Bacterial vaginosis: an extremely unpleasant disease of young women

Changes in the smell, color and nature of secretions from the genital organs are one of the very first symptoms that indicate the presence of a pathological process in the organs of the reproductive system. In the modern world, a lot of information about the symptoms and methods of treating diseases is distributed in the media. Unfortunately, the trend towards self-treatment is increasing every year, and patients are increasingly turning to a gynecologist even when the disease is in an advanced stage. One of these diseases is bacterial vaginosis, the wrong treatment of which can worsen the course of the disease and complicate subsequent treatment. Patients often confuse bacterial vaginosis with candidiasis, and illiterate self-medication often leads to negative consequences.

What happens in a woman's body with bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition of disruption of the normal microflora of the vagina. The female body has a certain set of protective mechanisms that prevent the development of the inflammatory process of the female genital organs. One of the components of this complex is lactobacilli, which are located in the vagina and protect the female body from bacteria. With bacterial vaginosis, the normal microflora of the vagina, under the influence of certain factors, is replaced by a pathological one, which leads to the development of a characteristic clinical picture. Bacterial vaginosis occurs in more than 30% of women of reproductive age.

What factors contribute to the replacement of lactobacilli by pathogenic bacteria

There are no specific causes of bacterial vaginosis. Pathogenic bacteria are normally present in the female body, but their excessive reproduction occurs under the influence of certain predisposing factors. These factors include the following states:

• uncontrolled long-term use of antibacterial drugs. As you know, antibiotics destroy not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also beneficial lactobacilli;
• decrease in the protective immune reactions of the body;
• Undiagnosed or undertreated inflammatory processes of the genital organs;
• stress experienced;
• hormonal disorders and taking hormonal contraceptives;
• long-term use of intrauterine contraceptives, such as an intrauterine device;
• uncontrolled sex life, frequent change of sexual partners.

Clinical presentation of bacterial vaginosis: characteristic symptoms

The clinical picture of bacterial vaginosis has specific symptoms that distinguish this disease from vaginal candidiasis and other infectious processes of the reproductive system. The main such symptom is the appearance of copious creamy vaginal discharge, which has a characteristic gray color and an unpleasant "fishy" smell. Discharge provokes the appearance of symptoms such as itching of the genitals, burning sensation in the vagina and discomfort during sexual intercourse. There is hyperemia and swelling of the external genitalia. In case of concomitant infection, the clinical picture of bacterial vaginosis may be distorted.

Laboratory methods for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis

The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is based on laboratory tests. In the vaginal smear of a patient with bacterial vaginosis, specific "key cells" are found, which are cells of the desquamated epithelium with pathological microorganisms attached to them. Bacterioscopy also determines a slight increase in leukocytes and a decrease or even complete absence of lactobacilli necessary for the female body. The determination of the acidity of the vaginal contents is carried out using special indicator tests: the normal pH of the vagina is 4.5, and with bacterial vaginosis, the acidity rises to 7.5. An additional method for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis is an amine test: potassium hydroxide solution is added to the vaginal discharge, resulting in a characteristic “fishy” smell of discharge.

Step-by-step medical treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Drug therapy for bacterial vaginosis should be carried out in several stages. First of all, the patient is prescribed antimicrobial drugs necessary to destroy pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotics can be prescribed both for oral administration and for local therapy in the form of vaginal tablets, suppositories and ointments. In parallel with this, the patient is recommended to take immunomodulators necessary to stimulate the immune system and fight pathogenic bacteria. After antibiotic therapy, it is necessary to restore the normal microflora of the vagina. For this purpose, eubiotics are prescribed - preparations containing "good" bacteria, so necessary for the female body. The disappearance of characteristic symptoms and laboratory confirmation of the normalization of the vaginal microflora indicates a successful cure for bacterial vaginosis.