How to Treat Vaginal Infections in the Wilderness

Treatment for vaginal infections in the wilderness involves prevention, restoring the acidity of the vagina and monitoring for serious infections requiring evacuation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Prevention

1. Change tampons and pads regularly.
2. Clean the vaginal area well on a daily basis using soap and water, especially the skin between the vagina and anus. When traveling with a group, this may mean making sure you give yourself the time to take solo walks with your water bottle and soap.
3. Wear cotton underwear and pants that are not constricting.
4. Hydrate well.
5. Avoid stress.
6. Avoid the intake of sugar, caffeine and alcohol, which can alter normal pH of the vagina.
7. Monitor carefully for the early signs of vaginal infections and treat at the earliest possible indications (See "How to Assess Vaginal Infections in the Wilderness").

Douching

8. Douche in the morning and at night with disinfected water, a solution of vinegar and water (1 or 2 tbsp. vinegar mixed with 1 qt. warm water) or a solution of povidone-iodine and water (2 tbsp. of povidone-iodine with 1 qt. water).
9. Use an over-the-counter suppository for vaginal infections such as Monistat or Gyne-Lotrimin. Carry this with you into the field if you know you are prone to vaginal infections.
10. Hydrate well.
11. Monitor for the signs and symptoms of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and evacuate immediately if any of the symptoms are present (See "How to Assess Vaginal Infections in the Wilderness").

Tips & Warnings

• It is nearly impossible to diagnose the kind of vaginal infection a person has while in the field. Initial treatment in the field will be the same for fungal, bacterial, or parasitic infections.
• Improvise a pressurized douche in the field by using a sports bottle with a squirtable top, a water bottle with a hole pierced in the lid, or a sealable plastic bag with a hole pierced in it. To douche effectively, the person must lie on her back with her pelvis elevated and pour or squirt the solution into the vagina. This procedure may require the assistance of another person.
• Untreated Pelvic Inflammatory Disease can lead to infertility.
• Evacuate for any of the following conditions: symptoms do not decrease within 48 hours, symptoms include pelvic pain, fever or chills, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain with bleeding, foul-smelling discharge.
• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.