Bacterial vaginosis is the most common infectious vaginal disease among women of childbearing age. The cause of infection is a violation of the bacterial balance in the woman's vagina. During pregnancy, this infection develops in every fifth woman. In the usual state, the woman in the vagina is dominated by lactobacilli, these bacteria control the balance of the microflora. If these lactobacilli become small, bacterial vaginosis develops, as other bacteria begin to multiply uncontrollably. What leads to a violation of bacterial balance, the scientists have not yet accurately determined.
Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis
Fifty percent of women have this infectious disease without causing any symptoms. If there are symptoms, the woman notices white or gray discharge from the vagina, which have an unpleasant smell, sometimes this smell resembles the smell of fish. The smell, as a rule, amplifies after the sexual certificate or act, as with excretions semen also is mixed. In addition, a woman can feel a burning sensation in the genital area during urination, although this is a rare occurrence.
When these symptoms appear, a woman should consult a specialist. The doctor will prescribe a test: taking a smear to check for bacterial vaginosis or any other infection, and by its results will appoint the appropriate treatment.
The causes of bacterial vaginosis
- systemic or topical antibiotic treatment;
- decrease in the protective function of the body (immunity);
- malformations of the genital organs;
- endocrine diseases, as a rule, diabetes mellitus;
- anemia of various origin;
- therapy with the use of cytostatic and hormonal drugs;
- non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene.
The hypothesis that bacterial vaginosis is transmitted from one partner to another during sexual contact has not been clinically confirmed and unproven.
Influence of bacterial vaginosis on the course of pregnancy
If during pregnancy, the woman developed bacterial vaginosis, then the probability of uterine infection, the birth of a child with low weight, premature birth, too early rupture of membranes increases.
Some studies have shown that there is a link between disease and miscarriage that occurs in the second trimester.
However, the connection between complications of pregnancy infection is not entirely clear. Scientists have not yet figured out why only some women who have bacterial vaginosis have premature births. It is also not entirely clear whether the infectious disease causes an early rupture of the membranes. Perhaps those women who are predisposed to the above complications, also have a predisposition to the development of bacterial vaginosis. Nevertheless, some women with bacterial candidiasis had a normal baby, without complications. In addition, in fifty percent of such cases, the disease itself passed.
If a woman develops this infectious disease, her body becomes vulnerable to the following infections that are transmitted through sexual contact:
- chlamydia;
- HIV;
- gonorrhea.
In women who are not in a position, in the presence of bacterial vaginosis, the probability of developing a foci of inflammation in the pelvic organs increases, as well as the appearance of infections after gynecological operations. During pregnancy, there is also the possibility of inflammation, but this probability is significantly less.
Therapy of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy
Specialists prescribe antibiotics, which can be taken during this period. Treatment partner is not required, what distinguishes this infection from others.
It is very important to take all the prescribed medications, even with the disappearance of symptoms. Most of the treatment helps, but in thirty women out of a hundred the disease recurs again within a few months. Antibiotics kill "bad" bacteria, but they can not promote the growth of "good" bacteria.