Easy Access to Self-Treatment Products Does Not = Guarantee a Quick Cure

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ACOG=20 NEWS RELEASE

For Release = February 28,=20 2002

Easy Access to Self-Treatment Products Does Not = Guarantee a=20 Quick Cure

WASHINGTON, DC -- Women who use over-the-counter = products=20 to treat presumed vaginal yeast infections often misdiagnose = their=20 condition, resulting in wasted money and potentially serious = delays=20 in getting a correct diagnosis, according to a study in the = March issue of Obstetrics & = Gynecology.=20

The study found that while 33% of women were able to = accurately=20 self-diagnose their condition, an additional 20% of women = had both a=20 yeast infection and another type of vaginitis. Researchers = pointed=20 out that while over-the-counter products can often cure a = yeast=20 infection, they are not as effective in treating the = coexisting=20 infection. Because of persisting vaginal symptoms, many of = these=20 women required a clinical evaluation and were treated with a = clinician-prescribed medicine. According to the study, women = who had=20 been clinically diagnosed with a yeast infection previously = and=20 those who read the package label were no more likely than = other=20 women to have accurately diagnosed their condition.=20

Researchers caution that incorrect self-diagnosis and=20 self-medication by women with certain preexisting bacterial=20 infections put them at higher risk for acquiring HIV and = other=20 serious medical conditions, including post-operative = infections and=20 pregnancy-related complications.=20

Contact: Daron G. Ferris, MD, Medical College of Georgia, = Departments of Family Medicine and Ob-Gyn, Augusta, GA, at = dferris@mail.mcg.edu=20

# # #

Studies published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, = the=20 peer-reviewed scientific journal of The American College of=20 Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) do not necessarily = reflect=20 the policies or opinions of ACOG. ACOG is the national = medical=20 organization representing nearly 40,000 physicians who = provide=20 health care for women. =

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