Intravaginal administration

{{short description|Delivery of a substance inside the vagina}}

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Intravaginal administration is a route of administration where the substance is applied inside the vagina. Pharmacologically, it has the potential advantage to result in effects primarily in the vagina or nearby structures (such as the vaginal portion of cervix) with limited systemic adverse effects compared to other routes of administration.{{Cite journal|last1=Alexander|first1=Nancy J.|last2=Baker|first2=Edward|last3=Kaptein|first3=Marc|last4=Karck|first4=Ulrich|last5=Miller|first5=Leslie|last6=Zampaglione|first6=Edio|date=2004-07-01|title=Why consider vaginal drug administration?|journal=Fertility and Sterility|volume=82|issue=1|pages=1–12|doi=10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.01.025|issn=0015-0282|pmid=15236978|doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Hussain|first1=Alamdar|last2=Ahsan|first2=Fakhrul|date=2005-03-21|title=The vagina as a route for systemic drug delivery|journal=Journal of Controlled Release|volume=103|issue=2|pages=301–313|doi=10.1016/j.jconrel.2004.11.034|issn=0168-3659|pmid=15763615}}{{Cite journal|url=https://opentextbc.ca/clinicalskills/chapter/6-4-rectal-and-vaginal-medications/|title=6.4 Administering Medications Rectally and Vaginally {{!}} Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care|website=opentextbc.ca|date=23 November 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-02|last1=Doyle |first1=Glynda Rees |last2=McCutcheon |first2=Jodie Anita }}

Formulation methods include vaginal tablets, vaginal cream, vaginal gel,{{cite press release |title=U.S. FDA Approves Evofem Biosciences' Phexxi (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate), the First and Only Non-Hormonal Prescription Gel for the Prevention of Pregnancy |date=22 May 2020 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-fda-approves-evofem-biosciences-phexxi-lactic-acid-citric-acid-and-potassium-bitartrate-the-first-and-only-non-hormonal-prescription-gel-for-the-prevention-of-pregnancy-301064469.html |via=PR Newswire |access-date=22 May 2020 |website=Evofem Biosciences}}{{Medical citation needed|date=December 2024}} vaginal suppository and vaginal ring.

It is used as an administration method for issues related to women's health, such as contraception. Medicines primarily delivered by intravaginal administration include vaginally administered estrogens and progestogens (a group of hormones including progesterone), and antibacterials and antifungals to treat bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections respectively.

Medicines may also be administered intravaginally as an alternative to oral route in the case of nausea or other digestive problems.{{Cite journal|last1=Woolfson|first1=A. David|last2=Malcolm|first2=R. Karl|last3=Gallagher|first3=Rory|date=2000-01-01|title=Drug Delivery by the Intravaginal Route|journal=Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems|language=English|volume=17|issue=5|pages=509–555|doi=10.1615/CritRevTherDrugCarrierSyst.v17.i5.30|pmid=11108158 |issn=0743-4863}}

It is a potential means of artificial insemination (referred to as intravaginal insemination or IVI), sometimes used at home without the presence of a professional.{{Cite web |last=Seattle Sperm Bank |first= |date=2014-01-04 |title=Demystifying IUI, ICI, IVI and IVF |url=https://www.seattlespermbank.com/demystifying-iui-ici-ivi-and-ivf/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Seattle Sperm Bank |language=en-US}}