If it is necessary to conduct a qualitative examination in order to obtain an objective assessment of normal and pathogenic microflora in the urogenital female pathways, doctors prescribe femoflor screening. What this is and how the analysis is carried out is known to most modern women: diagnosis is based on the use of the PCR principle in real time. Thanks to the study, the doctor has the opportunity to give a comprehensive description of the quantitative and qualitative bacterial composition of microflora.
The microflora of the female genital organs
As you know, the biocenosis of the urogenital tract in women is a combination of various microorganisms that inhabit the genitourinary system and are interconnected by a specific relationship. The bacterial flora of the vagina in women with an active reproductive system, i.e., those of childbearing age, is ideally balanced, is a stable system, and contains about a hundred different microscopic creatures. The predominant part of them are lactobacilli, it is thanks to them that healthy women have a satisfactory flora.
The importance of lactobacilli and femoflor screening
Lactobacilli play a huge role in ensuring a normal vaginal pH. With the help of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide produced by them, its neutral level reaches 4.0-4.5. Since the acidic environment is favorable for the growth of only lactobacilli, reproduction and active growth of other microorganisms is impossible. In addition, it is these lactic acid microscopic creatures that enhance local immunity.
Lactobacilli are a natural barrier to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms in the urogenital system of women and their excessive reproduction. But besides them, other bacteria are present in the vagina, and some of them are not beneficial. With the inhibition of lactobacilli, yeast, staphylococcus, streptococcus and other pathogenic microorganisms begin to multiply actively, which can lead to some violations in the female urogenital system. Age, lifestyle, past illnesses - all this can significantly affect the state of microflora.
Timely femoflor screening (what it is and why it is necessary to undergo it, we will consider in more detail below) will help to eliminate the disease, with a minimum of effort, and prevent the occurrence of complications. Therefore, with the slightest and most insignificant at first glance, violations, long before the manifestation of unpleasant signs of the presence of a bacterial infection, you must consult a doctor.
The principle of microflora analysis
Femoflor-16 is a more modern technique that allows for the most detailed analysis. This specific examination is characterized by a high level of sensitivity, which allows the procedure for identifying hard-to-reach anaerobic microorganisms. To identify the imbalance of bacteria, its stages of development and the general nature of microflora, experts recommend undergoing femoflor screening. What it is? A special analysis, based on the results of which doctors are able to draw up the most effective therapeutic regimen.
A unique technique is carried out in real time. The advantage of this study, as already mentioned, is the PCR-12 panel. The polymerase chain reaction allows with absolute accuracy to exclude the receipt of unreliable results (both false and positive).
Advantages of the study: what screening allows the doctor to see
Since femoflor-screen is able to determine the presence in the urogenital female tract of various pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungal and protozoa), it makes it possible to draw conclusions about their quantitative and qualitative composition. The results of the analysis are necessary for the doctor in order to do the following:
- Identify unconditionally pathogenic microflora (the number of types of viruses, protozoa, bacteria can reach 7).
- Evaluate 14 criteria for screening the urogenital tract.
- Determine the total number of normal bacteria, the degree of contamination by them, as well as opportunistic microorganisms.
- Find out the causes of the development of the inflammatory process in the urogenital sphere.
- Choose the most suitable method of therapy.
- To control the dynamics of recovery and stabilization of healthy microflora.
- Objectively conclude the results of the treatment.
High accuracy and speed of receiving answers is another undoubted advantage of this diagnostic method. Meanwhile, the research procedure should be preceded by a specialist-controlled sampling of biological material.
Otherwise, the survey results may be unreliable. In order to undergo femoflor screening (how the material is taken and how the procedure goes, the doctor must tell the patient without fail and give appropriate recommendations for preparation), the woman must prepare correctly.
Varieties of femoflor screening
A comprehensive assessment of qualitative and quantitative biomass using PCR allows femoflor-screen to be carried out under conditions of control of the collection of a clinical sample. The naming of the study necessarily contains a numerical indicator that depends solely on the selected active reagent and displays in the results of the analysis the presence or absence of a specific number of bacteria. For example, femoflor-16 makes it possible to determine and objectively evaluate the qualitative and quantitative composition of 16 species of various normal, conditionally pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms. In turn, other studies are no less rarely prescribed. Most often, femoflor-13, screening of femoflor-8 and femoflor-4 are performed.
Analysis of the urogenital tract in women helps specialists to differentiate the imbalance and the normal state of the flora. Each type of laboratory and clinical diagnosis of the genitourinary female sphere provides enough health data that directly depends on the bacterial background in its urogenital tract.
What bacteria does the femoflor study help identify?
According to experts, the results of the analysis provide answers to many questions. Expanded femoflor screening (which is included in the diagnostic complex can be found below) makes it possible to determine the total mass of living microorganisms and its qualitative and quantitative composition, which may include:
- normal bacteria;
- gardnerella;
- ureaplasma;
- Candida
- mycoplasma (genital);
- Trichomonas;
- human herpes simplex virus of 1.2 types;
- pathogens of gonorrhea;
- cytomegalovirus;
- chlamydia.
The cause of numerous pathological processes are imbalance in the microflora. Minor changes in the bacterial composition will allow to find out what could provoke a similar condition. In the case of the appearance of specific symptoms, the first thing to do is to consult a specialist.
Who should undergo analysis to determine the qualitative composition of microflora?
Obvious signs of a violation of the bacterial background in the urogenital tract of the patient may be:
- burning sensation;
- constant itching of the external labia and in the vagina;
- changes in the intensity and abundance of natural female secretions;
- genital discomfort.
If at least one of the above symptoms appears after a long antibiotic or hormone therapy, femoflor screening is especially important. What is it, how is the analysis, and also how to carefully prepare for it, women need to know who:
- plan a pregnancy;
- preparing for in vitro fertilization;
- in the near future they will undergo surgery on the pelvic organs;
- undergo a comprehensive diagnosis to detect diseases in the presence of the above symptoms;
- suffer from the rapid progression of dysbiotic processes;
- passed a course of ineffective treatment.
What affects the outcome indicators of femoflor-screen?
Women who are diagnosed with infertility need to undergo research to draw up a treatment regimen. In the case of a natural termination of several pregnancies in a row, a detailed study of the state of the reproductive system also plays an important role. If the diagnosis does not match the real symptoms, the patient may be prescribed femoflor-screen. The results of the examination will confirm the current or establish a new diagnosis.
Long-term use of hormonal-based contraceptive drugs can affect the state of the bacterial flora in the urogenital tract of a woman. First of all, a decrease in the number of estrogens adversely affects the state of microflora. The use of low-quality intrauterine devices, regular excessive douching are also related to violations of the “living” urogenital sphere.
How is screening done?
The quality of the material taken plays a fundamental role in the analysis. The indispensable condition for the success of this type of diagnosis is the correct technique for collecting biological material, for which scrapings are taken from:
- urethra
- cervical canal;
- the vagina.
The material required for screening is obtained, as a rule, using a sterile disposable tool like a cytobrash. The clinical sample is then placed in a prepared tube - eppendorf. Its feature is considered to be suitable for transporting the medium. After placement inside the clinical material, the tube is marked, indicating the patient's data, date and name of the analysis.
Determination of the norm and interpretation of analysis indicators
An indisputable indicator of a correctly performed sampling procedure is considered to be a sufficient amount of genomic DNA in a sample where epithelial cells act as its source . With the right scraping, they will always be present on the laboratory instruments with which femoflor-screen is performed. Norm KVM (control of material capture), as a rule, represents 105 units. In the case of obtaining a lower indicator, the diagnostic results may be considered unreliable and appoint a second passage of the research procedure.
If we talk about the values of the total mass of bacteria, then femoflor screening is considered the best and most convenient method of examination. Decoding MBP at indicators of 106-108 units. talks about the ideal number of living microorganisms. If these values are exceeded, i.e., the presence of bacteria is excessive, the probability of developing atrophic processes after taking the antibiotics by the patient is quite high.
An equally important indicator of bionorm in the urogenital tract is the number of lactobacilli. Normally, their laboratory number is about 106-108 units. Meanwhile, the lack of this type of living creatures suggests that the microflora is pathogenic. Together with the identification of lactobacilli, an assessment is made of the flora of aerobic and anaerobic living microorganisms, including mycoplasma, candida, ureaplasma and others.
Having deciphered the answers of the femoflor study, the doctor is able to give an opinion about the state of microflora. The medical conclusion of the analysis may be one of the following points:
- normocenosis;
- moderate type dysbiosis;
- pronounced dysbiosis.
Since the main material for research using PCR is scraping of epithelial cells, the preparation of the patient for diagnosis is of great importance. KVM is designed to maximally eliminate false negative results. If the survey reaches a value of 10 ^ 4, the answers must be interpreted by experts. If the result is less than this figure, a second study is required.
How does a woman prepare for the procedure?
If it is necessary to conduct a research procedure to identify several biotypes, the manipulation is performed each time, using a new tube and a sterile probe.
As with any other gynecological procedure, it is not possible to perform normal femoflor screening without prior action. Preparation for analysis and sampling of biomaterial is the observance of certain restrictions on the eve of:
- Before manipulation, a woman should not use soap while observing intimate hygiene, do douching.
- A week before the procedure, you can not take any antibacterial drugs.
- It is impossible to conduct research during menstruation, as well as for 5 days after it.
- 3 days before the analysis, you should abandon the use of vaginal birth control pills, suppositories, gels, etc.
- At the same time, it is advisable to refrain from sexual intimacy.
- For a couple of hours before direct scraping, do not urinate.
- A particularly important condition is the ban on sampling PCR after colposcopy.
What can cause microflora disorders of the urogenital tract?
Dysbiosis in women can be almost asymptomatic. However, it often leads to the development of serious problems in the functioning of the reproductive system and a decrease in the quality of life of the patient.
To avoid the occurrence of pathologies associated with an imbalance of beneficial and harmful bacteria, it is necessary to carefully monitor the health of the entire genitourinary system. Especially pay attention to the presence of factors that potentially pose a threat to women's health:
- hormonal changes caused by irregular sex life, pregnancy, childbirth, abortive abortion, menopause, the use of hormonal contraceptives;
- leading an asocial lifestyle, frequent changes in sexual partners;
- untimely treatment of STDs;
- prolonged antibiotic therapy;
- chronic bowel disease and dysbiosis;
- violation or incorrect observance of personal hygiene;
- stressful situations;
- change of a climatic zone.