Looking for a CEO for a new and highly respected company, VA-GI-NI-TIS -

In the past few months I have been lucky enough to participate in conferences and talks about women’s leadership and empowerment. The best one was that of Mhutar Kent, the CEO of Coca Cola. And when you start to know something it seems that everything that surrounds you is related to it. Every time I flip through a magazine, I can not stop noticing all the articles and ads directed at women. My favorite at the moment is the one of Airfrance business class. The final message is this one: women at the leadership of the 21^st century, in politics, in small and big business. Data has shown that the more women who are employed in a country, the higher the GNP is.

While I was imagining all these successful women, a very strange thought came to my mind. A woman, a CEO of a big and renowned company, sitting on her chair behind her desk during a meeting, looking towards the ceiling with a slight sign of anger and desperation, crossed legs, and hands clenched on the table. She is saying to herself : “OMG, not now, it’s coming again!”

The problem that this woman is facing is unfortunately a big and silent plague in the universe of women, an underestimated condition called vaginitis.

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can result in discharge, itching and pain. The cause is usually a change in the normal balance of vaginal bacteria or an infection. Vaginitis can also result from reduced estrogen levels after menopause.

We normally speak about it with the closest friends, sometimes with our doctor. But for sure, what we have learned is to live with it! We need to better understand the problem, to stop that fire that is burning up so much of our energy. Some kinds of vaginitis can also have long term complications.

I know that in this moment I am writing to 3 different groups of women: the rare lucky one who doesn’t even know what vaginal itching means; the second one the “New Entry”, and the third one of the “Expert”. The third has tried almost everything, the kind of woman that always travels with a “suppository” in her bag ready to be used at the first sign of discomfort.

At this point, I would love to tell you: “I have the final solution”, but what I can give you is some advice, a strategy that can help you either to heal or to better bear this situation. This for me means real empowerment and leadership in order to become the CEO of your own body.

So let’s start with some of the rules that I have collected in these years and that I normally tell patients.

10 simple rules….

1) Choose the right family doctor or gynecologist. You need a person who you really trust. You should be able to describe to her/him all your symptoms: type of pain, itching, intercourse … Don’t take for granted suffering with Candidosis. The Vaginitis world is really complex. There could be many different causes ( Bacterial, Protozoi, Yeast and Athrophic) and often more than one of them can coexist. If you have never done it before, ask your doctor to take a sample of vaginal secretions. He may collect a sample of vaginal secretions to check for an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in your vaginal flora. He or she may examine the vaginal secretions under a microscope, looking for "clue cells," vaginal cells covered with bacteria that are a diagnostic sign of bacterial vaginosis. Your doctor may also check the acidity of your vaginal environment by placing a pH test strip in your vagina. A vaginal pH of 4.5 or higher is another sign of bacterial vaginosis. Understanding the cause is a fundamental step in getting the best therapy.

2) The Therapy needs to be as specific as possible. Together with biomedicine (allopathic medicine) don’t forget that you can use also Complementary medicine. Herbal supplements, Chinese medicine, Ayurveda can be an effective support and really help you feel better.

3) DIET, DIET, DIET: It can help so much!!! Try to avoid sweets and dairy. Try to follow the so called Anti Inflammatory diet. Good Probiotics can really help too!

4) Hygiene: Avoid baths, hot tubs and whirlpool spas. Rinse soap from your outer genital area after a shower, and dry the area well to prevent irritation. Don't use scented or harsh soaps, such as those with deodorant or antibacterial action. Don't douche. Your vagina doesn't require cleansing other than normal bathing. Repetitive douching disrupts the normal organisms that reside in the vagina and can actually increase your risk of vaginal infection. Douching won't clear up a vaginal infection. Wipe from front to back after using the toilet. Doing so avoids spreading fecal bacteria to your vagina

5) When choosing tampons and pads try really hard to find the ones that are better for you. There are so many brands out there!

6) Wear cotton underwear and pantyhose with a cotton crotch. If you feel comfortable without it, skip wearing underwear to bed. Yeast thrives in moist environments.

7) When you buy new underwear wash them before using them. Before being in the “Victoria Secrets” or “Intimissimi” basket, they travelled and have been touched more than you have ever done in your entire life.

8) Speak about it with your partner. I know that could be really difficult. But just through this collaboration you can go through it. For most of the women that represents the biggest challenge….

9) Use a male latex condom. This helps avoid infections spread by sexual contact

10) Stress plays a big role in recurrent vaginitis. Being really tired, emotionally and mentally stressed can lower our immune system and foster vaginal imbalance. You definitely need to learn to cope with it. (I will dedicate a post soon about it!)

….To be the leader!