As a rule, in the first trimester of pregnancy, women notice that the amount of vaginal discharge has increased significantly. If they remain transparent and odorless - there is nothing to worry about. A completely different conversation begins when the discharge has turned yellow-gray and causes a feeling of discomfort. Let's talk about colpitis during pregnancy and ways that will help protect yourself from the disease.
What is colpitis?
This name was given to the disease, which is characterized by the development of infectious and inflammatory processes in the female genital organs. The second name of the disease is vaginitis.
It is known that during pregnancy a marked decrease in immunity occurs. This is necessary so that the body does not perceive the child as a foreign object and does not reject it. Otherwise, each pregnancy would end in a miscarriage.
But only in such a situation, the woman’s body at the same time becomes less protected from the effects of pathogenic microorganisms. The latter are quickly fixed on the mucous membranes and lead to the onset of the inflammatory process.
Discharges during colpitis during pregnancy are very different from those that a woman is accustomed to consider normal. Therefore, it is impossible not to notice the presence of a problem.
Causes of the disease
The main causes of colpitis during pregnancy are:
- Imbalance of the vaginal microflora.
- Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs.
- Frequent douching.
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
- Long-term use of antibiotics.
- Lack of intimate hygiene.
- The presence of mechanical injuries on the walls of the vagina.
- Promiscuous sex life.
- Diabetes.
- Allergic reactions to topical medications.
- Pathology of the endocrine organs.
- Using linen made from synthetic materials.
- Bad environmental situation.
- Low social level.
In this case, the immediate cause of colpitis during pregnancy is infection by pathogenic microorganisms:
- trichomonads;
- Escherichia coli;
- staphylococci;
- streptococci;
- gardnarelli;
- Klebsiella;
- proteom;
- gonococci;
- yeast-like mushrooms.
Symptoms of the disease
There are several main symptoms of colpitis during pregnancy, which will not differ depending on the type of pathogen. These include:
- itching
- burning;
- the appearance of unusual discharge from the genital tract;
- pain during intercourse.
Since colpitis during pregnancy can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa, several forms of the disease are distinguished. Each of them has its own characteristics.
Bacterial colpitis
The causative agents of the disease are anaerobic bacteria. They live in environments where there is no oxygen. After entering the vagina, active reproduction begins.
In this case, colpitis occurs against a background of decreased immunity during pregnancy. This can happen at any time. The main symptoms that indicate bacterial colpitis are:
- copious gray-white or yellow vaginal discharge;
- "Fishy" smell from the genital tract.
Very often, along with colpitis, cervicitis is also diagnosed.
Candidiasis colpitis
The more common name for this type of disease is thrush. It occurs with the active colonization of the vagina with fungi of the genus Candida. This occurs most actively in the early stages of pregnancy.
Thrush can begin to disturb a woman in any trimester. The main characteristic symptoms will be:
- the appearance of white curdled discharge;
- burning in the genital tract;
- severe itching.
Improperly cured or untreated thrush will return again and again.
Trichomonas colpitis
This type of colpitis during pregnancy is accompanied by signs of intoxication: fever, chills, headaches. In addition, there are other symptoms:
- profuse purulent discharge from the vagina;
- sharp unpleasant odor of discharge;
- genital itching.
If the urethra has been affected, the number of urinations becomes more frequent, which become painful and accompanied by burning.
Gonorrheal colpitis
There are frequent cases that gonorrheal colpitis is asymptomatic. But if signs of the disease are still present, they will manifest themselves in the form of:
- purulent creamy discharge from the genital tract;
- burning and pain during urination.
The presence of the last symptom indicates damage to the urethra.
Nonspecific colpitis
The development of non-specific colpitis during pregnancy is provoked by opportunistic microorganisms. For this type of disease, the appearance of abundant yellowish or yellow-green discharge with an unpleasant odor is characteristic.
Treatment of this type of ailment, first of all, should be aimed at restoring the normal biocenosis of the vagina.
Consequences of the disease
The consequences of colpitis during pregnancy depend on its duration.
It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate! Colpitis in early pregnancy, which has spread to the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, can lead to miscarriage.
The presence of an inflammatory process in the vagina can lead to infection of amniotic fluid. In the future, this will manifest itself in the form of premature birth, polyhydramnios and so on.
If the disease is found in the second half of pregnancy, this threatens internal infection of the fetus. In addition, during the passage of the baby through the birth canal, infection can occur.
Diagnosis of the disease
In addition to collecting an anamnesis, the diagnosis of colpitis during pregnancy includes several methods at once:
- Gynecological examination. During it, the condition of the mucous membrane of the vagina and cervix, the volume and color of the discharge are assessed. Thanks to these data, the gynecologist will be able to suggest the type of disease and its severity.
- A smear on the flora. With its help, the severity of the inflammatory process is revealed, the presence of pathogenic organisms and their appearance (mushrooms, trichomonads, gonococci) is confirmed.
- Back sowing from the vagina. Information from a smear taken is not always enough, since some types of pathogenic organisms can be detected only by seeding on special nutrient media. This method will help not only to identify the causative agent of the disease, but also to determine its quantity, as well as sensitivity to antibiotics.
- Additional special methods. These include ELISA, PCR, and others. Their conduct is necessary in cases of suspected mycoplasma, ureaplasma or chlamydial infection. The causative agents that provoke these types of diseases are populated in the cervix and provoke the appearance of not only colpitis, but also urethritis.
Disease treatment
Treatment of colpitis during pregnancy should be prescribed by a specialist! This happens only after the type of pathogen is accurately identified. The main difficulty is that now a woman is contraindicated in the use of many drugs, as they can have a negative effect on the fetus.
As a rule, complex therapy is prescribed for the treatment of colpitis during pregnancy. It may include:
- the use of antibiotics;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- baths with alkaline medium;
- the use of decoctions of medicinal plants;
- local preparations (suppositories, ointments, gels);
- special diet.
In addition, the type of treatment will depend on the duration of pregnancy. In the first trimester, drugs such as:
- Betadine
- "Fluomizine";
- Hexicon.
All of them are broad-spectrum antiseptics. The difference is that the treatment with Betadine and Hexicon will last 10-14 days, and in the case of Fluomizin, the period is reduced to 6 days. These drugs do not adversely affect the fetus and are well tolerated by the body of the woman herself.
In addition, the doctor will prescribe a single administration of vaginal suppositories.
In the second trimester of pregnancy, local drugs are also prescribed for treatment:
- Terzhinan;
- "Klion-D 100";
- Macmirror
- Neo-Penotran Forte.
Means have a wider spectrum of action and are able to influence not only bacteria, but also fungi. The course of treatment will be about 7-10 days. It is worth considering that in some cases the use of the above drugs can lead to the appearance of side effects: allergies, itching, burning.
Treatment of candidal colpitis involves the use of various vaginal suppositories:
- "Natamycin";
- "Intraconazole";
- "Clotrimazole";
- Pimafucin;
- Zalain and others.
The downside is that such drugs act only on yeast-like fungi and cannot get rid of other pathogens of the disease.
The treatment does not end there. No less important is the restoration of immunity in the vagina. This can be done using drugs such as Lactagel or Vagilac. These drugs increase the number of lactobacilli in the genital tract and prevent the re-exacerbation of the disease.
In addition to drug therapy, a woman will need:
- follow a special diet, which limits the amount of fried, fatty and spicy foods;
- refrain from sexual intercourse while taking medication.
By the way, her partner will have to undergo treatment without fail.
Folk remedies
You should immediately pay attention to the fact that alternative methods of treatment can only be used as an adjunct to drug therapy and after consultation with a gynecologist!
- Calendula broth for sitz baths.
- Chamomile broth. 2 tablespoons of the plant should be boiled in a glass of water for 15 minutes. The resulting product is used for douching.
- A decoction of medicinal plants. Also used for douching. To prepare it, you need to combine 25 g of chamomile, 15 g of sage, 10 g of oak bark and mallow flowers. Take 2 tablespoons of the mixture, pour 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew.
Disease prevention
Knowing the danger of colpitis during pregnancy, it becomes clear that it is better to prevent the onset of the disease than to suffer from its consequences. Compliance with some simple rules can help in this matter.
- Daily genital tract hygiene. It is better to use not soap, but special products designed for intimate hygiene. Well proven, for example, "Epigen" and "Lactacid." Means are allowed for use throughout the pregnancy.
- Refusal of daily laying. The relationship between the use of these hygiene products and the occurrence of infections in the vagina has long been noticed. And all because the gaskets create an ideal environment for the reproduction of various microorganisms.
- Timely seek help from a gynecologist. Any disease is easiest to treat at the stage of their occurrence.
- Strengthen the immune system.
Be healthy!