Dorothy FarrarBacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common diseases of the female genital organs and is caused by an infection with bacteria . These cause unpleasant symptoms in the area of the vagina – however, in men they are completely symptom-free when they come into contact with the so-called gardnerella.
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is also known among experts as Gardnerella infection, Haemophilus vaginalis infection or amine colpitis. The reason for the infection is the so-called gardnerella, whose occurrence in the area of the female genitalia is not uncommon.
However, these are usually very small amounts. If the bacterium multiplies, this results in an infection for the patient that needs to be treated. Bacterial vaginosis can be particularly dangerous in pregnant women, as the infection promotes other diseases of the genitals and internal organs.
causes
Basically, the cause of bacterial vaginosis is always a misguided colonization of the affected genital organ with bacteria. The healthy flora of the vagina is disturbed here by the causative gardnerella displacing the favorable lactic acid and all other balance-promoting bacteria and thus triggering an infection.
Due to their rod-shaped nature, gardnerella can ideally settle in the vaginal cells and multiply quickly because of the optimal environment. They are usually transmitted through sexual intercourse, with switching between anal and vaginal intercourse without hygienic precautions entailing a particularly high risk. Intestinal bacteria can get into the environment of the vagina and disturb it.
The causes can also lie in excessive hygiene in the genital area, a very long menstruation or in psychosocial stress . In all of these cases, the pH of the vaginal area changes unfavorably.
When to the doctor?
Since bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance in the vaginal environment, in most cases this can be reconciled by the body itself and a doctor’s visit is not necessary. However, this requires an intact immune system and a healthy lifestyle.
The symptoms at the beginning of the course of the disease are often not noticed by the women. If there is a weak form of bacterial vaginosis with only mild symptoms (e.g. slight itching ), a visit to the doctor is not absolutely necessary. If the itching disappears after one or two days, the body’s own immune system has successfully fought the pathogens and brought the vaginal environment back into harmony.
However, if the disease progresses more severely and the symptoms are obvious to the woman, a medical examination should be carried out in any case. If symptoms such as severe itching, reddened skin in the intimate area, rash or burning sensation occur when urinating , you should not hesitate to consult a doctor. A quick clarification of the cause is necessary for a successful treatment. A gynecologist can provide information about the type of bacteria and possible causes. Because the respective treatment methods also depend on this.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of bacterial vaginosis:
The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are usually very clear and recognizable. In most cases, patients first notice an increased discharge. This color often corresponds to a greyish to yellowish tone. In addition, it can be seen that the discharge is associated with a “fishy” smell, which is considered extremely unpleasant and unusual.
Bacterial vaginosis also causes itching and stabbing pain when urinating. The infection becomes problematic during pregnancy , as it can lead to ruptured membranes and thus to premature birth, which can be associated with postnatal fever and other infections.
diagnosis
If bacterial vaginosis is suspected, a swab is usually taken by a specialist first. In this way, it can first be determined under the microscope to what extent Gardnerella has multiplied in the cells of the vagina.
In addition, in the further course of the diagnosis, bacterial cultures are created in order to be able to identify all bacteria in the genital area without a doubt. In addition to this procedure, it also makes sense to determine the pH value of the vaginal flora, which can also be done by the patient herself in the form of quick tests.
Since the milieu changes significantly during an infection, this is also a good way of detecting the onset of bacterial vaginosis very early on and treating it accordingly. This is particularly useful during pregnancy.
complications
Bacterial vaginosis can increase the risk of gynecologic inflammation in women who are not pregnant. Consequences are cervicitis (inflammation of the lining of the cervix) , endometritis (inflammation of the lining of the womb) or salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).
Vulvitis (inflammation of the vaginal entrance) can also occur. Bartholinitis (inflammation of the Bartholin glands) cannot be ruled out either. Pregnant women can experience complications such as premature labor, premature rupture of membranes and thus premature birth.
Bacterial vaginosis may also lead to an infection of the embryonic membrane. After childbirth, bacterial vaginosis often also causes inflammation and a delay in the healing process of an episiotomy.
If a caesarean section has to be performed, bacterial vaginosis can lead to an abscess in the abdominal wall. During sexual intercourse, it is also possible for bacterial vaginosis to be transmitted to men, which can lead to inflammation of the glans. However, such complications usually only occur if the bacterial vaginosis is not recognized and the treatment is therefore not carried out.
treatment and therapy
Whether an existing bacterial vaginosis has to be treated at all differs from case to case. In principle, it is not medically necessary to undertake treatment as long as a patient who is not pregnant has no symptoms or complaints.
In some cases, spontaneous healing can even be observed. If problems arise with regard to the present infection, it can usually only be treated with antibiotics . If you are pregnant, bacterial vaginosis should be treated immediately in the same way, even without symptoms, due to the high risk. The active ingredient is administered to patients in various forms, with the most likely being the suppository form, vaginal creams or the tablet form. In this way, the healing process progresses very quickly – over 90 percent of the affected patients are usually symptom-free within a few days.
In addition to medical treatment, it is also advisable to use a condom during therapy to avoid renewed contact with bacteria. In addition, suppositories with lactic acid bacteria support the balance of the vaginal flora.
prevention
Preventing bacterial vaginosis is relatively difficult. In principle, care should be taken at all times to maintain a constant bacterial balance in the vaginal environment. The best way to do this is to use a condom during sexual intercourse, and the hygiene of the vaginal area should not be excessive.
The vaginal flora can also be kept healthy by using probiotic tampons. Patients who have already been treated for bacterial vaginosis should also take care to minimize their stress levels to keep their bodies in balance.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.