A nurse is teaching a group of young women about vulvovaginitis prevention. Which of the following measures should the nurse recommend to reduce the risk of vulvovaginitis?

Choice A rationale:

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not related to hormonal changes but rather an overgrowth of bacteria causing an imbalance in the vaginal ecosystem.

Choice B rationale:

Candidal vulvovaginitis (CV) is a fungal infection and is not primarily caused by hormonal changes.

Choice C rationale:

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is a sexually transmitted infection and is not directly linked to hormonal changes.

Choice D rationale:

Atrophic vaginitis (AV) occurs due to hormonal changes, specifically a decrease in estrogen levels that can lead to thinning and inflammation of vaginal tissues. Estrogen deficiency commonly occurs during menopause or aging, leading to symptoms like vaginal dryness and discomfort.

Choice A rationale:

Thin, frothy, green-yellow vaginal discharge is indicative of trichomoniasis, not candidal vulvovaginitis (CV) Trichomoniasis typically presents with a foul-smelling discharge.

Choice B rationale:

While inflammation, itching, and burning are common symptoms of CV, they do not specifically describe the characteristic discharge associated with this condition.

Choice C rationale:

Thick, white, and clumpy vaginal discharge with no odor is a classic presentation of candidal vulvovaginitis (CV) The discharge is often described as resembling cottage cheese.

Choice D rationale:

A vaginal pH greater than 5.0 is suggestive of bacterial vaginosis, not candidal vulvovaginitis. In CV, the vaginal pH is usually normal (around 4-4.5)