Vulvovaginal emergencies: diagnosis and treatment

Jermaine Gray, MD:

My name is Jermaine Gray, MD, I am affiliated with the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of OBGYN in Jackson, Mississippi.

Contemporary OB/GYN:

Can you give a quick recap what you presented at the 2023 Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists Annual Clinical Meeting?

Gray:

I think vulvar disease is one of those that is sort of a puzzle for some, I think it's one of those things that people tend not to think of right away when they think about problems that present to the ob-gyn emergency department. Certainly, patients do present with vulvar complaints. And I think it's important for us as emergency room ob-gyns sort of know how to manage those problems. Some of them are chronic problems, some of them are acute problems, and some are problems that have acute exacerbations to the chronic nature of the disease.

Contemporary OB/GYN:

What would you say maybe your top three takeaways from your presentation you want your colleagues to leave with?

Gray:

I think the most important things are to gather enough information from patients to empirically treat them prior to sending them out of your emergency department. Number 2, I think it's important to have a reliable avenue for follow up. And then number 3, I think it's important to be brave enough to call on your infectious diseases or dermatology colleagues for assistance.