What is bacterial vaginosis?

Very often women do not pay attention to vaginal discharge, naively believing that it is not associated with the disease. But this is not always the case. If you notice that the volume of secretion increased, itching and burning appeared, and you clearly feel unpleasant smell – these are signs of bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis is a non-inflammatory infectious syndrome characterized by a sharp decrease or absence of lactoflora and its replacement by polymicrobial association of conditionally pathogenic anaerobes.

While bacterial Vaginosis, bad smelling secretions appear. Despite it is not an inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis significantly affects the quality of life, has a negative influence on the psychological and moral state of the woman.

Its diagnosis is based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Doctor can suspect bacterial vaginosis while taking a smear. It identifies so-called “key cells” (vaginal epithelial cells covered a variety of coccobacilli (Gardnerella vaginalis)) with the absence of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus spp.) in smear.

Causes of bacterial vaginosis:

• Frequent change of sexual partners, unprotected sex;
• Administration of broad spectrum antibiotics;
• Improper use of panties, feminine hygiene rules non-compliance, tight underwear’s;
• Untreated genital infections.

 

Numerous studies have found that bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease and can appear even in women who are not sexually active yet. Causative agents of bacterial vaginosis (primarily Gardnerella vaginalis) transmitted through sexual contact, but their transmission from one woman to another is not the cause of the disease. But unprotected sex plays a certain role in causing the disease.