VAGINAL ITCHING, SORENESS OR DISCHARGE?

Report #6560 7/15/95

A recent report from Sweden shows that one out of every four women between the ages of 19 and 25 complains of genito-urinary symptoms such as vaginal itching, soreness and discharge and that many of the women who have these symptoms have or have had a sexually transmitted disease.

In the study, all women between 19 and 25 in a medical treatment plan were sent letters to come in and receive a gynecologic examination. 70% participated in the study. One out of four complained of itching, discharge, and soreness. Of the symptomatic women, 3% were infected with chlamydia at the time of examination and more than 22% had antibodies against chlamydia showing that they had that venereal disease previously. 20% had venereal warts at the time of time of examination.

This study shows that all women who have vaginal itching, discharge or soreness should check with their doctors because these symptoms do not go away by themselves. One of five will have venereal warts. Virtually 100% of all cancers of the cervix are caused by venereal warts, even though only one woman in a hundred who has warts will go on to develop cervical cancer. Therefore, all women with venereal warts should be followed by a gynecologist, get yearly Pap smears and be treated for precancerous changes. Chlamydia infections do not go away without treatment and if allowed to persist for several months can cause permanent sterility. Persistent chlamydia infections can cause high fevers, severe belly cramps and death.

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News