Should vaginal suppositories be avoided before gynecological examination?

Vaginal suppositories should usually be avoided before gynecological examinations. Vaginal suppositories may interfere with secretion testing results or mask the true condition, affecting doctors' accurate assessment of the vaginal environment. The core items of gynecological examination, such as routine vaginal discharge and cervical scraping, require the collection of vaginal secretions or cervical cells for laboratory testing. The drug components in vaginal suppositories can alter the acidity or microbial balance of secretions, leading to false negative or false positive results. For example, clotrimazole vaginal suppositories may inhibit fungal growth and miss the diagnosis of fungal vaginitis, while metronidazole suppositories may interfere with clue cell detection for bacterial vaginosis. The residual matrix of suppositories may also be misdiagnosed as abnormal secretions. Stopping the use of suppositories 24-48 hours before the physical examination can ensure the accuracy of the test.

In special cases such as acute infections that require continuous medication, the doctor should be informed in advance of the medication history. The doctor will adjust the examination plan according to the specific situation, and if necessary, postpone some items or combine other testing methods. Therapeutic drugs such as estrogen suppositories used for emergency hemostasis need to be paused after weighing the pros and cons. Three days before the physical examination, it is recommended to avoid sexual activity, vaginal flushing, and the use of suppositories, and wear loose clothing. After completing the physical examination, if the doctor confirms that there are no contraindications, medication can be resumed. When abnormalities are found during physical examination and medication plans need to be adjusted, it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's advice to change the medication or administration method.