Gardnerella vaginalis consequences. What are the manifestations in men? Treatment of combined genitourinary infections

Gardnerella vaginalis refers to the transient gram-negative microflora of the genitourinary organs. Under adverse conditions, bacteria lead to inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary tract - vaginitis, urethritis, cystitis, endometritis. Most often, gardnerellosis affects women who are sexually active and do not use contraceptives. The basis of treatment is antibiotic therapy.

The normal microflora of a woman has more than 40 types of microorganisms, among which the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis (Gardnerella vaginalis) are also present in a small amount. The total content of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms in the genitals does not exceed 2-5%. In bacterial vaginosis, when the microbiocenosis of the vagina is disturbed, the replacement of lactobacilli, which are destroyed by pathogenic microorganisms, occurs. According to experts, gardnerella vaginalis is the cause of bacterial vaginitis in more than 50% of cases.

Gardnerella vaginalis are small, rod-shaped bacteria that live in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment. In the course of their vital activity, they produce lactic, acetic, formic acid and amino acids. The localization of the bacteria is the urinary tract and genital organs. The pathogenicity of the microorganism increases sharply with a change in the acidic environment of the vagina (in the direction of increasing alkalinity).

Gardnerella vaginalis

The incubation period lasts 7-10 days. In men, as a result of infection, urethritis, prostatitis, inflammation of the epididymis, seminal vesicles and Cooper gland occur, in women - vaginitis, cystitis, inflammation of the cervical canal and uterine appendages, complicated pregnancy. Both partners may become infertile. Gardnerella vaginalis increases the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections, including sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. In a newborn baby, when infected during childbirth, meningitis and pneumonia are subsequently possible, since the enzymes secreted by microorganisms lead to the destruction of surfactants lining the alveoli in the lungs. Contraception helps prevent transmission of the disease, but in some women, bacterial vaginosis returns after a while after treatment.

Getting into the urogenital tract of men and women, Gardnerella vaginalis actively destroys epithelial cells. Their absorption by the leukocytes of the host-carrier is incomplete, which leads to self-dissolution of human cells under the action of their own enzymes. These bacteria cause functional disorders in leukocytes and produce a substance that is aggressive towards vaginal cells - vagolysin, which enhances the activity of microorganisms hundreds of times. Gardnerella vaginalis is often associated with chlamydia (88%), mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, gonococci, Trichomonas.

Causes

The disease is transmitted exclusively through sexual contact, the microorganism is practically not detected in smears in girls who are not sexually active. Risk factors for infection and growth of pathogenic rods are the following:

infectious diseases of the genitourinary system in history;
frequent change of sexual partners;
long-term use of antibiotics, including vaginal suppositories, hormonal drugs, immunosuppressants;
use of synthetic underwear;
improper use of sanitary pads and tampons, poor hygiene;
hormonal disbalance;
violation of the intestinal microflora;
douching abuse;
irrational nutrition, lack of fermented milk products that help maintain normal microflora;
long-term use of intrauterine devices;
smoking.

Gardnerella bacterial vaginosis often occurs during pregnancy (especially in the first trimester). Complications can be premature birth, rupture of amniotic fluid, postpartum infections. An increased concentration of pathogenic microorganisms leads to inflammation of the fetal membranes, which can later cause infection of the fetus and endometrium of the uterus, generalization of infection (penetration of bacteria into the blood). If a pregnant woman has already had complications in her anamnesis, then it is necessary to undergo an examination for the presence of vaginosis - even in the absence of symptoms.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

There are two variants of the clinical course of gardnerellosis - with symptoms and asymptomatic. In women, the second variant is observed in 19-50% of cases.

Signs of the disease in the weaker sex are the following:

moderate to profuse yellowish-white, grayish-white, mucus-white vaginal discharge of a creamy, sticky consistency, sometimes frothy;
the unpleasant smell of "rotten fish" in the secretions resulting from the production of waste products of anaerobic bacteria;
increased secretions during or after intercourse;
itching, burning with inflammation of the mucosa, aggravated by sexual contact;
painful urination when combined with cystitis.

To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a cytological examination, take a smear from the vagina for microflora. If the concentration of bacteria is found in the analyzes in an amount of more than 10 to the 4th degree, then this is a sign of bacterial vaginosis. Microscopic examination reveals a high content of rod-shaped bacteria, enveloping the epithelial cells so that they appear granular. In the most striking cases of the disease, gardnerella vaginalis fills all the free intracellular space of tissues. In the study of the acidity of the medium by immersing indicator paper in the vaginal secretion, pH> 4.5 is determined. To identify the characteristic "fishy" smell, an amine test is carried out - a few drops of 5-10% potassium hydroxide are added to a slide with a smear.

In men, asymptomatic carriage is also possible. The mucosa of the male urogenital tract is more resistant to the influence of opportunistic microflora. Infection in men is promoted by inflammatory diseases of the urethra and prolonged constant contact with a sick woman. The urethra is most often affected, there are few symptoms of urethritis and there is a tendency to self-heal. Complications in the form of prostatitis and inflammation of the genital organs occur in more rare cases.

The most pronounced symptoms in men are:

colorless or whitish discharge from the urethra;
redness of the opening of the urethra and the head of the penis;
painful urination.

To diagnose the disease in men, a scraping is taken from the urethra. Microscopic examination of smears reveals characteristic cellular changes, as in women, but to a lesser extent. If a woman has a recurrent course of the disease (gardnerellosis returns some time after treatment), then this indicates that her sexual partner has a latent carrier of the infection, and mandatory joint treatment is required.

Treatment

The basis of the treatment of the disease in men and women is antibiotic therapy with the following drugs:

Trichopolum.
Metronidazole.
Clindamycin.
Ornidazole.
Dalacin-C.

The "gold standard" in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis caused by Gardnerella vaginalis is Metronidazole. Therapy is carried out within 7-10 days. In the case of a recurrent course of the disease, a combined regimen with two or more drugs (Metronidazole + Miconazole and other options) is used. If the disease arose against the background of a general weakening of the body, then vitamin therapy is indicated.

In complex treatment or with intolerance to oral agents, local preparations are used:

Hexicon (vaginal suppositories and tablets).
Metronidazole gel.
2% vaginal cream Clindamycin.
Vaginal cream Dalacin.
Cream Cotrimoxazole.
Vaginal tablets Vaginorm-S and other means.

In pregnant women, the use of medications in the first trimester is undesirable. Starting from the second trimester, antibiotics can be used to treat herdnerellosis, as well as local remedies (suppositories, ointments, vaginal tablets). Treatment of pregnant women should be carried out under strict medical supervision. During breastfeeding, it is recommended to use local remedies. If there is no effect from them, then oral preparations are used - Macmirror, Clindamycin. Treatment is carried out in short courses of 3-5 days, for the duration of therapy it is recommended to stop breastfeeding. In children with gardnerellosis, the same oral preparations are used as in adults, but at a lower dosage (according to the weight and age of the child).

During antibacterial treatment and a day after its completion, alcohol should be avoided. After antibiotic therapy, after 2-3 days, it is necessary to begin the restoration of the vaginal microflora. For this, drugs are used:

Gynoflor.
Vagilak.
Ecofemin.
Femilex.
Acylact.
Lactonorm.
Lactobacterin.
Floragin and others.

These drugs are used ready-made (vaginal suppositories or tablets) or dry biomass is diluted in boiled water (5-10 ml), a cotton-gauze swab is moistened and inserted into the vagina for 2-3 hours. The procedure is carried out twice a day for 1- 2 weeks.

With the complex treatment of gardnerellosis, a positive result is achieved in 90% of cases. Some experts believe that gardnerellosis is not a dangerous disease and does not require treatment. It should be taken into account that hypoxic phenomena in the tissues and high levels of acidity of the urogenital tract in gardnerellosis contribute to the accumulation of opportunistic microorganisms in high concentrations, which in the future, when triggering adverse factors occur, leads to the appearance of pyoinflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.

In the vagina of a healthy woman, microorganisms are constantly present and developing, 95% of which are beneficial microflora: lacto- and bifidobacteria. In addition to them, the mucous secretion also contains conditionally pathogenic species: bacteria, mycoplasmas, fungi, gardnerella and others. Under adverse conditions, a decrease in the immune defense of the body, pathogenic microorganisms begin to actively grow and develop, which causes the appearance of gardnerellosis in women.

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Etiology

Gardnerellosis is caused by an anaerobic bacterium that does not form capsules and spores - gardnerella vaginalis. In a small amount, these microorganisms are found in the normal microflora of the vagina of a healthy woman. Under favorable conditions, colonies of microbes begin to grow rapidly, destroying lactic acid bacteria, as a result of which gardnerellosis develops. Other conditionally pathogenic microorganisms also participate in the destruction of beneficial microflora: Fusobacteria, Peptostreptococci, etc. Therefore, we can conclude that Gardnerella vaginalis is not the only pathogenic microorganism that causes this disease: the pathology is mixed.

Gynecologists call this pathology bacterial vaginosis. However, it is impossible to meet such a diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases: this term came into use after the creation of the official list.

With the destruction of beneficial microflora, an optimal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms is created, the pH of the vagina increases to 7 and above. Together with gardnerellosis, chlamydia, nonspecific vaginitis and other diseases develop, which causes vaginal dysplasia.

Gynecologists identify the following causes of bacterial vaginosis in women:

The use of antibacterial agents, antiseptics for douching without a doctor's recommendation.
Uncontrolled use of spermicides and contraceptives.
Intrauterine contraception without indications.
Hormonal failure, accompanied by a decrease in blood volume during the menstrual cycle.
Lengthening of the period of the monthly cycle during puberty and menopause.
Inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system.
Promiscuous sexual relations.
Immunodeficiency pathologies.
Developmental defects.
The presence of a foreign body in the vagina and uterus.

Gardnerellosis is a dangerous pathology, because due to the weakening of local immunity and the development of bacterial flora, the risk of contracting HIV infection is high.

Symptoms and complications

At the initial stage of development, gardnerellosis occurs without obvious clinical signs, but with the development of the pathological process, pronounced symptoms appear:

1. Uncharacteristic discharge with an unpleasant odor.
2. Itching and burning in the vagina.
3. Swelling of the labia.
4. Pain during intercourse.
5. Violation of urination: it can be difficult, accompanied by pain and itching.

Actively multiplying, the microorganism produces amino acids, which, when decomposed, release amines - substances that give vaginal discharge a fetid fishy odor.

Gardnerella vaginalis is transmitted sexually. In women during the period of gestation, the disease is rarely diagnosed. Due to hormonal changes in the vagina, the number of lactobacilli increases, which create an acidic environment and protect the cervix from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms.

Nevertheless, the treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy requires special attention, since the disease can cause serious complications, such as:

Miscarriage.
premature birth.
Postpartum endometritis and sepsis.
Uterine bleeding with infection of the child.
Insufficient body weight of the baby at birth.
Pneumonia of the newborn.
Chronic diseases of the genitourinary system.
Complications in the mother after surgery.

Untreated gardnerellosis during the period of gestation is dangerous for a woman and a child. Therapy is complicated by the fact that antibacterial agents are prohibited during pregnancy.

Diagnostics

To confirm or exclude the diagnosis, the doctor examines and interviews the patient. Additionally, a woman is sent for testing:

1. pH-metry, or the study of vaginal mucus - to determine the alkaline reaction. The normal environment of the vagina is created by lactic acid bacteria. In case of deviations, the doctor diagnoses an imbalance between pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms.
2. A smear on ureaplasma, which is mixed with a solution of potassium hydroxide. This creates a characteristic fishy smell.

Examining the biomaterial, the laboratory assistant may notice the symptoms of gardnerellosis:

1. Desquamated cells lining the mucous membrane.
2. Epitheliocytes with gardnerella and other pathogenic microorganisms.
3. Absence of lactic acid bacteria.
4. An increased content of leukocytes that occurs during inflammatory reactions.

In addition to taking smears, the doctor may refer the patient to additional diagnostic methods, such as:

1. Immunofluorescence.
2. PCR diagnostics, or polymerase chain reaction.
3. DNA hybridization.
4. Cultivation of microorganisms.

The above methods are quite expensive and time-consuming, therefore, as diagnostic measures, they are resorted to in rare cases.

The rate of gardnerella in women: 10 to 5 degrees CFU. If the values in the analyzes exceed these indicators, the diagnosis is considered confirmed.

Treatment

After making a diagnosis, in order to exclude the cause that caused the pathology, the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen for the patient, which includes the following medications:

1. Broad-spectrum antibiotics: Doxycycline, Azithromycin. The selection of funds is made individually based on the general condition of the woman and the degree of invasion.
2. Antimicrobial tablets: Metronidazole, Trichopolum, Tiberal, Ornidazole, (affects anaerobic pathogens), Imidazole, Macmirror, Clindamycin, Vilprafen and others.
3. Local treatment - vaginal suppositories, gels and creams for gardnerellosis: Clindamycin, Flagyl, Hexicon, Metronidazole (an antiprotozoal agent with antibacterial activity).
4. If gardnerellosis is combined with thrush, combined antimicrobial and antifungal agents are prescribed for administration: Terzhinan, Polygynax, Neo-penotran.

During pregnancy, a woman can use Klion vaginal suppositories as a treatment.

In rare cases, the doctor resorts only to local treatment, but the effectiveness of therapy will be low.

During treatment, the patient is advised to adhere to the rules of dietary nutrition. To replenish the necessary vitamins and microelements in the body, it is required to introduce fish, poultry meat, sour-milk products into the menu. The basis of the daily menu should consist of vegetables and fruits.

After antibiotic therapy, the doctor prescribes probiotics, which help restore the beneficial microflora of the vagina. Effective drugs:

1. Vagilak.
2. Lactobacterin.

Alternative medicine

As an auxiliary method, you can use the treatment of herbs and plants at home after consulting with your doctor.

Effective folk remedies:

1. Pour 250 g of crushed oak bark with 750 ml of water, leave for 5 hours. Boil the liquid for 20 minutes, then strain. Pour into a basin, use for sitz baths at bedtime. The course of treatment is 14 days.
2. Mix juniper berries, chamomile, oat straw, walnut leaves and oak bark in the same ratio. For 1 liter of boiling water, 200 g of the collection is taken, it is insisted under the lid for an hour. Then the broth needs to be filtered and used to add to sitz baths.
3. Soak a cotton swab with 10 ml of aloe juice. Insert into the vagina for 9-10 hours, you can leave it overnight. The course of treatment is one week.

Baths and douching should not be used during pregnancy. Women are advised to wash the vagina with herbal antiseptics. After childbirth, the patient undergoes a course of drug therapy.

Gardnerella- a conditionally pathogenic microorganism that quite often worries the fair sex.

The bacterium lives in the vagina. It can exist there for a long time, without causing any inconvenience to the fair sex. However, in some cases, various external factors lead to the fact that the microbe becomes too much, and it provokes a number of unpleasant symptoms.

Gardnerella disease - what kind of pathology is it, and why it can be dangerous for a woman, the fair sex is often interested. How to correctly diagnose, and does a woman always need treatment?

Principles of therapy for the disease
Recommendations for disease prevention

Gardnerella: features of the pathogen

The bacterium is an immobile rod that lacks a capsule and does not have a nucleus. The size of an average bacterium is 2 µm.

The external polymorphism of the pathogen is interesting. In the smears of different women, both full-fledged sticks and coccal flora can be found, which do not differ in antigens and effects on the mucous membranes.

The microorganism is an anaerobe. This means that the bacillus can easily reproduce even in the absence of oxygen. In this case, a number of substances are released into the environment that adversely affect the acid balance of the vagina. If there is too much gardnerella, it greatly changes the pH in the woman's genitals. So much so that as a result, all beneficial bacteria, represented mainly by sour-milk microflora, die.

Gardnerella has the ability to form spores. Thanks to this feature, the bacterium is easily preserved throughout the year on various materials, outside the human body.

If the pathogen did not have time to create spores, its viability averages up to 7 hours. This period of time, as doctors note, is also enough to get infected at home.

Risk factors for gardnerella infection

If gardnerella has developed, how the disease is transmitted is a common question in patients. In most cases, the spread of the microorganism is due to unprotected sexual contacts.

Every time a woman has sex with a male without a condom, she risks getting infected.

It is important to remember that men, unlike women, are mostly just carriers. Without suffering from the symptoms of gardnerellosis.

Therefore, even by any external signs, it is impossible to make sure that the sexual partner is healthy. However, as doctors note, conditional pathogenicity ensures that the mere fact of infection is not enough for the development of the disease.

Any internal or external influences that affect human immunity are necessary.

Among these factors:

disease by any infectious processes, whether they are viral, fungal or bacterial type
various disruptions in the menstrual cycle in women;
the presence of hormonal abnormalities, which also undermine the body's immune system
frequent exposure to various non-standard temperatures (overheating, hypothermia)
irrational use of contraceptive-type drugs that affect the hormonal background
too frequent washing with antiseptic agents, special soap
irrational use of drugs from the group of antibiotics, which also violate the natural microflora of the vagina
impact on the body of various stresses;
frequent wearing of synthetic type underwear that can negatively affect the skin and mucous membranes, etc.

Doctors note that gardnerella often accompanies other infectious processes. It can be combined, for example, with chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasmosis, etc.

Gardnerella: symptoms of the disease

If gardnerella has settled in the body, the symptoms may vary.

In a significant proportion of women, the bacterium becomes a carrier state. That is, it is present in the body, but does not lead to any pathological changes. On the other hand, there are women who suffer from the symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms that can reduce quality of life include:

It is important to remember that similar symptoms are characteristic of other diseases of the genitourinary system. In this regard, it is not recommended to engage in self-diagnosis.

Features of the diagnosis of gardnerella

Diagnosis of the disease, if you remember the algorithms, is not difficult.

First of all, a woman visits a gynecologist. At the doctor's appointment, she talks in detail about her complaints. This is followed by an examination of the genital tract using a special chair. Already at the examination stage, the doctor may suspect gardnerellez, having found signs of an inflammatory process, changes in the walls of the vagina.

Also, the presence of discharge will indicate the soreness of the condition. Then a smear is performed. Gardnerella in a smear are not always visible.

Sometimes, due to their polymorphism, it is difficult to correctly identify them. Because of this, a smear cannot be a complete diagnostic method if it is assessed only microscopically. The doctor may additionally recommend seeding on media, PCR diagnostics.

An excess of microflora of this type is the first alarm signal indicating the imminent development of the infectious process. Without fail, if gardnerellosis is suspected, a reaction to isonitrile is performed. This substance causes the appearance of a specific odor and is quite specific for the microorganism. The presence of isonitrile may indicate the presence of a disease.

Principles of therapy for the disease

How to get rid of gardnerella, many of the fair sex are wondering when they see a doctor and receive their diagnosis.

It is important to understand that the therapy is based on antibiotics that can destroy pathogenic microorganisms once and for all.

Of the antibacterial agents, preference is given to:

Metronidazole, taken at 0.25 g twice a day for 3-4 days;
Ornidazole, which is used in a course of 4-5 days daily, 500 mg of the drug once a day;
Nimorazole, which is used in the same way as Ornidazole, but in a course of five days (especially effective for combined infections).

There is an additional set of drugs that are prescribed to a patient with symptoms of the disease. In the event that none of the main means for therapy is suitable for her due to intolerance or for other reasons.

Naturally, the choice of alternative antibiotics and how to use them should remain within the discretion of the physician. Since self-replacement of antibacterial drugs easily leads to complications.

A significant part of doctors prescribe additional immunomodulators. These are drugs that can restore the normal microflora of the vagina after treatment.

It is important to remember that only the woman's attending physician can choose therapy. Attempts to independently prescribe a medicine for oneself in a significant part of cases end in complications, which are more difficult to deal with than with the underlying pathology. Treatment with folk remedies is also not recommended, as it will lubricate the symptoms, but will not ensure recovery.

Relationship with the pregnancy process

Often, patients are interested in the question of whether gardnerella during pregnancy is dangerous or not. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the woman, her immunity.

Doctors note that in a significant number of the fair sex, against the background of bearing a child, gardnerellosis only worsens. This is primarily due to the fact that the immune system is weakened by the process of pregnancy.
He is not able to fully resist the multiplying bacteria.

However, there are women who have no exacerbation of the disease. If during pregnancy the fair sex is tormented by gardnerellosis, she is recommended to undergo treatment for the disease.

To do this, the doctor may prescribe a shortened course of Metronidazole or Ornidazole, recommend the use of special vaginal suppositories.

It is important to remember that antibiotics, which are the main treatment for gardnerella, can be deadly to a developing fetus.

Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to choose drugs on your own and be treated with their help during the gestation period. If a woman has no symptoms of gardnerella, but the microorganism is present in a smear, treatment is completely abandoned. In this case, it is believed that the woman is a carrier, but at the same time, the bacterium does not threaten either her or the embryo developing in her body.

Prevention of gardnerella is not an easy task, as doctors say.

The fact is that there are no habits from pathology. It is difficult to diagnose if it is asymptomatic, and may not cause inconvenience for a long time. It is also easy to become infected with a pathogenic microorganism.

How to reduce the likelihood of encountering unpleasant symptoms?

First of all, it is recommended to always use condoms with unverified partners. A condom is one of the best defenses against gardnerella.
Naturally, it is worth remembering the rules for proper care of the genitals.

Refuse to use other people's hygiene items, even if they are necessary. Women who have a dormant infection are advised to occasionally visit a doctor to make sure that the pathogen is not activated.

At the slightest sign of an inflammatory process, it is worthwhile, refusing self-medication, to visit a gynecologist.

Gardnerellosis It is a disease that affects women more than men.

The fair sex should carefully monitor their health, consult a doctor in case of any unpleasant changes in the body.

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Gardnerella vaginalis DNA (gardnerella vaginalis) in women: norm, symptoms, treatment

The microflora of the female genital organs includes quite a few varieties of different bacteria. Among these microorganisms, vaginalis also exists (in another way, this bacterium can be called gardnerella vaginalis, prevotella bivia, porphyromonas spp). These bacteria were identified more than half a century ago and separated into a separate group. Their reproduction and functioning does not require the presence of oxygen, so bacteria belong to the anaerobic class. In small quantities, gardnerella vaginalis exists as an integral part of the vaginal microflora, but if local immunity is disturbed, its number increases sharply and leads to the disease - gardnerellosis.

Ways of transmission and main risk factors for the development of gardnerellosis

In the female body, there is a small amount of bacteria gardnerella vaginalis, as part of the normal microflora of the female body. At the same time, in men in the area of the urethra, prostate and bladder, with a healthy microflora, such microorganisms should not be. Their appearance, even in small quantities, is a signal of the development of the disease.

Causes of the disease and ways of infection with gardnerella vaginalis:

From mother to child. Many newborn children whose mothers suffered from garderellosis during the period of gestation are carriers of a pathological amount of these bacteria. This makes it possible to say that the disease is transmitted during passage through the birth canal;
During intercourse. This is the most common route of infection for men. Since these bacteria are practically not found in men, infection can only come from a woman. But women can also become infected with gardnerellosis from a man. This occurs if the infected male partner is not treated and becomes a carrier of the disease. Therefore, for any signs of genital dysbacteriosis, it is better to use a condom;
Dysbacteriosis in women. Dysbacteriosis is a pathological condition of the organs and systems of the human body, in which the number of “beneficial” bacteria begins to increase sharply and leads to disease. In women, vaginal dysbacteriosis can lead to the rapid growth of gardnerella vaginalis, the symptoms of which may resemble thrush and vaginosis.

There are the following risk factors for dysbactriasis:

The use of a large number of antibiotics;
Low immunity;
Viral and bacterial infections;
Smoking and drinking alcohol;
Poor hygiene of the genitals;
Use of unsuitable underwear;
Side effect when taking hormonal medications and contraceptives;
Violations of the endocrine system.

Household route of infection. It is not common and is more common in female-to-female transmission. Bacteria die fairly quickly outside the human body. But they can be transmitted through linen, towels, hygiene products, intimate cosmetics, when using one toilet bowl, bidet, bath.

Symptoms of gardnerella vaginalis

With the pathological spread of the gardnerella vaginalis bacteria, the symptoms are quite vivid. Only in some cases the patient cannot notice them. Most often this is due to an already present disease of the genital organs.

	Unpleasant sensations in the vagina and labia during sex and at rest; Discharge of gray mass, which is similar to a symptom of thrush; Burning during urination on the genitals; Irritation; Bad smell of rotten fish.
Symptoms of gardnerella vaginalis	Discomfort during intercourse; Pain when going to the toilet; Frequent urination; Itching in the urethra; Inflammation of the head of the penis; Quite rarely: discharge from the urethra and pain in the lower abdomen.

The intensity and presence of certain symptoms depends on the stage of development of the disease and the number of bacteria. Some symptoms may be very mild or absent entirely.

If untreated, the symptoms worsen, indicating the development of complications. For men, they can be various diseases of the prostate gland, for women - uterine bleeding, inflammation and infertility.

How to determine the pathological amount of gardnerella vaginalis

Gardnerella vaginalis is always present in the female body. But with a healthy state of the genital organs, the number of bacteria is quite small. Detailed diagnostics are needed to determine the number of bacteria and their growth rate. It can be carried out with certain symptoms in the following cases:

If you suspect bacterial vaginosis;
With unprotected intercourse;
If a person had more than two or three sexual partners in a month;
In case of a decrease in local immunity of the genital organs;
While taking medications based on hormones;
After birth, if the child's mother is infected with gardnerellosis;
With concomitant diseases of the reproductive system.

The main diagnostic technique is the study of polymerase chain reaction or PCR. This technique is quite sensitive and allows you to establish the presence and specificity of bacteria with a very high probability.

During PCR, the DNA of the microorganism is used. With its help, a specialist determines the presence or absence of bacteria in the human body.

A positive result of the analysis is the presence of the amount of DNA of Gardnerella vaginalis in men and the high growth of bacteria in the body in women. If the presence of a disease is detected, but the repeated analysis does not confirm this, the first result is considered a false positive.

The disease was avoided if:

Traces of gardnerella vaginalis DNA are completely absent;
The number of bacteria is very small and their growth can be controlled by the body's immune system itself;
A false-negative result may appear if the material for the study was taken in violation of the technology or if the material was stored poorly.

Treatment of gardnerella vaginalis

A rather extensive number of health complications of the reproductive system and the body in general can be caused by a bacterium such as gardnerella vaginalis - treatment is a complex of several methods.

Treatment should include the following items:

Use of antibacterial therapy. Only antibiotics can defeat the growth and spread of bacteria. The use of other drugs may not only not help, but also worsen the patient's condition. Gardnerella vaginalis is absolutely resistant to many antibiotics. The use of antibiotics "at random" will further disrupt the normal microflora of the vagina in a woman and the urethra in a man. Therefore, only an experienced specialist can tell how to treat gardnerellosis. The following antibiotics can be used for the disease:

Metronidazole;
Azithromycin;
Clindamycin.

While taking antibiotics, it is imperative to use drugs that will help restore the microflora of the genital organs and prevent the development of dysbacteriosis in other systems, for example, in the intestines. As a preventive measure, it is necessary to regularly use lactic acid products in the diet.

The use of antiseptics. Antiseptics are used in the same way as antibiotics. Their main task is to fight viruses and bacteria, but already locally. Quite often, in women and men, after the appearance of gardnerellosis, a secondary bacterial or viral infection appears. This enhances the primary disease and inhibits the main treatment. The use of antiseptics will help fight two problems at once: secondary infections and the spread of bacteria;
Rejection of sex. Before treating pathologies caused by gardnerella vaginalis, it is necessary to give up sexual activity. Every woman under certain circumstances can become a "distributor" of bacterial microflora. This vaginal infection is quickly passed on to her sexual partner. Both partners must be treated, especially if they are permanent. The bacterium can be transmitted from sick to healthy, and vice versa, all the time.
Maintaining strict hygiene. Not only weak immunity can aggravate the disease, but also poor hygiene. The abuse of antibacterial soap can lead to dysbacteriosis and the development of gardnerellosis. At the time of treatment, it must be replaced with a mild soothing hygiene product or liquid soap for small children. Synthetic underwear can disrupt normal air exchange, temperature and microflora of the genital organs, so it must be replaced with "breathable" cotton;
Strengthening immunity. In case of serious problems with immunity during gardnerellosis, the doctor may prescribe special immunostimulants. They will help the body prevent further pathological development of the bacterial flora. With milder forms of the disease, proper nutrition, hardening of the body and sports are enough.

Gardnerella, gardnerella vaginalis, is a type of microorganism, actinobacteria, which develops in the absence of air, slightly larger than a gonococcus. Normally, gardnerella in a small amount (no more than 1 percent) is present in the microflora of any woman, but under certain conditions it begins to multiply pathologically, as a result of which gardnerellosis develops. For the development of the disease, the microflora of the vagina is an ideal environment.

It is an infectious disease which, although transmitted from a sick woman to a man during intercourse, however, does not apply to STIs, since this bacterium in the vast majority of cases does not cause any symptoms in men, especially unpleasant ones.

Infection develops in women regardless of her age (it can appear even in little girls) and the presence or absence of sexual life due to changes in the microflora that occur as a result of various disorders in the body. It is believed that up to 20 percent of women suffer from this disease.

The main causes of infection

Most often, the pathological reproduction of gardnerella is provoked by the following factors:

Sexually active patients most often suffer from this disease, especially if sexual relations are promiscuous. In this case, it is recommended to use condoms, especially with a new partner. And not always we are talking about the possibility of contracting bacterial vaginosis from a man. The fact is that the pathological reproduction of gardnerella in the female body is provoked by dysbacteriosis, which, in turn, appears as a result of the incompatibility of the male microflora with the environment of his partner.

Violation microflora of female organs also occurs after prolonged stress, as a result of diets, intense physical and emotional stress. It is worth noting that the disease often affects women during pregnancy, when immune defenses are significantly weakened and hormonal changes in the body begin.

Symptoms of gardnerellosis

The disease can occur in acute and chronic form. In acute form in women, it is characterized by:

itching and discomfort in the vagina;
copious secretions;
the smell of rotten fish in the discharge, which does not disappear even after hygiene procedures.

The discharge can be of different colors - yellow, green, white, transparent and white-gray, as well as of different consistency - mostly homogeneous creamy or watery, may foam. All this indicates an inflammatory process that occurs in the pelvic organs.

In the chronic stage, there are practically no symptoms. If the chronic stage turns into a period of exacerbation, then a woman may experience itching and burning of the vaginal mucosa, pain during and outside of sexual contact, her labia swell, redden. However, it cannot be said with absolute certainty that a woman suffering from such signs faced gardnerellosis, because a large number of diseases have the same symptoms, including candidiasis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Therefore, the appearance of any of them is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.

In men in the body bacterium gardnerella vaginalis unable to exist for a long time. In 90 percent of cases, a man does not experience discomfort and does not even notice the infection. However, in extremely rare cases, it can manifest itself in the form of balanoposthitis or urethritis. In this case, gardnerellosis is not diagnosed; in men, this disease is diagnosed as a nonspecific gardnerella - an associated, that is, mixed, infection, the signs of which are:

itching and hyperemia of the glans penis;
increased urination and discomfort.

In even rarer cases, there may be discharge from the penis, itching, burning and an unpleasant odor. If the urine smells of missing fish, an urgent consultation with a specialist is required, since in this case the problem may have gone very far.

Diagnostics

If a woman suspects development of gardnerellosis She needs to see a doctor as soon as possible. First of all, this is important for the reason that the disease must be differentiated from other infections and complications should be avoided.

The doctor must examine the patient and listen to his complaints. Usually women complain about bad breath, which is usually characteristic when gardnerella begin to displace the normal microflora in the vagina and urethra. What it really is, only analyzes and tests can determine. First, you need to conduct a vaginal examination, then a general smear is taken from the vagina and its microscopic examination, as a result of which an increase in the number of gardnerella bacteria can be detected. Next, the pH of the microflora is measured and the reaction to the substance that emits the very smell of spoiled fish is isonitrile. When confirming the diagnosis, it is advisable to conduct examinations to detect inflammatory processes in the vagina:

men these studies are not carried out.

It is also important to simultaneously test for the presence of other pathogens: trichomonas, candida, chlamydia, gonococci and others, as well as for syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV.

Often gardnerellosis called bacterial vaginosis However, recent studies in this area have shown that in some cases, gardnerella is not detected at all with vaginosis and is not the only causative agent of this disease. In this case, the gardnerella bacterium can be detected even in the absence of symptoms.

Complications and treatment

The disease requires mandatory treatment, as it provokes the development of many complications and adverse events in women:

Inflammatory diseases affecting organs reproductive system, including the external genitalia, vagina, cervix, extremely negatively affect the state of the body. As a result, endometritis and adnexitis can develop - diseases that then accompany a woman all her life.

Men also likely to develop complications. If a man has not been treated for gardnerella, in the future he may have such consequences as urethritis, prostatitis and infertility. The immediate consequences of gardnerellosis are manifested in the form of a sharp decrease in immunity, as a result of which there is an increased risk of diseases of the genitourinary system.

Therefore, both a woman and a man need timely and adequate treatment for gardnerella, which includes:

Generally treatment for gardnerella almost identical to the treatment of sexually transmitted infections. Both partners must undergo a full course of therapy with prescribed drugs, it is enough for a woman to undergo an examination. During treatment, it is necessary to use a condom during intercourse, otherwise re-infection with gardnerella is possible.

Women are usually treated by a gynecologist, men - by a urologist or venereologist. Most often, drugs such as Metronidazole and Clindamycin are prescribed in the form of a gel (cream) or tablets. The dosage and time of admission is determined by the doctor. After the course of treatment, it is necessary to repeat the tests.

Disease prevention

After the last course of treatment for gardnerella, it is necessary to follow measures that will prevent relapses. To prevent disease and its repetition, you need to take care of your health: strengthen the immune system, do not overcool, eat right, do not overwork and avoid stress. In sexual life, especially with new partners, the use of condoms is mandatory. You can apply antiseptics within two hours after sexual intercourse. You should also avoid birth control pills that contain nonoxynol-9.

Another important point is douching. Many women are fond of "washing" the vagina, thereby violating its microflora and giving fertile ground for the reproduction of gardnerella. Under no circumstances should this be done.

And most importantly: see a doctor at the first symptoms and treat as soon as possible to prevent the development of the disease and the occurrence of complications. Do not self-medicate! A man is also advised to contact a specialist if he suspects such an infection in his partner.