Infections

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the infection along with your risk factors, lifestyle habits, and medical history.

Good hygiene practices can prevent many infections. For women, good hygiene includes wiping from front to back after using the toilet, wearing cotton underwear, changing out of wet clothes as soon as possible, and urinating after sex. Douching is not recommended and may increase the risk of infection.

Most infections that affect women's reproductive and urinary tracts are fungal or bacterial infections. Health care providers commonly use antibiotic and antifungal medications for treatment. Some medications are taken by mouth, while others are applied to the genital region or inserted into the vagina.

Without treatment, infections can cause further complications, including infertility. Talk to your doctor at Dignity Health about infection treatment to relieve discomfort and improve your overall health.

Dignity Health provides women’s health services for infections in Arizona, California, and Nevada.