Comparison of Dr. Rainer's Vaginal Cream to Monistat

Comparison of Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream and Monistat Vaginal Cream in the Treatment of Acute Candida Albicans Vulvovaginitis

Robert Rainer, MD

Introduction

    The majority of women will experience vulvo vaginal candiasis at some point during their lifetime.  In fact, nearly 75% of women will suffer from this condition at least once during their reproductive years.  Vulvo vaginal candiasis is often referred to in lay terms as a 'yeast infection.'  Many over the counter regimens are designed to treat this condition.  Greater than 90% of yeast infections are caused by the organism Candida Albicans.  Over the counter anti fungal drugs are aimed to relieve the traditional symptoms of vaginal discharge and vulvo vaginal itching.

    The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and possible superiority of two over the counter drugs used for the treatment of vulvo vaginal candiasis (yeast infections), Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream versus Monistat Vaginal Cream.

 

Material and methods

    Women between the ages of forty years of age and fifty five years of age, diagnosed with vulvo vaginal candiasis (yeast infections) were included in this study.  Pregnant patients and patients that were receiving prolonged antibiotic therapy were excluded from this study.  Patients were randomized based on which office day of the week the gynecologic consultation appointment was made.  Randomization included two groups, the Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream group and the Monistat Vaginal Cream group.

    Although the diagnosis of vulvo vaginal candiasis or yeast infection was made entirely on clinical evaluation, treatment efficacy was determined entirely by a standard questionnaire containing questions about symptoms of vulvo vaginal candiasis (vaginal discharge, vulvo vaginal itching).  During the follow up visit (10 days after the initial diagnosis of vulvo vaginal candiasis was made), clinical cure was determined by the patient's questionnaire reponse regarding severity of vaginal discharge and vulvo vaginal itching.

 

Results

    Fifty six patients between the age of 40 to 55 years old were included in this study.  Twenty eight patients were designated to the Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream group and twenty eight patients were assigned to the Monistat Vaginal Cream group.  The initial diagnosis of vulvo vaginal candisis or yeast infection was determined by clinical examination with the presenting complaint of vaginal discharge and vulvo vaginal itching.  Furthermore, inflammation and vaginal discharge were noted on physical examination.

    Clinical questionnaire response was noted on the tenth day post treatment for all 56 patients.  Clinical cure was designated by a patient's questionnaire response of "complete resolution" of vaginal discharge and itching on the 10 day post treatment follow up evaluation.

    Clinical cure response on the tenth day post treatment of the Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream group was observed in 22 patients (78.5%) noted to document clinical cure on follow up. 

    Clinical cure response on the tenth day post treatment of the Monistat Vaginal Cream group was observed in 20 patients (71.4%) noted to document clinical cure on follow up.

 

Table 1: Treatment results of the two study groups

Total Patients Evaluated:   56

Cure of Vaginal Discharge and Itching

Vaginal Cream Group:       22 (78.5%)

Monistat Cream Group:    20 (71.4%)

 

Discussion

  Studies show that the predominant organism (greater than 90%) isolated with vulvo vaginal candiasis is Candida Albicans.  The results of this study shows the efficacy of the active ingredient miconazole nitrate in its ability to cure vulvo vaginal candiasis or a yeast infection.  Both over the counter products, Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream and Monistat Vaginal Cream contain miconazole nitrate as their active ingredient.  However, the product Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream contains a significant portion of mineral oil as its base of inactive ingredients.  Monistat Vaginal Cream, however, contains a larger proportion of purified water as its inactive ingredient.

 

Conclusion

    Study results show that both Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream and Monistat Vaginal Cream are effective in curing vulvo vaginal candiasis or yeast infections.  However, Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream appears to have a somewhat significant greater efficacy in its ability to cure vulvo vaginal candiasis or yeast infections.  A larger proportion of mineral oil in Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream's inactive base component may be the attributable factor leading to its superior cure rate of vulvo vaginal candiasis or yeast infection when compared to Monistat Vaginal Cream.

    Although a study limitation is the smaller sample size of the tested cohort, Vagi Relief Vaginal Cream is highly effective in curing most vaginal yeast infection with slight superiority by comparison to Monistat Vaginal Cream.