What is this? Wax infection: symptoms in women, photos, reasons, reviews. Than to treat a bakvaginosis?

Many women at least once in their lives have to face a diagnosis of "bakvahinosis." What is it? This is the name of a specific type of vaginal inflammation caused by an overabundance of bacteria. Microorganisms themselves are not dangerous; They always live in the vagina and perform useful functions. However, excess of their normal amount leads to a violation of the natural balance of microflora, and then to bacterial vaginosis.

Most often this pathology is found in women of childbearing age, although imbalance can be diagnosed in all. The causes of the violation are still not known to science; It is possible to isolate only certain risk factors - for example, unprotected sexual acts or frequent douching. Acceptance of certain medications can also provoke a bakvaginosis.

Symptoms

In women of all ages, the disease manifests itself identically. Address to the gynecologist if you are disturbed:

• Watery gray, white or green discharge from the vagina;
• Unpleasant ("fish") smell from the vagina;
• Itching in the groin;
• Burning sensation during urination.

In some cases, bacterial vaginosis is asymptomatic.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment for a consultation with a health center or a health center if:

• Vaginal discharge looks new or unusual, have an unpleasant smell or is accompanied by a rise in body temperature. A gynecologist will help to identify the cause and diagnose ailment by signs and symptoms.
• You have already treated vaginal infectious diseases earlier, but this time the discharge has a different color and consistency.
• You had sexual relations with several partners or you recently changed your partner. Sometimes the symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases are similar to those of bacterial vaginosis.
• You have tried to cure yeast infection yourself with the help of over-the-counter medicines, but as a result, developed a bakvaginosis, the symptoms of which do not go away.

Causes

Inflammatory process in the vagina begins as a result of excessive growth of several species of bacteria that live in the female body. In the normal state of microflora, the beneficial lactobacilli exceed the number of "harmful" microorganisms (anaerobes). But if there are more anaerobes, the natural balance is disturbed and leads to a disease called "bakvaginosis". What is the chance or regularity caused by non-observance of personal hygiene? Unfortunately, medicine is not yet able to give an unambiguous answer to this question.

Risk factors

There are circumstances that increase the risk of pathology. These include:

• Frequent change of sexual partners or relationship with a new sexual partner. Doctors do not fully understand the relationship between sexual activity and bacterial vaginosis, but the disease is more often diagnosed in women who are in touch with a new man. Representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation are even more at risk.
• Douching. The practice of washing the vagina with water or detergent (syringing) disrupts the natural balance of the vagina. This can lead to the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which, in turn, threatens the development of pathology. Since the vagina is capable of self-cleaning, douches are not necessary.
• Lack of lactobacilli as an individual feature of the body. Sometimes in completely healthy women who do not change their sexual partners and do not produce syringing, it reveals a bakvaginosis. What is this attack and why does it develop, it would seem, from scratch? In fact, there are cases when a woman's vagina is naturally incapable of producing enough lactobacilli. The lack of "good" microorganisms over time leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

Complications

Usually this inflammatory process does not entail complications. In rare cases, there are:

• Premature birth. The vaccinosis in pregnancy can lead to premature delivery and the birth of a child with low weight and height.
• Infectious diseases, sexually transmitted diseases. If a woman does not take any measures to alleviate her condition, her body becomes more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. The list includes HIV, herpes simplex virus, chlamydia and gonorrhea. If the patient has HIV, bacterial vaginosis increases the risk of transmission of the virus to the partner.
• Risk of infection after surgery. An untreated disease increases the risk of postoperative infection after procedures such as removal of the uterus or enlargement and scraping of its cavity.
• Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs. The vaccine, the causes of which remain a mystery, in some cases causes inflammation in the small pelvis (usually suffer from the uterus and fallopian tubes), which in turn can lead to infertility.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor:

• Ask questions about your medical history. The specialist will ask if you have had vaginal infections or sexually transmitted diseases before.
• Will make a gynecological examination. During this examination, the doctor examines the vagina for signs of infection and places two fingers inside, while pressing the abdomen with the other hand to check if the pelvic organs are healthy.
• Take a sample of the vaginal discharge for analysis (smear). This procedure is performed to detect excess anaerobic bacteria in the vaginal microflora. The specialist will study the secretions under a microscope, looking for "key cells" - vaginal cells covered with rod-shaped microbes.
• Check the pH level in the vagina. Acidity of the vagina is checked by placing a special test strip in the inside. If the pH reaches 4.5 or higher, the doctor diagnoses the bacterial infection (photo).

Treatment

Use only those drugs that you prescribed a gynecologist. For the treatment of the inflammatory process in the vagina, the following are usually used:

• Metronidazole. This medication is convenient because it is released in tablets - you can just drink tablets with water. It is also available in the form of a topical gel, a small amount of which is placed in the vagina. To avoid the side effects of taking pills (they may manifest as a stomach disorder, abdominal pain or nausea), avoid drinking alcohol during therapy. It is also advisable to refrain from drinking alcohol during the day after the completion of the course of treatment.
• Clindamycin. This product is available in the form of a cream for the vagina. It should be borne in mind that this drug has a destructive effect on latex condoms - both during treatment and for a minimum of three days after the end of therapy.
• Tinidazole. This drug is presented in the form of tablets and has properties similar to those of metronidazole, the most common medication that treats bakvaginosis. What does it mean? Follow the instructions for use and remember that during the course of tinidazole, too, you can not drink alcohol.

If the sexual partner of an infected patient is a man, he usually does not need treatment. Otherwise, the situation is with representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation; They are advised to undergo diagnostic examinations and, in case of inflammation, begin a course of therapy. Timely treatment is particularly important for pregnant women, since bacterial vaginosis can lead to premature birth.

Take medication or use a cream or gel strictly during the period that the gynecologist has prescribed to you, even if the symptoms disappear earlier. Premature termination of therapy may increase the risk of recurrence.

Relapse

Even if you have accurately learned from a doctor how to treat bakvaginosis, and strictly followed his recommendations, the disease can recur after a period of three months to a year. Currently, research is being conducted on methods for preventing recurrent vaginal inflammation. Be sure to consult a doctor if the symptoms of infection have reappeared; You may be prescribed an additional course of metronidazole.

There is a scientifically unreasonable, but widespread view that eating foods rich in lactobacilli helps restore the natural balance of the vaginal microflora. Proponents of this point of view suggest that women suffering from recurrences of bacterial vaginosis, add to their daily diet more natural yogurt and other products containing probiotics. Although this assumption may have a rational basis, scientists can not yet give an unambiguous answer to the question of the usefulness of changes in the menu.

Prevention

Without a doubt, it is better not to treat, but to prevent bakvaginosis. Reviews of special intimate hygiene products will help you decide on a choice - buy soft, unrefined liquid soap and tampons or pads without flavors.

It is not recommended to resort to douching, since the vagina does not need special cleaning - it is enough just to take a bath or a familiar shower. Frequent syringings disrupt the balance of microflora in the vagina and increase the risk of developing infectious diseases. In addition, deliberate "cleaning" of the vagina does not help in any way to calm the already begun inflammatory process.

Avoid infection with sexually transmitted infections. Use male latex condoms, limit the number of sexual partners or temporarily refrain from sexual activity in order to minimize the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.