title: Trends in pharmacy compounding for women's health in North Carolina: focus on vulvodynia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify trends in compounding pharmacies with a focus on women's health and, more specifically, the types and combinations of medications used in the treatment of vulvodynia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This survey study was conducted with 653 nonchain pharmacies that compound medications. Each pharmacy was asked to complete a 19-item online survey assessing general practice and common compounding indications, focusing on women's health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 653 pharmacies contacted, 200 (31%) responded to our survey. Women's health issues ranked third (19%) among the common indications for compounding, preceded by otolaryngology (30%) and dermatology (28%). Of the medications compounded for women's health, the most common indication was bioidentical hormone therapy (73%) followed closely by vaginal dryness (70%) and low libido (65%). Vulvodynia, or vulvar pain, was the fourth most common indication for compounding medication for women's health issues (29%). Vulvovaginal infections were reported as an indication for compounding medications by 16% of respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vulvovaginal symptoms are a common indication for compounding medications in women's health. Further research in understanding the rationale for using compounded medications, even when standard treatments are available for some of these symptoms (eg, vaginal dryness, vulvovaginal infections), is warranted.
authors.affiliation: From the UNC Pelvic Pain Research Center, Division of Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, the School of Social Work, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Susan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.affiliation: From the UNC Pelvic Pain Research Center, Division of Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, the School of Social Work, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuddeback
authors.affiliation: From the UNC Pelvic Pain Research Center, Division of Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, the School of Social Work, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: From the UNC Pelvic Pain Research Center, Division of Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, the School of Social Work, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Swasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: As-Sanie
authors.affiliation: From the UNC Pelvic Pain Research Center, Division of Advanced Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, the School of Social Work, and the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Denniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zolnoun
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004964:Estriol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009657:North Carolina; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D006728:Hormones; D011372:Progestins; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008012:Lidocaine; D004964:Estriol