Vaginal infections are one of the most common gynecological problems. The
lower female genital tract can be infected by various pathogens such as virus (human
immunodeficiency virus, HIV), bacteria (Gardnerella vaginalis), fungi (Candida spp.)
or parasites (Trichomonas vaginalis).
The vagina is the local site for the delivery of therapeutic agents. Depending on the
antimicrobial agents, different dosage forms have been developed, comprising of
douches, creams, ointments, gels, foams, tablets, ovules, rings, tampons and, more
recently, vaginal films. Innovative approaches, like encapsulation technologies, have
emerged in an attempt to overcome several limitations of the existing systems for
vaginal administration of therapeutic agents.
This review explores the antimicrobial agents that can be used for vaginal infections
therapy, the various vaginal dosage forms to deliver these therapeutic agents, their
advantages and limitations and the novel advances in the area of vaginal drug delivery.
Keywords: Antimicrobials, encapsulation, mucoadhesion, therapeutic systems,
vaginal delivery, vaginal dosage forms, vaginal infection, vaginal tract.