Female Dhat syndrome in primary care setting

AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the females presenting with the complaint of nonpathological vaginal discharge to a general gynecology outpatient service in a rural community clinic from the perspective of female Dhat syndrome. METHODOLOGY: Sixty-nine females considered to have nonpathological vaginal discharge after detailed gynecological evaluation, including required investigations, attending a rural community clinic were assessed for their belief about the vaginal discharge. The study subjects were also evaluated on the proposed criteria of female Dhat syndrome by using a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: The mean age of onset of vaginal discharge was 36.1 (standard deviation - 8.5) years. Most of the females considered the loss of vaginal fluid as loss of a vital fluid from the body. Consumption of warm foods and drinks (75.8%) was the most common reason reported for vaginal discharge followed by eating unbalanced food/inappropriate food (73.5%). A majorty of the subjects considered vaginal discharge responsible for bodily weakness (87.0%), backache (71.0%) and stomache (66.7%). About two-third of the participants considered the taking energizing medications like vitamins/tonics/tablets and treatment from a gynecologist the treatment for vaginal discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Significant proportion of females with non-pathological vaginal discharge have a belief that they are losing a vital fluid of the body. The subject attributes their symptoms to factors such as consumption of warm foods and drinks, and eating unbalanced food/inappropriate food. Accordingly, assessment and management of women with Dhat syndrome require addressing these important issues.