Level of anxiety, depression, self-esteem and quality of life among the women with vaginitis

Background: Present aim is to evaluate anxiety, depression, quality of life and self-esteem in patients with vaginitis (not only specific to candidasis) and also to determine factors affecting vaginitis such as demographic, cultural and psychological causes.Methods: Each patient completed a self-administered questionnaire (Rosenberg’ Self-Esteem Scale, Short-Form 36, Quality of Life Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory, Body Image Scale) and underwent a careful examination of the vulva and vagina. The cross-sectional study was carried out with two groups. The first group consisted of 107 women between the ages 18 and 45 years and had no physical disease but reccurrent vulvovaginitis (≥4 in a year).  The comparison control group consisted of 94 healthy (no vaginitis symptoms in 12 months) age matched volunteer participants.Results: Women with vaginitis had significantly higher anxiety and depression scores. There was no statistically significant difference in body image scale. Regarding type of marriage, arranged type was statistically significantly higher in vaginitis group while flirting type was statistically higher in control group. University school degree and income was statistically significantly lower in vaginitis group. Living residence as rent and vaginal douch was statistically significantly higher in vaginitis group.Conclusions: A better detailed history should be taken into consideration for personal stress sources and treatment support should be provided for patients with vaginitis. Not only gynecologists but also a multidisciplinary team should take part in the treatment and follow up of the patients to cope with recurrency even in non-specific vaginitis