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Bacterial vaginosis: causes of the disease, effects on pregnancy, treatment. Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis or vaginal dysbiosis is an infectious disease that is infectious in nature. Gynecological statistics show that pathology is diagnosed in every 2 women during the period of bearing a child.

The disease may be asymptomatic, but in every 3 expectant mothers it has a vivid clinical picture.

Some time ago, bacterial vaginosis was equated with genital tract infections. Numerous studies have made it possible to find out the true nature of its origin, which had a significant impact on attitudes towards the disease and its treatment.

What is vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is a condition when the expectant mother has an imbalance in the vaginal microflora. Normally, the mucous membrane of the genital tract is inhabited by lactic acid bacteria, which make up 98% of all microorganisms.

There are also opportunistic microbes, but their growth is actively suppressed by local immunity - lactobacilli. If, for some reason, the number of lactic acid bacteria decreases, favorable conditions are created for an increase in the colonies of opportunistic microorganisms. Their role can be played by gardnerella, staphylococci, bacteroids, yeast, peptococci, mycoplasmas.

An imbalance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms that inhabit the vagina is bacterial vaginosis. Doctors call it dysbiosis, vaginal dysbiosis, and also give separate names corresponding to the type of predominant pathogen (gardnerellosis, mycoplasmosis, candidiasis).

The reasons for the development of pathology during pregnancy


Vaginal dysbiosis during pregnancy develops due to a decrease in general and local immunity. This happens mainly in the early stages.

Nature provides for a decrease in the body's resistance for the correct and reliable attachment of the embryo, but other parts of the reproductive system suffer from this. In addition to the main factor, there are other reasons for the development of the disease:

  • Taking medications (hormonal, antibacterial, antifungal);
  • Changes in hormonal levels that occur at the beginning of pregnancy and in the last stages;
  • Endocrine diseases;
  • Failure to comply with intimate hygiene or abuse of soap with triclosan;
  • Slimming underwear (thongs);
  • Dysbacteriosis in the intestines;
  • Douching (not prescribed by a doctor);
  • Stressful situations, chronic lack of sleep;
  • Frequent change of sexual partners;
  • Colds, viral diseases;
  • Inflammation of the pelvic organs;
  • Complicated pregnancy;
  • Bad habits and unhealthy diet.

In addition to the main treatment, which the doctor will prescribe after the examination, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the pathological process, otherwise the therapeutic methods will be powerless, and vaginosis will return regularly.

Influence of vaginosis on the course and resolution of pregnancy


The main danger of vaginosis during pregnancy is the passage of the infection into the uterine cavity, where the membranes and the embryo with the placenta will be affected. The result of these processes can be premature childbirth or miscarriage. The causative agent, affecting the membranes, thinns and melts them, due to which purulent contents are formed.

Chorioamnionitis is an inflammation of the inner mucous layer of the uterus in contact with the fetus, accompanied by damage to the membranes and amniotic fluid.

The spread of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women provokes infection of the fetus. Long-term hypoxia occurs, from which the baby's brain suffers. Blood circulation and metabolic processes in the placenta are impaired.

The effect on the fetus during infection is as follows: at best, the baby will be born with intrauterine growth retardation or low body weight, at worst, a miscarriage will occur.

Bacterial vaginosis often delivers by caesarean section. Applying such tactics, doctors have a single goal - to protect the fetus from infection.

However, after childbirth, the "charm" of the disease can be felt by the newly-made mother: inflammation of the uterus, breast infections, poor recovery of the genital organ, long postpartum bleeding. Often in these cases, you have to give up breastfeeding, as there is a serious and long-term treatment ahead.

Clinical signs

Not all women develop symptoms of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. Often, the disease is detected only during diagnosis. The main method for determining vaginal dysbiosis is a smear.


An extended study allows you to determine the number and type of opportunistic microbes. If the patient does not express complaints, then the smear is taken twice for pregnancy: when registering and before childbirth.

Good results do not guarantee that gardnerellosis during pregnancy will not appear in 1-2 weeks. For this it is not at all necessary to have unprotected intercourse. The starting point for the development of pathology is a decrease in immunity.

The expectant mother needs to carefully monitor her health and be sure to inform the doctor about the appearance of the following signs:

  • Colored discharge (white, gray, green-yellow) has a thick and sticky consistency;
  • Sour or fishy odor from the vagina, which intensifies after intercourse (when mixed with semen);
  • Itching of the external genital organs;
  • Pain or stinging that occurs during the emptying of the bladder;
  • Unpleasant sensations during sexual intercourse;
  • Drawing pains in the lower abdomen, not having to do with the tone of the uterus.
Do not be afraid to see a doctor. The first thing the gynecologist will do is take a smear. Based on the results, treatment will be prescribed. Lack of timely therapy for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is more dangerous than taking medications recommended by your doctor.

Therapeutic methods


It is imperative to treat bacterial vaginosis for women, it is especially important to say goodbye to it for expectant mothers. Depending on the duration of pregnancy, oral medications, as well as topical tablets or suppositories, are used in the treatment of vaginal dysbiosis.

In the early stages, it is preferable to use vaginal drugs that are not absorbed into the bloodstream and are not able to affect the development of the embryo.

It should be remembered that the laying of all systems and organs of the child takes place up to 12 weeks. The use of any medication before overcoming this milestone is undesirable, as it can affect the child.

Gardnerellosis in pregnant women is treated mainly after 22 weeks. At this time, the placenta is already actively functioning, which makes it possible to protect the baby from aggressive active components of drugs. Therapy involves the use of antibacterial and antiprotozoal agents:

  • Metronidazole, Trichopolum, Dalacin are used for 7-10 days from the second half of the gestational period;
  • Hexicon in the form of suppositories is used for 10-14 days, it can be used even in the first trimester;
  • Vapigel, Laktagel, Maksilak, Linex are prescribed for a long time in order to restore microflora.

In addition to medication, you need to adjust your diet. Fermented milk products rich in live lactobacilli have a beneficial effect on digestion and the state of the vaginal microflora. You should remove baked goods, sweets, smoked meats and pickles from the menu, and also refuse fatty foods.

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy() Is one of the most common vaginal infections in women. This disease is caused by an imbalance in the bacteria living in the vagina. About 1 in 5 women of childbearing age have this infection, and during pregnancy every second expectant mother suffers from vaginosis.

If the vaginal microflora is normal, then it is colonized by "good" bacteria called lactobacilli, which maintain a balance between all the bacteria in the vaginal environment. Vaginal dysbiosis occurs when there is too little lactobacillus, which allows other bacteria to get out of control and multiply.

Effects of bacterial vaginosis on pregnancy

Studies have shown that the presence of vaginal dysbiosis in a pregnant woman is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, premature rupture of membranes, and postpartum uterine infections. Several studies have shown a link between vaginosis and the risk of miscarriage in the second trimester of pregnancy.

However, more than half of women with bacterial infections are completely normal in carrying pregnancies and giving birth to healthy children. And in 40% of cases, vaginal dysbiosis in pregnant women goes away on its own. But keep in mind that vaginosis makes you more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gonorrhea, and HIV / AIDS.

Bacterial vaginosis symptoms

At least half of women who have vaginal dysbiosis have no symptoms at all. This course of the disease is called asymptomatic.

If the symptoms are still there, then the woman may notice a white, greenish or gray color, which can be foamy and liquid, and can be thick and sticky. This discharge is characterized by an unpleasant smell of rotten fish, which becomes most evident after sex when the discharge is mixed with semen. A woman may also experience a burning sensation when urinating or irritation in the genital area, although this is not common.

Your gynecologist should definitely be aware of these symptoms! If you have any complaints or if you suspect vaginosis (during a vaginal examination), the doctor will take swabs of vaginal and cervical secretions from you to confirm (or deny) that you have bacterial vaginosis or another vaginal infection. If any infection is identified, you will need to undergo appropriate treatment.

Treating bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy

If bacterial vaginosis is confirmed, you will need to take antibiotics that are considered safe to take during pregnancy.

It is important that you take all your prescribed medications from the first day to the last day of the cycle, even if any symptoms have disappeared. In most cases, the disappearance of symptoms only indicates that the infection has subsided, but as soon as you stop taking the drugs, the infection will recur. A recurrent disease is usually more severe and less responsive to treatment.

But even if you follow all the doctor's recommendations exactly, then the secondary appearance of the infection is possible. Almost 30% of women who have undergone treatment experience recurrence of symptoms of vaginosis in the first three months after a course of antibiotic therapy. This relapse of the disease is due to the fact that antibiotics kill most of the bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis, and together with them they kill the useful microflora. And, unfortunately, there is no way to make the "good" bacteria grow faster, so the "bad" bacteria can multiply again. If the disease recurs, you will need to undergo repeated treatment, which will be selected by your doctor.

Prevention of bacterial vaginosis

Until now, scientists cannot say exactly what causes vaginal dysbiosis, so there are practically no preventive measures that you could take to avoid catching this infection. However, there are several ways that you can reduce your risk of getting this disease:

1. Stick to safe sex (use a condom), especially if you or your partner have sex with other people. It is not entirely clear what role a woman's sexual activity plays in initiating vaginosis, but this disease is quite rare in women who do not have sex, and most often it occurs in women who have multiple sexual partners or who often change men.

2. Give up smoking! If you smoke, here's another reason to quit this bad habit! Smoking increases the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis.

3. Do not douche , do not rinse the vagina with a stream of water from the shower, do not use intimate sprays or toilet soap to wash the genitals. All of these can upset the delicate balance of bacteria in the vagina.

In addition to the risk of development bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, douching is not safe for the expectant mother anyway! In extremely rare cases, douching can lead to the ingress of air under the membranes of the fetal bladder, from where air enters the woman's circulatory system and causes air embolism, which is extremely life-threatening.

Bacterial vaginosis is a violation of the vaginal microecosystem with a sharp decrease or complete disappearance of lactic acid bacteria and a pronounced increase (hundreds and thousands of times) in the amount of opportunistic microflora. Inflammation is rare. One of the most common diseases among women of reproductive age. It is accidentally diagnosed in 17-37% of cases, in women with profuse and prolonged leucorrhoea - in 95% of cases, and in pregnant women in 15-37% of cases.

What bacteria normally colonize the vagina?

95-98% are lactobacilli. The overwhelming majority are lactobacilli or Dederlein's bacilli, but besides them, there are about 40 species of acidophilic bacteria that also perform the function of protection.

2-5%2, 3 is conditionally pathogenic flora, which normally does absolutely no harm to the female body. The number of species related to conditionally pathogenic microflora is huge, and each woman has her own "set", but there are about a dozen microorganisms present in each, and they necessarily manifest themselves in dysbiosis. The main bacterium is Gardnerella vaginalis - it necessarily appears with all vaginosis in all women. It is considered a kind of marker and it is on it that many laboratory analyzes are based.


How should it be normal?

Normally, lactobacilli break down glycogen from the cells of the squamous epithelium lining the vagina to lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, creating an acidic medium with a pH of up to 3.8 - 4.5. An acidic environment is optimal for the growth of lactic acid bacteria and destructive for opportunistic flora. A constant pH level is the key to a clean vagina.

Colonies of lactobacilli, together with their waste products, form a biofilm - glycocalyx, which lines the vagina from the inside and protects it.

How the ratio of good to bad bacteria changes during pregnancy

As mentioned above, lactobacilli break down glycogen from the cells of the squamous epithelium of the vagina, which performs a barrier function. But these cells have a certain lifespan associated with hormonal changes in the woman's body.

During pregnancy, under the influence of corpus luteum hormones, squamous epithelial cells become especially abundant. An almost endless supply of glycogen, the number of lactobacilli is growing, the amount of opportunistic microflora decreases, and the pH level becomes even lower. The body is trying to do everything possible so that by the time the child is born, the birth canal is as clean as possible, and he gets acquainted with a healthy lactic acid flora, which will settle in his intestines.

It would seem that everything should be fine, but in fact, a strongly acidic environment, in 30% of cases, stimulates the growth of some forms of transient infections (opportunistic), such as yeast-like fungi candida, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, etc.4, 5.

What Happens With Bacterial Vaginosis?

When exposed to one of the triggers, the number of lactobacilli decreases in the vagina. The level of lactic acid drops rapidly, the pH rises, conditionally pathogenic microflora begins to multiply, primarily gardnerella, which further inhibits the vital activity of lactic acid bacteria. It turns out a "vicious circle", the result of which is either the complete death of lactobacilli, or their presence is no more than 30%. The rapid development of Gardnerella vaginalis creates favorable conditions for the growth of the mass of other pathogenic microorganisms, each of which gives some of its own specific symptoms.

Thus, bacterial vaginosis is a disease caused by many forms of microbes, not just gardnerella, as was thought until recently. Although Gardnerella vaginalis is the dominant infectious agent. By itself, bacterial vaginosis does not pose a threat to women's health, but for years, opportunistic microflora accumulating in large quantities, creates conditions for the development of inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. Women with vaginosis are more likely to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, they are difficult to bear pregnancies and often give birth prematurely.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women

· Profuse leucorrhoea, sometimes gray. If the disease lasts for years, it may turn greenish-yellow. Foamy, sticky and stringy.

· A characteristic fishy odor that intensifies after intercourse, in particular after contact with sperm.

· Dyspareunia is pain during intercourse.

· Pain in the lower abdomen, in the absence of any other inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs and hypertonicity of the uterus.

· Itching, burning, urinary disorders are extremely rare, so the disease is diagnosed late and has time to deliver a number of unpleasant moments.

What leads to the development of bacterial vaginosis

· Decreased immunity

· Systemic and local antibiotic therapy

· Endocrine diseases, most often diabetes mellitus

· Treatment with hormonal and cytostatic drugs

· Genital malformations

· Anemias of various origins

· Disregard for basic hygiene rules

· The hypothesis of transmission of bacterial vaginosis by sexual partners has not been clinically confirmed and is unproven.

Features of the course of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is very insidious and fraught with many pitfalls. In a smear of vaginal discharge, pathogenic microorganisms that exceed the permissible level can be detected, but at the same time, a woman may not present absolutely any complaints characteristic of vaginosis. Recently, it is generally accepted that it is not worth treating such women, but simply observing the dynamics of development. It is likely that the vaginal microecosystem with the help of pregnancy hormones will recover on its own without medical intervention. But such women are temporarily at increased risk due to the possible premature rupture of the membranes. They should visit the gynecologist more often and have a home kit for quick diagnosis of amniotic fluid leakage.

The second category of women - with profuse vaginal discharge. The most difficult in terms of diagnosis. Primarily because during pregnancy, physiological secretions increase, which can cause unnecessary anxiety and treatment. With profuse leucorrhoea during pregnancy, a differential diagnosis should be made between bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and amniotic fluid leakage. Since leakage in the vast majority of cases is the result of bacterial vaginosis, women at risk should have a test system at home to monitor the integrity of the amniotic membranes in order to exclude this pathology first - as the most dangerous. The only home system currently recommended by the European Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the Amnishur test. Its accuracy is 99.8% and surpasses many laboratory diagnostic methods.


Bacterial vaginosis treatment

Treatment is individual. Should be prescribed only by a doctor after all diagnostic measures have been carried out. You cannot use medications for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis on your own, as this can only aggravate the situation, prolong treatment in the future and increase the number of complications.

Very often, a woman carrying a child is exposed to serious pathologies, and all because her body is being rebuilt, he has to work for two, so the immune system is weakened. Often, women have such diseases of the reproductive system that, without proper treatment, can lead to miscarriage. One of these ailments is bacterial vaginosis. During pregnancy, it is most common and requires urgent treatment under the supervision of a doctor. But what kind of ailment is this, how to treat it correctly, and what preventive measures should be taken?

What is vaginosis?

Vaginosis during pregnancy is a disease accompanied by disorders in the vagina with a rapid decrease in the number of lactic acid bacteria and a pronounced increase in opportunistic microflora. In rare cases, an inflammatory process appears. This is one of the most common ailments found in women of reproductive age. Accidentally, it can be diagnosed only in 30% of patients, in those who complain of whitish discharge - in 90% of cases, and in pregnant women - in 35%.

During pregnancy, or, as it is often called, dysbiosis, lactobacilli, which are responsible for the protective functions of the body, completely disappear, so a woman becomes vulnerable. During pregnancy, neglected forms can lead to the loss of the fetus, so it is very important to detect the disease in time and begin treatment.

The rate of bacteria in the vagina

In the vagina of every woman, special bacteria live that protect the reproductive system from inflammation and other pathologies. The optimal number should be as follows:

  • lactobacilli - 95%;
  • 2.5-5% is conditionally pathogenic flora.

The number of pathogenic organisms is so large that it will not work to say exactly how many there are, each girl has her own set, but there are certain types that are present in everyone and they will certainly appear if dysbiosis begins. The main bacteria is that it always manifests itself if vaginosis begins during pregnancy. It is considered a kind of marker and almost all laboratory tests are based on it.

Classification of vaginosis

Before you understand an important issue for many women, how to treat vaginosis during pregnancy, you need to know exactly what degrees of severity of the disease are:

  • 1 degree. It is determined if there is no microflora in the smear, but epithelial cells are present without changes and the possibility of infection with other bacteria remains.
  • 2nd degree. In this case, the degree of Doderlein's rods decreases, and the gram-negative and positive flora increases, a slight increase in leukocytes is found in the blood.
  • 3 degree. In this case, lactic acid bacteria are completely absent, the clinical picture of the disease is obvious.

Causes of vaginosis in pregnant women

When lactobacilli are normal, then nothing threatens either the woman or her fetus. They monitor the balance of microflora and produce lactic acid, which maintains an optimal acid balance, which is detrimental to most pathogenic microorganisms. But under the influence of certain factors, the number of beneficial bacteria can decrease, in this case there is a violation of the microecological system. A low level of lactobacilli leads to uncontrolled growth of harmful bacteria: gardnerella, bacteroids, mobilinkus, peptococci, mycoplasma, streptococci.

It is difficult to determine what exactly affects the microflora and causes vaginosis during pregnancy, but internal and external factors can affect the decrease in the number of lactobacilli:

  • taking antibiotics;
  • treatment with antimicrobial, hormonal and antifungal agents;
  • disruptions in hormonal levels after abortion, labor or puberty;
  • vaginal douching;
  • the use of antimicrobial agents during intimate hygiene with triclosan;
  • use of oral contraceptives;

  • the use of spermicides, which are part of vaginal suppositories and tablets;
  • diseases of an allergic nature or endocrine;
  • climate change, stressful situations;
  • imbalance in the intestines;
  • wearing synthetic underwear;
  • pregnancy, especially with complications;
  • neglect of hygiene rules.

How does the ratio of bacteria change during pregnancy?

Lactobacilli help break down glycogen, which is produced from the cells of the squamous epithelium of the vagina, which is necessary in order to build an invisible protective barrier. But these cells do not live long, and this is because the hormonal background in the body of every lady is constantly changing and not always for the better.

While a woman is carrying a baby, under the influence of corpus luteum hormones, the number of squamous epithelial cells increases significantly. As a result, it turns out that the glycogen reserve is large enough, so the level of lactobacilli increases, and the degree decreases, and, as a result, the pH becomes lower. The body is trying to cleanse the birth canal on its own by the time labor begins and the baby gets acquainted with a healthy microflora, which will settle in his intestines.

At first glance, it seems that everything should be just perfect, but in most cases, too acidic environment leads to the growth of some forms of transient infections, including fungi of candida, mycoplasma, ureplasma, and as a result, vaginosis begins to develop during pregnancy.

What Happens With Vaginosis?

Under the influence of one of the mechanisms, the amount of nutrients decreases. The degree of lactic acid decreases rapidly, the pH rises and pathogenic flora begins to multiply, especially gardnerella, which further inhibits beneficial bacteria. It turns out a "vicious circle", as a result of which lactobacilli die in large numbers.

The rapid development of pathogenic microorganisms leads to the fact that a woman has unpleasant symptoms, indicating that vaginosis has appeared during pregnancy.

Symptoms in pregnant women

Not always in the early stages, the disease manifests itself with very pronounced symptoms, but if the disease progresses, then its symptoms appear:

  • abundant leucorrhoea of ​​a slightly grayish tint, and if the ailment has not been treated for years, then the discharge can become greenish, frothy and stringy;
  • a characteristic fishy smell appears, especially during intercourse of partners;
  • there is pain during intercourse, burning;
  • discomfort in the lower abdomen does not allow to live peacefully, upon examination, hypertonicity of the uterus is detected;
  • unpleasant burning sensation during urination, but this symptom is much less common.

After the first symptoms appear, you need to urgently seek advice from a gynecologist who will conduct an examination and be able to accurately diagnose.

Diagnostic methods for determining vaginosis

Most often, only a doctor can diagnose pathology. On her own, no woman will be able to say which infection is progressing in her body, since there are many types of bacteria that cause it. Most often, there is simply discomfort in the lower abdomen and vagina, so you need to consult a doctor. He, in turn, examines the woman, takes a smear for analysis and takes a blood sample in order to conduct additional research and identify which infection triggered the development of the disease.

After carrying out all the necessary research, it is possible to accurately confirm or deny the diagnosis, and only then begin the treatment of vaginosis during pregnancy.

What is the danger of an ailment while carrying a baby?

Any infection can seriously harm the health of not only a woman, but also her unborn baby. During vaginosis, inflammation of the amniotic fluid can occur, as a result of which a crack and even rupture can appear on it. If this happens, the woman may have a premature birth or spontaneous abortion. When a crack appears, the infection can enter the amniotic fluid, and as a result, the baby will become infected.

Such infection can lead to serious consequences: the development of the fetus will stop or sepsis will appear.

That is why it is important to timely detect bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy. Treatment should be started immediately after confirmation of the diagnosis and all recommendations should be followed strictly.

Treatment of vaginosis during pregnancy

If the patient's diagnosis is confirmed, then first of all the doctor recommends drinking a course of antibiotics that are safe for a woman in her position.

It is very important to follow all the doctor's recommendations, from the first to the last day, until all symptoms have disappeared. But it is worth remembering that the disappearance of symptoms may indicate that the infection has subsided, but as soon as the medication is stopped, they may appear again. Relapses are usually much more severe and less effective on therapy.

But even if the patient fully follows all the recommendations - take antibiotics, put suppositories for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, it is possible that the infection will appear again.

Almost a third of women who have received treatment experience recurrence of symptoms in the first three months after taking antibiotics. The relapse is due to the fact that taking such drugs killed most of not only pathogenic bacteria, but also beneficial ones. And so far, no such method has yet been found that could force beneficial bacteria to multiply faster, so pathogenic microorganisms continue to multiply.

If a relapse occurs, then the woman is prescribed re-therapy, while the drugs are selected individually, because everything possible must be done to protect the fetus. Accurately answer the main question, how to treat bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can a gynecologist who knows for sure about all the diseases of a woman and will take all measures so as not to harm the health of the patient and her future baby.

How to restore microflora?

After taking antibiotics, the microflora is disturbed, therefore it is very important to start taking biological products and use them intravaginally. Most often, doctors stop at such medications:


To do this, you need to take 2 doses of the drug and dilute with 5 ml of purified water, blot the tampon and inject it intravaginally. The procedure is carried out twice a day. The course is up to 10 days.

But before starting this kind of therapy, it is better to ask a doctor for advice.

Prevention of vaginosis

To date, it has not been fully clarified what exactly causes dysbiosis in a woman's genitals, so it is impossible to say exactly which preventive measures will give a positive result. But there are several ways that you can slightly reduce the risk that a woman will develop bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy:

  • It is very important to adhere to the rules of safe sex, especially if you are not confident in your partner. It is not yet clear what role a woman's sex life plays on the appearance of vaginosis, but statistics say that pathology is more common in those patients who have several sexual partners at once.
  • It is important to quit smoking. It is believed that smoking leads to the fact that the risk of developing such a pathology as vaginosis in the early stages of pregnancy increases.

  • You can never douche and wash the vagina with a stream of water. Also, the doctor advises against using sprays for intimate hygiene and soap for washing the genitals. All these funds can upset the balance and lead to the development of pathogenic microflora.

Any illness during pregnancy requires an attentive approach and careful treatment in order to prevent complications and not harm the baby.

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy brings a lot of inconvenience and discomfort to women. This disease is one of the vaginal infectious diseases. Pathological processes are caused by the appearance of an imbalance in bacteria that live in the vagina.

According to statistics, every fifth woman has experienced symptoms of the disease in question. During pregnancy, the risk of bacterial vaginosis is greatly increased.

Due to the fact that certain changes occur in the female body during pregnancy, at this time an imbalance in the bacterial balance inside, including the vagina, may occur.

Usually the microflora of the female vagina is supported by lactic acid bacteria. But in pregnant women, their number gradually disappears. The indicators of the body's immunity decrease, and harmful pathogens that cause bacterial vaginosis can begin to develop in the middle of the vagina.

The fact is that the infectious process under consideration is capable of proceeding for years without any symptoms. But at some point, most of all during pregnancy, bacterial vaginosis will manifest itself with its symptoms. If the pathology is not treated, then the disease can cause more serious problems:

  • premature birth;
  • diseases of the pelvic organs;
  • premature birth;
  • miscarriage.

To date, all the consequences of bacterial vaginosis have not yet been investigated. But there are cases when the entire period of pregnancy, with the presence of the disease, proceeded without any problems, and the symptoms themselves gradually disappeared in women. But, this happens very rarely.

Disease classification

There are degrees of bacterial vaginosis. They differ depending on the severity of the pathology:

  • Compensated degree (when taking a smear, the absence of microflora and the presence of epithelial cells are observed).
  • Subcompensated degree (a decrease in the content of Doderlein's bacillus, an increase in gram-negative and gram-positive flora, an increase in leukocytes in the blood).
  • Decompensated degree (lactic acid bacteria are absent, the symptoms of the disease appear brighter, in laboratory analysis, many different pathogenic and facultative, as well as opportunistic microorganisms are observed).

Depending on the course of bacterial vaginosis, there is an acute, torpid or erased and asymptomatic form.

The reasons for the development of the disease

The skin and mucous membrane of healthy women is not always sterile, since the human body is constantly in contact with many microorganisms that make up the microflora. Thus, the microflora of the female vagina consists of lactobacilli, the main inhabitants of the vagina (lactic acid bacteria).

Lactobacilli are able to produce a certain amount of lactic acid, thus maintaining a healthy acidic environment of the female vagina. It acts as a protective factor against the growth of other types of bacteria that cause other diseases.

During the progression of the disease, other types of bacteria are observed:

  • Bacteroids;
  • Peptococci;
  • Peptostreptococci;
  • Mycoplasma.

Factors affecting the microflora of the female vagina:

  • during a violation of the functionality of the intestine;
  • when using spermicides;
  • with frequent excessive vaginal douching and the use of antiseptic agents;
  • with a decrease in immunity or an allergic reaction;
  • when using inappropriate contraceptives or after installing the spiral;
  • changes in the hormonal background of the body during puberty, after an abortion, after childbirth, during menstrual irregularities;
  • during a change in climatic conditions, under various stresses;
  • long-term use of antibiotic and hormonal drugs.

During the onset of symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, you should pay attention to the disease and see a doctor. There is no need to postpone treatment for the next day.

What is the danger of illness during pregnancy

The danger of the disease in question is that microorganisms can penetrate from the vaginal area into the inside, infecting all internal genital organs, including the fetal membrane or any area of ​​the placenta. Such types of migration can lead to the development of many complications in the female body, such as:

  • the appearance of premature birth;
  • earlier rupture of amniotic fluid;
  • purulent decay of the fetal membrane;
  • organ inflammation;
  • chorioamnionitis;
  • rupture of the membranes.

The pathological process can spread to the unborn child while still in the womb. But also prolonged hypoxia, dysfunctions of the placenta and its vascular system may appear. With bacterial vaginosis, the baby may be born weak and low in body weight. And also a child may be born with a number of illnesses, such as pneumonia or nervousness.

If the birth took place using a caesarean section, then the problem may appear in the mother. Bacterial vaginosis of pregnancy has a number of complications, including inflammation of the lining of the uterus.

Diagnosis of the disease

Usually, diagnostic actions are performed by a gynecologist. But with insufficient information, he directs the woman for additional procedures or analyzes. It is important to correctly determine which infection could cause the pathology, because there is a great variety of infectious bacteria.

A woman who progresses with the disease may experience severe discomfort. It is at this time that you immediately need to contact specialists so that serious complications do not appear in the future.

During additional examinations, doctors should carefully examine and take swabs from the surface of the vagina. And it's also important to have a blood test and general tests. After that, on the basis of the studies carried out, treatment can be prescribed.

Bacterial vaginosis symptoms

According to statistics, there are situations when women are able to endure bacvaginosis without any symptoms. This can greatly complicate the timely detection of the manifestation of an infectious disease. But since the disease is not easy and can give complications, that is, recommendations for what symptoms it is important to see a doctor:

  • Pain during intercourse.
  • The appearance of a sticky and stringy white discharge, sometimes gray in color. When the disease lasts more than one month, the color can be yellow or even green.
  • Pain during urination.
  • Manifestation of itching in the evening, as well as at night. It can get worse after intercourse and after taking a hot shower.
  • Sour, fishy-smelling discharge. They intensify after intercourse, especially after contact with sperm.

Pregnant women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis are able to give birth to a completely healthy child, and the disease goes away after childbirth by itself. Vaginosis is dangerous because it makes the body weak and susceptible to many infectious pathologies. And there is also a risk of contracting chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Treatment of vaginosis in pregnant women

If gynecologists have diagnosed bacterial vaginosis, then there should be no panic. First of all, doctors will prescribe antibiotic medications that are safe even during pregnancy. It is important to take the issue under consideration more seriously. When any symptoms disappear, it is important to continue visiting the gynecologist for a few more months.

It is not difficult to treat vaginosis, but if you do not constantly heal to the end, the disease can manifest itself over and over again. After a while, the pathology can become chronic. Today, there are drugs that effectively kill harmful flora, while leaving lactobacilli.

More often, manifestations of the disease begin from the fifth month of pregnancy. If such problems arise, mothers can be treated with such drugs:

According to doctors, such drugs will not affect the fetus and its development. But it is important to know that their use in the early stages of pregnancy is not recommended.

If, after treatment, the symptoms of the disease resumed, and during the analysis no candidiasis or gardnerella was found, then drugs that restore the microflora of the female vagina can be used: Lactobacterin, Bifidin or Acylact.

Parallel treatment of the spouse, in the absence of intercourse, is not required. It is worth noting that nutrition during treatment plays an important role. The diet should be enriched with fermented milk products. And also coarse fiber should be present in the composition.

When preventing bacterial vaginosis in women, you should adhere to the rules:

  • Have sex only using contraception, especially with unfamiliar partners.
  • Quitting smoking - it greatly increases the risk of bacterial vaginosis and other diseases.
  • Do not use fragrances while maintaining good hygiene. They increase the risk of a violation of the microflora balance of the female vagina.
  • More often to be examined by a gynecologist during pregnancy, as well as regularly take all the required tests.

If a woman's pregnancy is only planned, then, first of all, many diseases, including vaginosis, need to be cured.

Prophylaxis

Preventive actions are directed against bacterial and infectious infection of the female body. Even before fertilization occurs, it is important to undergo the recommended examinations for infectious infections that can be transmitted through the sexual tract.

If a woman's disease is detected, then it is necessary to cure it before pregnancy occurs. At this time, antibiotics and remedies can be used to restore the normal microflora of the female vagina.

If bacterial vaginosis often recurs during pregnancy, special vaccines can be used. They do not in any way affect the development of the fetus and the processes in the mother's body, creating conditions for an increase in the number of beneficial bacteria. The feeling of recovery of the body appears a few days after the start of treatment.