Project 457221

Female urogenital issues are one of the most common burdens to primary health care systems. The launch of the influential UK Women's Health Strategy and recent calls for evidence highlight the need for targeted research on common female urogenital system disorders to improve gendered experiences of health. The second most prevalent gynecological disorder is vulvovaginal candidiasis, known colloquially as a yeast infection. 75% of women will experience a yeast infection, but 6% present symptoms on a repeated or constant basis for many years. Chronic yeast infections are poorly understood and difficult to treat. These infections render patients more vulnerable to poor mental health, sexual dysfunction, and disengagement from healthcare. I aim to improve understandings of how chronic yeast infections are experienced through a series of qualitative studies and provide resources to support self-management and clinical treatment. I will determine what the experiences of patients and healthcare professionals are in managing chronic yeast infections, and how these insights may underpin improvements. Firstly, I will conduct a literature review to assess what information is available for healthcare professionals and patients. Secondly, I will conduct semi-structured interviews to gather the experiences of up to 40 women and people assigned female at birth who have chronic yeast infections. Thirdly, I will conduct 3 focus groups with doctors, pharmacists, and sexual health practitioners using findings from patient interviews to determine how they interpret these experiences. Lastly, an online module will be created for those affected by chronic yeast infections and their healthcare providers. This module will be shared by the award-winning platform Healthtalk.org to provide a comprehensive resource for the 138 million women living with chronic yeast infections, their partners, and their health professionals to improve patient health and health delivery systems.