from this group of active ingredients. In the case of vaginal mycosis, these drugs are used as cream or vaginal suppositories. Polyenes are another important group of active ingredients.
One member of this group, which is used for vaginal mycosis, is nystatin. The last important group of active ingredients are the triazole derivatives. From this group, the active ingredients itraconazole and fluconazole are used to combat vaginal mycosis.
However, this group of active ingredients is only suitable for systemic therapy. This means that the drugs are taken in the form of tablets and not applied locally, for example in the form of creams or suppositories. Various creams are available for the treatment of vaginal mycosis.
These contain antimycotic active ingredients such as clotrimazole, econazole or nifuratel. The duration of application of vaginal creams varies from a few days to a week. They are often combined with vaginal suppositories or vaginal tablets.
There are both over-the-counter and prescription products (see above), which differ in dosage or type of active ingredient. When using creams in the intimate area, it is important to apply them thoroughly. The outer as well as the inner labia, the perineum and partly also the vaginal entrance should be abundantly covered with cream in order to catch the fungus completely.
The treatment of vaginal mycosis often includes the use of vaginal suppositories. These are inserted deep into the vagina and release their active ingredient there. Vaginal suppositories exist with different active ingredients such as Clotrimazol, Econazol, Nifuratel or Fenticonazol.
Vaginal suppositories are usually used over a period of 3 to 6 days. Often a combined treatment with a cream for external use in the intimate area with the same active ingredient is used. Some suppositories exist as depot preparations that only need to be inserted once. They release the active ingredient in such a way that a sufficient concentration of the active ingredient is present for 72 hours. Vaginal suppositories are common for both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
