Regular examination for urogenital infections is a guarantee of good health. Femoflor is a unique type of study that provides complete information about the state of microflora of female and male genital organs. Below we will talk about the indications for these analyzes and how to pass. We will also talk about the norm and decoding of Femoflor-16.
Femoflor-16
There are several types of femoflor studies. The number after the name indicates the number of normal and pathogenic microorganisms that will be analyzed.
So, a feature of the Femoflor-16 method is that it provides information on the general condition of microflora and the presence of pathogens, accurately determining their quantitative value. Due to this, pathologies are identified, the level of their development is determined, a treatment plan is developed, and in the future, the degree of its effectiveness is monitored.
What determines
Femoflor-16 is an extended type of analysis, with the help of which the following groups and types of microorganisms are identified:
- yeast-like fungi;
- ureaplasmas;
- mycoplasmas;
- streptococci;
- staphylococci;
- gardnerella;
- fusobacteria;
- leptotrichia;
- Preotellas;
- eubacteria;
- peptostreptococcus;
- vailonella;
- lactobacilli;
- enterobacteria;
- clostridia;
- dialist.
In addition, the study determines:
- MBP (total bacterial mass) is a criterion that allows you to judge the total number of bacteria in a sample.
- KVM (material capture control) - a test that reduces the likelihood of an erroneous result. It determines whether the sample contains the minimum number of cells necessary for a successful analysis.
Normal indicators of Femoflor-16 indicate the preservation of a balance between useful and opportunistic flora. And this means that the patient is healthy, since the named analysis allows you to catch the slightest changes in the microbiota, signaling the possibility of infection.
Deviations of the normal values of Femoflor-16 in one direction or another indicate a malfunction in the work of the urogenital organs.
Indications
The microflora of the male and female genital organs is represented by a variety of bacteria, the ratio of which is not broken. In women, the growth of pathogens is constrained by lactobacilli. It is they who create the desired acidity of the vagina, in which the development of pathogens is impossible.
Imbalance can occur for various reasons:
- due to excessive psycho-emotional stress;
- lack of essential trace elements;
- constant physical overvoltage;
- non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene (both neglect and excessive enthusiasm);
- improperly selected underwear made of artificial materials;
- regular douching;
- neglect of the rules for the use of pads and tampons during menstruation.
All of the above provokes the occurrence of inflammatory processes, accompanied by unpleasant sensations.
An analysis of Femoflor-16 is indicated in the following cases:
- with the onset of symptoms: genital itching; burning sensations during urination; discharge, different from the usual, increasing their number;
- with inflammation of the genitourinary system;
- examination before surgical intervention in the organs of the reproductive system;
- the constant growth of pathogenic microorganisms;
- lack of treatment effectiveness for established diseases;
- the lack of coincidence of the results of other tests with the available symptoms;
- prolonged use of intrauterine devices and oral contraceptives;
- menstrual failure;
- in the period of menopause;
- with a violation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- promiscuous sexual intercourse;
- before the IVF procedure.
Timely examination allows you to avoid the transition of the disease into a chronic form, infertility, miscarriage.
Preparation
Before passing the analysis, it is important to strictly observe the following rules:
- 2 days before taking the material, exclude sexual contact.
- Women are forbidden to use tampons during the week before the test.
- In the same period (for 7 days), it is necessary to exclude the use of any vaginal preparations (including contraceptives).
- It is undesirable to undergo examination during the period of menstruation, the ideal time for the collection of material is the period of ovulation.
- For 2 weeks, you must completely exclude the use of antibiotics and drugs containing narcotic substances.
- If the patient has undergone colposcopic examination, it is important to maintain a 7-day interval between studies.
- On the day of the analysis (in front of him) it is forbidden to conduct genital hygiene using any cosmetic products, you can not douche.
- For 1-2 hours, it is not recommended to urinate.
Responsible adherence to the rules of the preparatory phase is an important point for the qualitative and effective analysis.
How is the study
The material for research in women of reproductive age are most often epithelial cells from the vagina obtained by scraping. At the discretion of the doctor, scraping of cells from the cervical canal and urethra can be performed. In this case, the normal values of the analysis of Femoflor-16 and the interpretation of the result are interpreted by the doctor in different ways.
The procedure for collecting material is carried out on a gynecological chair, it is not associated with pain, the degree of discomfort is due to individual sensitivity.
The process of taking a smear in men is as follows:
- Immediately before the procedure, the doctor treats the genitals with saline in order to exclude the remnants of urine and microorganisms that inhabit the surface of the skin from entering the sample.
- Next, a special instrument is inserted into the urethra by several centimeters.
- Soft rotational movements collect the right amount of material.
It is important to understand that, contrary to popular belief, the process does not cause pain, the feeling of discomfort manifests itself only if the mucous membrane is damaged in acute inflammation. After taking the material for 1-2 days, a burning sensation persists when urinating. A heavy drink is recommended so that urine is less concentrated and does not irritate the mucous membrane.
After sampling, the study is carried out by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with the result in real time.
This method involves a comprehensive study of microflora by analyzing the ratio of normal and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and the total bacterial mass:
- A quantitative assessment of the content of lactobacilli is given, which allows to identify the degree of imbalance of microflora.
- The analysis of the quantitative content of opportunistic microorganisms is carried out, which is important for determining the types of bacteria responsible for imbalance.
- The quality of the material taken is evaluated.
The results obtained allow us to judge the degree of development of the inflammatory process and draw up a competent treatment regimen.
Criteria for quantifying Femoflor-16: norm, decoding
Evaluation of opportunistic and normoflora is expressed in absolute (exact amount) and relative (relation to MBP) indicators. Absolute KVM indicators look like this:
- more than 10 5 - the ideal amount of material for analysis;
- 10 4 -10 5 - a sufficient amount;
- less than 10 4 - there is no opportunity to conduct research, it is necessary to re-submit the material.
Absolute BMP indicator:
- 10 6 -10 8 is the optimal;
- more than 10 8 - increased;
- less than 10 6 - reduced.
Indicators in men
When using Femoflor-16, the normal indicators in men are:
- absolute - more than 10 4 ;
- relative - less than -3.
If the ratio of pathogens to total biomass is from -3 to -2, their level is considered to be slightly increased, from -2 to -1 - moderately increased, above -1 - significantly increased.
Normal indicators of femoflor-16 in women
The study of female microflora begins with an assessment of the content of lactobacilli. Normally, their absolute indicator should be more than 10 6 , and the difference between it and the total biomass should be from 0 to 0.5. If the absolute indicator is reduced, and the relative is greater than 1, the level of normal flora is significantly reduced.
Normal indicators of Femoflor-16 for opportunistic flora :
- absolute - more than 10 4 ;
- relative - less than -3.
A value greater than -1 indicates the presence of an inflammatory process.
Femoflor-16 is a unique method for studying the microflora of female and male genital organs. Deviations of the normal indicators of Femoflor-16 indicate the development of pathogenic bacteria.