Vaginal/Pelvic Infections
Sometimes women are concerned about having a vaginal or pelvic
infection. Infections in the reproductive tract can be localized and mild or can be more general and perhaps
lead to more serious consequences. If you are worried about the possibility of an infection, the midwives
at Vivante can help you check it out.
There are several types of tests that can be used depending on
the question, symptom, or concern. Tests that can be done in our office include:
- blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, and the herpes virus;
- cultures for vaginal infections such as yeast or for sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia,
or herpes;
- slides of vaginal secretions to look for yeast, bacterial vaginosis, or trichomonas
(common vaginal infections)
- swabs/Pap tests to check for the HPV virus (human papilloma
virus which causes genital warts and cervical changes which can lead to cancer).
Should any infections be identified, the midwives can offer the appropriate counseling and treatment as well as
discuss how to lessen the chances of acquiring such infections in the future.
Some infections (viruses), once
acquired, might never go away even if we treat the symptoms. If a viral infection is identified, we can offer
counseling on ways to minimize outbreaks and precautions to take to prevent transmission.
