Evaluation of the impact of intimate hygiene with Epigen Intim gel on discomfort in the area of external genital organs: results of an observational study
Objective. To evaluate the impact of daily use of the intimate hygiene agent Epigen Intim on the cleanliness of vaginal smears, vaginal pH values, the frequency, duration, and intensity of discomfort in the area of external genital organs, as well as tolerance and satisfaction of the study participants with the use of the gel.Tapilskaya N.I., Dolgushina V.F., Mingalyova N.V.
Materials and methods. The investigation included 741 women aged 14 to 69 years; their mean age was 37.69±0.47 years. The female participants were followed up for 90±7 days. They underwent vaginal pH metry, microscopic examination of urogenital discharge, a questionnaire survey containing questions about a patient’s complaints and lifestyle, and the features of using the test gel. The intensity of the discomfort experienced was estimated using the Wong-Baker scale.
Results. The daily use of the gel resulted in a decrease in the proportion of the study participants with pathological vaginal discharge from 30.86 to 5.43%, a decline in both that of participants with a pH value of over 4.5 from 81.18 to 50.88%. Discomfort assessment using the Wong-Baker scale showed that the mean score of discomfort intensity in the genital area decreased from 4.79 to 1.72. The good tolerance of the gel was reported by 95.22% of the respondents.
Conclusion. The daily use of Epigen Intim gel provides effective vulvovaginal hygiene with the reduction of frequency, duration and intensity of the discomfort with good tolerance.
Keywords
glycyrrhizic acid
intimate hygiene
Epigen Intim
References
- Савичева А.М., Тапильская Н.И., Шипицына Е.В., Воробьева Н.Е. Бактериальный вагиноз и аэробный вагинит как основные нарушения баланса вагинальной микрофлоры. Особенности диагностики и терапии. Акушерство и гинекология. 2017; 5: 24-31. [Savicheva A.M., Tapilskaya N.I., Shipitsyna E.V., Vorobyeva N.E. Bacterial vaginosis and aerobic vaginitis as major vaginal microflora balance disorders: diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. Akushertsvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017; 5: 24-31. (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2017.5.24-31.
- Jonas O., Seifman R. Do we need a Global Virome Project? Lancet Glob. Health. 2019; 7(10): e1314-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(19)30335-3.
- Happel A.U., Varsani A., Balle C., Passmore J.A., Jaspan H. The vaginal virome-balancing female genital tract bacteriome, mucosal immunity, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes? Viruses. 2020; 12(8): E832. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/v12080832.
- Huang B., Fettweis J.M., Brooks J.P., Jefferson K.K., Buck G.A. The changing landscape of the vaginal microbiome. Clin. Lab. Med. 2014; 34(4): 747-61. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.006.
- Lewis F.M., Bernstein K.T., Aral S.O. Vaginal microbiome and its relationship to behavior, sexual health, and sexually transmitted diseases. Obstet. Gynecol. 2017; 129(4): 643-54. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001932.
- Kalia N., Singh J., Kaur M. Microbiota in vaginal health and pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal infections: a critical review. Ann. Clin. Microbiol. Antimicrob. 2020; 19(1): 5. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12941-020-0347-4.
- Bokulich N.A., Chung J., Battaglia T., Henderson N., Jay M., Li H. et al. Antibiotics, birth mode, and diet shape microbiome maturation during early life. Sci. Transl. Med. 2016; 8(343): 343ra82. https://dx.doi.org/ 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad7121.
- Farage M.A., Bramante M. Genital hygiene: culture, practices, and health impact. In: Farage M.A., Maibach H.I., eds. The vulva: anatomy, physiology and pathology. New York: Informa HealthCare; 2006: 183-216.
- Wakashin K. Sanitary napkin contact dermatitis of the vulva: location-dependent differences in skin surface conditions may play a role in negative patch test results. J. Dermatol. 2007; 34(12): 834-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2007.00395.x.
- Chen Y., Bruning E., Rubino J., Eder S.E. Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage. Womens Health (Lond). 2017; 13(3): 58-67. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1745505717731011.
- Mintel GNPD. Global New Products: tracked, analyzed, explained. Available at: https://www.mintel.com/global-new-products-database
- Royal College of General Practitioners. The management of vulval skin disorders. Available at: https://www.bashh.org/documents/UK%20national%20guideline%20for%20the%20management%20of%20vulval%20conditions%202014.pdf
- Arab H., Almadani L., Tahlak M., Chawla M. The Middle East and Central Asia guidelines on female genital hygiene. BMJ Middle East. 2011; 19: 99-106.
- Sun Z.G., Zhao T.T., Lu N., Yang Y.A., Zhu H.L. Research progress of glycyrrhizic acid on antiviral activity. Mini Rev. Med. Chem. 2019; 19(10): 826-32. https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557519666190119111125.
- Рахматулина М.Р., Большенко Н.В., Липова Е.В. Опыт применения активированной глицирризиновой кислоты при вульвовагинитах, цервицитах и генитальной папилломавирусной инфекции. Акушерство и гинекология. 2019; 9: 153-8. [Rakhmatulina M.R., Bolshenko N.V., Lipova E.V. Experience with the use of activated glycyrrhizic acid for vulvovaginitis, cervicitis, and genital papillomavirus infection. Akushertsvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019;9:153-8. (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2019-9.153-158.
- Bruning E., Chen Y., McCue K.A., Rubino J.R., Wilkinson J.E., Brown A.D.G. et al. A 28 day clinical assessment of a lactic acid-containing antimicrobial intimate gel wash formulation on skin tolerance and impact on the vulvar microbiome. Antibiotics. 2020; 9(2): 55. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9020055.
- Bahamondes M.V., Portugal P.M., Brolazo E.M., Simões J.A., Bahamondes L. Use of a lactic acid plus lactoserum intimate liquid soap for external hygiene in the prevention of bacterial vaginosis recurrence after metronidazole oral treatment. Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras. 2011; 57(4): 415-20. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0104-42302011000400015.
- Guaschino S., Benvenuti C., SOPHY Study Group. SOPHY project: an observational study of vaginal pH, lifestyle and correct intimate hygiene in women of different ages and in different physiopathological conditions. Part II. Minerva Ginecol. 2008; 60(5): 353-62.
Received 26.08.2020
Accepted 10.09.2020
About the Authors
Natalya I. Tapilskaya, MD, Professor, Leading Researcher of the Department Reproductive Technologies, the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott; Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University,Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. E-mail: tapnatalia@yandex.ru. ORCID: 0000-0001-5309-0087.
199034, Russia, Saint-Petersburg, Mendeleyevskaya line, 3; 194100, Russia, Saint-Petersburg, Litovskaya str., 2.
Valentina F. Dolgushina, doctor of medical science, professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, South Ural State Medical University.
Tel.: +7(919)329-32-45. E-mail: dolgushinavf@yandex.ru 454092, Russia, Chelyabinsk, Vorovskiy str., 64.
Natalia V. Mingaleva, MD, professor, Kuban State Medical University. Krasnodar, Russia. Tel.: +7(861)222-05-43. E-mail: mingalevaN008@yandex.ru.
350063, Russia, Krasnodar, Mitrophan Sedin str., 4.
For citation: Tapilskaya N.I., Dolgushina V.F., Mingalyova N.V. Evaluation of the impact of intimate hygiene with Epigen Intim gel on discomfort in the area of external genital organs: results of an observational study.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020; 9: 172-178 (in Russian).
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2020.9.172-178