Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy
Bacterial vaginosis is a pathological change in the vaginal environment caused by anaerobic bacteria. About 10 to 20 percent of all pregnant women suffer from this form of vaginal infection. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy should definitely be treated, otherwise there can be serious consequences for both mother and child.
What is bacterial vaginosis?
In bacterial vaginosis, the composition of the bacterial culture in the vagina changes. The normal bacteria, the so-called lactobacilli, are displaced by anaerobic bacteria, mainly gardnerella. The pH value in the vagina increases and the healthy protective acid mantle that normally defends itself against harmful germs is broken down. As a result, bacterial vaginosis is seen as a precursor to other infectious diseases, such as those caused by chlamydia or group B streptococci .
According to the current state of research, it is unfortunately not possible to say exactly why the number of H2O2-forming lactobacilli suddenly decreases and thus promotes bacterial vaginosis. The trigger for the disease, however, is often sexual intercourse. A high number of gardnerella are transmitted, can settle in the vaginal flora and multiply drastically. Stress also seems to be a factor that can negatively affect the balance of the vaginal environment.
Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis
- heavy whitish-yellow discharge, sometimes thin, sometimes frothy
- burning and itching
- unpleasant, fishy smell of vaginal secretions
- Pain when urinating or having sex
Bacterial vaginosis often goes unnoticed because many women experience no or only very mild symptoms. If you are unsure, you can also carry out a pH value measurement yourself with measuring strips or test gloves from the pharmacy. A normal pH value for the vaginal entrance area is between 4.0 and 4.4. It can happen that your values fluctuate a bit. Only if they deviate from these normal values for several days is there reason to worry and you should urgently have a smear taken by your doctor.
complications in pregnancy
Untreated bacterial vaginosis can cause serious complications during pregnancy. Vaginal infection increases the risk of preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, and premature birth . The likelihood of a miscarriage increases. This is due to the biochemical reactions between the fetus and the uterus triggered by the bacteria. Prostaglandin is built up, a hormone-like substance that is also contained in labor-inducing drugs.
In addition, there is a risk of a so-called amniotic infection syndrome. The vaginal infection can travel to the uterus and infect the membranes, amniotic fluid and fetus.
prevent and treat
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to protect yourself against bacterial vaginosis. Try to balance the risk factor of stress with relaxation techniques such as yoga . If you’ve had a lot of vaginal infections in the past, you should check your genital pH regularly. You can buy test strips or test gloves in the pharmacy for this purpose, with which the measurement is very easy. Your doctor can prescribe them for you.
In early pregnancy, treatment for bacterial vaginosis includes vitamin C or lactic acid supplements to rebuild the natural acid mantle. Later in pregnancy, the infection can also be treated with the active ingredient clindamycin. These preparations are usually available as vaginal suppositories, creams or ointments.
By the way: In the case of bacterial vaginosis, your partner does not necessarily have to be treated at the same time. In order to regenerate yourself, you should first refrain from sex.