A suppository is a small medication that comes in various shapes, like round, oval, or cone-shaped. It’s wrapped in substances like cocoa butter or gelatin. When you insert it into your body, the suppository dissolves to release the medication.
Suppositories are used when you can’t take medicine by mouth. They can treat a specific area in the body, or the medication can travel to other parts through the bloodstream.
Forms of suppositories
Suppositories are medication forms enclosed in a base made from substances like gelatin or cocoa butter. They release the drug slowly as your body’s warmth melts the outer layer. There are three main forms of suppositories, each intended for specific purposes:
1. Rectal Suppositories: These are inserted into the rectum, typically about an inch long, with a rounded or bullet-shaped tip. They can be used to address various conditions, such as:
- Hemorrhoids (swollen rectal veins)
- Motion sickness
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Fever
- Nausea
- Pain and itching
- Seizures
- Mental health issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
2. Vaginal Suppositories: Oval-shaped and inserted into the vagina, these suppositories have distinct purposes, including:
- Treating bacterial or fungal infections
- Alleviating vaginal dryness
- Providing a form of birth control
3. Urethral Suppositories: Urethral suppositories are quite rare, with only one known type called MUSE. They are used by men with erection problems and are tiny, about the size of a grain of rice. They are inserted into the urethra, which is the duct responsible for emptying the bladder.
Can I Urinate After Using a Suppository?
In most cases, women using a vaginal suppository can easily urinate after insertion. In the female genital area, there are two openings – the vaginal opening and the urethral opening, which is where urine comes out. The urethral opening, the small hole for urination, is just below the clitoris, and the vaginal opening is right below the urethral opening. Typically, urinating after using a vaginal suppository doesn’t affect its effectiveness.
However, if you are using urethral suppositories, it’s advisable to urinate before inserting the suppository. This helps because any remaining urine in the urethra can assist in dissolving the suppository after insertion.
