Violation of the microflora of the vagina at least once in a life bothered any woman. This disease is also encountered by girls who have never lived sexually. The disease is asymptomatic, but can cause the most serious consequences, accompanied by an inflammatory process. Gynecologists call the pathology dysbiosis or dysbiosis.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis is defined as a violation of the microflora of the vaginal environment. If left untreated, the disease will progress, causing a number of the most negative consequences.
Violation of the microflora of the vagina at the first stage does not manifest itself. Allocate only to a small extent. In a normal state, they are absent in a woman, and if they are, then in a small amount. With a healthy microflora, there is no sharpness, pain, smell, burning sensation, dryness during intercourse and discomfort.
Unpleasant odor, an increase in the amount of whitish-yellowish discharge indicate the presence of such a pathology as a violation of the vaginal microflora. Why is this happening? This will be discussed further.
Normal microflora consists of 90% of lactobacilli and 9% of bifidobacteria. The remaining 1% is due to opportunistic microorganisms, which rarely provoke any disease. A woman’s body can easily tolerate minor changes, especially with good immunity. In serious disorders, where the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria decreases, and the percentage of opportunistic microorganisms grows, the reproductive system may fail. As a result, the propagation of such harmful bacteria as fungus, gardnerella, streptococcus, proteus, Escherichia coli, chlamydia, etc. occurs. Vaginal dysbiosis and, as a result, the inflammatory process. The immune system continues to struggle with pathogenic bacteria, but in the absence of treatment, the protective functions of the body no longer give the desired effect.
The most common types of disease include:
- bacterial vaginosis;
- candidiasis;
- thrush.
If dysbiosis occurs in a latent form, then severe symptoms are rarely observed. It is difficult to recognize a disease in this form without tests and a doctor’s examination. Therefore, women are recommended to visit a gynecologist twice a year.
Causes of violation of the vaginal microflora
There are many factors influencing the appearance of dysbiosis:
- A single and constant hypothermia, which reduces immunity and contributes to the development of dysbiosis.
- Change in hormonal levels. Haphazard sexual life, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, menstrual irregularities, etc.
- Change of climatic zones.
- Stressful situations.
- Chaotic sex life. Frequent change of sexual partners. Ignoring contraceptive methods.
- Inflammatory and infectious diseases of the pelvis.
- Infections acquired after sexual intercourse.
- Long-term antibiotic treatment.
- Intestinal diseases.
- Incorrect introduction and use of tampons for menstruation.
All these and other causes cause a violation of the microflora of the vagina.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of the disease will help in time to recognize a violation of the vaginal microflora. Although in many cases, especially at the initial stage of the disease, they are simply absent. If bacteriosis begins to progress, the following can be observed:
- highlighting white and yellow;
- bad smell;
- discomfort in the genital area;
- dryness during sex;
- burning, itching, and pain in the genital area.
These are the main signs of a violation of the vaginal microflora. If dysbiosis is not treated, endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, cervix, or vaginal walls may occur. If the infectious process affects the urogenital organs and the urethra, then, as a rule, cystitis or urethritis develops.
Violation of the microflora of the vagina during pregnancy and after childbirth
Pregnancy, a change in the hormonal background can provoke an acute stage of vaginal dysbiosis. During the period of gestation, the symptoms of the disease are exacerbated. There is an abundance of discharge, unpleasant odor, itching and burning in the genital area are disturbing, pain occurs during sex.
For women during pregnancy, many drugs are contraindicated, so it is not possible to conduct a full-fledged treatment here. All actions are directed only to the temporary elimination of symptoms, and the necessary treatment with antibiotics is carried out after delivery.
Violation of the vaginal microflora may occur after childbirth. How to treat the patient in this situation? This issue is decided only by the doctor. Often, young mothers are diagnosed with thrush, which causes a yeast-like fungus of the genus Candida. This process is influenced by hormonal changes in the body, as well as a number of drugs that the woman giving birth was forced to take.
In this case, the therapy is carried out with antifungal agents in combination with probiotics, which positively affect the vaginal microflora and prevent the secondary appearance of the disease.
Vaginal dysbiosis and sexual partner
Often, a violation of the balance of the microflora of the vagina does not affect the sexual life of a woman and does not cause special problems for a sexual partner. An exception is the advanced stage of dysbiosis. In this case, a man may develop signs of balanoposthitis or nonspecific urethritis, and then only if the representative of the stronger sex has a predisposition to the disease.
As a rule, diseases of the sexual partner do not affect the vaginal environment of a woman, of course, we are not talking about sexually transmitted diseases.
Treatment of vaginal dysbiosis is carried out only in women, without involving a partner, unless the pathology is caused by a sexual infection.
If there are STDs, then they are accompanied by severe dysbiosis. They cause imbalance in the vaginal environment. They provoke the appearance of an inflammatory process and disrupt the microflora of the vagina. However, there are no situations where only the sexually transmitted infection is the causative agent. The disease is always accompanied by negative changes in opportunistic microflora. This should be taken into account in the fight against the disease. Here, taking antibiotics alone is unlikely to help, since it will not restore the normal level of microflora.
Always, the course of treatment should end with priiotics that restore the vaginal environment. Serious problems caused by chlamydia and trichomonas are solved by antibacterial therapy, after which microflora is needed to be restored. These courses should be divided and conducted one by one.
In situations where the disease is mild, urogenital diagnosis should be performed. And to restore the necessary background can be simultaneously with the elimination of sexual infection.
Dysbacteriosis in girls
Violation of the microflora of the vagina occurs even in girls who have never entered into sexual intercourse. Here a variety of factors influence. This includes hormonal restructuring of the body during puberty, and structural features of the hymen, and non-compliance with hygiene rules (including improper washing of the genitals), and the use of antibiotics and other drugs. The reasons in this case are similar to factors contributing to the development of dysbiosis in women who have an active sex life. But there are also nuances.
Unlike women, girls rarely have abundant discharge, since the hymen does not allow them to leave the vagina in full. A certain part of them accumulates in the small pelvis, which causes an inflammatory process. Also, at the beginning of the development of sexual activity in girls, a lot of bacteria gets from the vagina into the urethra, which can cause “honeymoon cystitis”.
Therapy of dysbacteriosis in virgins is quite complicated, since the hymen does not allow for a thorough treatment of the vagina. In some cases, even a hymenectomy is indicated, in which there is a violation of the hymen.
The development of dysbiosis and intestinal environment
Often, some diseases of the stomach and intestines lead to disruption of microflora both in the walls of the intestine and in the vagina.
The rectum is in close contact with the vaginal cavity, as a result, bacteria freely pass through the walls of organs. When intestinal dysbiosis develops and progresses, the bacteria (Escherichia coli, enterococci, etc.) that cause this disease easily penetrate the walls of the vagina, where the background is also disturbed. What to do in such a situation? Of course, turn to a specialist, in no case resorting to "initiative" and the help of folk remedies.
Treatment of a violation of the vaginal microflora in this case is a complex process, since the likelihood of a new infection is quite high. Here, simultaneous therapy of both the vagina and intestines should be carried out. This is the most severe form of dysbiosis.
Diagnosis of dysbiosis
In order for the treatment to give a result, you need to correctly diagnose the ailment. First of all, a gynecological examination of the patient is carried out. Then tests are assigned. Typically, these are:
- PCR diagnostics to verify the absence or presence of genital infections;
- a smear on the flora, indicating the condition of the vaginal microflora;
- sowing vaginal discharge;
- the patient's sensitivity to antibiotics is determined.
The obtained laboratory research data allows us to establish the cause of the disease and its degree of complexity.
Dysbiosis Treatment
Therapeutic measures to restore the vaginal microflora are divided into several stages:
- Destruction of pathogenic bacteria that caused this disease.
- Recovery of vaginal microflora.
- Increased immunity.
If dysbiosis has arisen due to genital infections, then the pathogen is first eliminated by prescribing a course of antibiotics. If the violation of the vaginal microflora is caused by another reason, then antibiotics may not be used. And if such therapy is prescribed, then for a period of not more than five days.
For dysbiosis, external procedures are very important. These are various bathtubs and tampons. Such events inhibit the development of pathogenic microorganisms and restore immunity. Treatment of disorders of the vaginal microflora with antiseptics - they are used locally in this case - is much more effective than antibiotics, and their exposure area is much wider. Almost all bacteria are susceptible to their effects. Antiseptic drugs also help to develop the immunity of the walls of the vagina and normalize its microflora. The reproduction of pathogenic bacteria is inhibited.
The advanced form of dysbiosis is difficult to cure only by immunomodulating therapy, antibiotics are almost always prescribed here in addition.
Drugs for the treatment of dysbiosis
Violation of the vaginal microflora (drugs, as a rule, are prescribed in the form of ointments, suppositories, vaginal tablets and creams) - a fairly complex disease, which often requires an integrated approach.
Often, Dalacin cream is used to treat dysbiosis, which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The active substance is clindamycin phosphate 2%. It intensively affects the vaginal microflora. They also effectively restore the background with such a pathology as a violation of the microflora of the vagina, candles "Dalacin". They contain up to 100 mg of antibiotic.
A good result with vaginal dysbiosis is given by the flagship candles. The drug is used once a day, at night. Also, for the treatment of the disease, doctors recommend using “Hexicon” - these are candles with chlorhexidine. They are introduced into the vaginal cavity once a day. The course is 10 days.
To treat vaginal dysbiosis, many today choose Betadine and Terzhinan suppositories. Metronidazole gel also gives a good effect.
If the disease is started, and only local drugs cannot be dispensed with, then prescribe tablets for oral administration. It:
- "Ornidazole".
- Naxojin.
- Meratin.
- Tiberal.
- "Tinidazole".
- "Trichopolum" or "Metronidazole".
- Clindamycin.
Medications are taken for a week. It should be remembered that the use of oral drugs is prohibited. This is especially true of Trichopolum.
In combination with other drugs to normalize microflora, it is prescribed: Linex, Probifor, Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform, Bifidin or Bifilis. To increase the number of lactobacilli in the vaginal environment, "Acylact", "Lactobacterin", "Acepol", etc. are prescribed. The drug is recommended to be drunk in a course starting from the second day of taking antibacterial agents. Means are also prescribed to maintain immunity - “Immunal”, “Cycloferon”, etc.
If the cause of microflora disturbance is sexual intercourse, then the sexual partner should be examined and treated.
About preventive measures
Treating dysbiosis can take up to four weeks. In some cases, it is difficult to prevent this disease, since it is difficult to establish the real cause of the disease. The only thing a woman can do is strengthen her immune system and observe the necessary hygiene rules.
After the restoration of the vaginal microflora, a gynecologist should be visited every three months for a year. This is necessary in order to identify relapse in time and take appropriate measures. In the future, under normal circumstances, you can go to the doctor once a year.