Gardnerella gravid
Gardnerella vaginalis is a facultatively anaerobic gram-variable rod. It has been demonstrated to cause a wide variety of infections; however, it is most commonly recognized for its role. BV is characterized by a shift from a healthy vaginal microbiome — one dominated by acid-producing bacteria the healthy bacteria, such as lactobacillus — to a vagina dominated by unhealthy bacteria.
Gardnerella: normalflora eller kjønnssykdom?
The most prominent and often the most disconcerting symptom of BV is a strong fishy vaginal odor, but some women with BV also see increased amounts of discharge that is gray in color. A burning sensation when you urinate, itching in the vulvovaginal area and pain during sex are other symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal discharge is tested through a wet mount microscopic slide test , pH test BV often causes a pH level of 4.
Women with BV have reduced levels of amylase in the vagina, an enzyme that breaks up big carbohydrates into smaller carbohydrates called glycogen that healthy bacteria eat. Women with BV also have reduced levels of antimicrobial peptides AMPs that can fight off invading bacteria. In healthy vaginas, vaginal mucosal cells normally make AMPs. It is not transmitted sexually, but it is associated with having vaginal sex.
Therefore, it may be listed under sexually transmitted diseases when you research it. The U. Pregnant women are at increased risk for BV because of hormone changes that happen during pregnancy. Hormones are chemicals made by the body. If you have BV during pregnancy, your baby is at increased risk for premature birth and low birthweight. Premature birth is birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Low birthweight is when your baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Being born too early or too small can cause health problems for your baby. BV also can cause pelvic inflammatory diseases also called PID. PID is an infection in the uterus that can increase your risk for infertility not being able to get pregnant. It is not necessary to screen non-symptomatic pregnant women for BV. When obtaining your prenatal care, you are not routinely screened for bacterial vaginosis.
It is important that you discuss any concerns you may have about BV with your health care provider. The CDC advises that all pregnant women with symptoms of bacterial vaginosis be screened and treated. The CDC also supports screening women who have had previous preterm labor. Screening for BV is left up to your healthcare provider to decide. Antibiotics such as metronidazole aka Flagyl , clindamycin, and tinidazole are often prescribed and will destroy some of the bacteria that cause symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.
But, it is well-known that antibiotics kill off the good bacteria along with the infection-causing bacteria, which has potentially dire long-term impact on vaginal health. Blaser argues that the consequences of this are so serious that antibiotic prescriptions should not be given to pregnant women and young children. Since vaginal health correlates to the presence of good bacteria, antibiotics must be used only when absolutely necessary.
Killing off the good bacteria along with the bad can lead to vaginal imbalance and recurring instances of BV. Studies have shown that more than 50 percent of women treated for BV will experience a recurrence within 12 months. BV is most typically recurrent following a course of antibiotics. Given that there are no easy answers when it comes to treating BV, the best course of action may very well be to help our vagina heal itself by putting the good bacteria back in charge.
Options to try instead of antibiotics may include a vaginal probiotic with healthy doses of micronutrients that are required for a healthy vaginal ecosystem such as iron, zinc and manganese.
Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy
Research was done in by McDonald H, Brococklehurst P and Parsons J, suggests that antibiotic treatment may reduce the risk of premature rupture of membranes and low birth weight for women with a history of preterm labor and who have BV. This study did not find any significant evidence that treatment reduces premature labor. Healthy bacteria are the best defense against bacterial vaginosis, so anything you do to encourage the growth of lactobacillus bacteria will be a positive step forward in your fight against BV.
Douching washes out all the good bacteria with the bad, and many douches contain harsh chemicals. When you are looking for vaginal health products to eliminate odor, maintain pH or lubricate for intimacy, choose products without glycerin glycerol , coating oils, or parabens. Many lubricants and freshening gels have salt ion concentrations that are 4 times higher than vaginal fluids. High salt levels will pull water from cells and have been found to permanently damage vaginal mucosal cells and lactobacillus.
Never use household oils such as coconut oil in your vagina. Coconut oil can contain toxic peroxides and inflammatory chemicals due to exposure to light and storage at room temperature, and can coat the vagina thereby interfering with vaginal self-cleaning. A few additional comments about pH: remember that a healthy vaginal pH is acidic, with a pH level of 4.