Gardnerella was found in the smear; incubation period, diagnostics, analyzes (sowing, scraping, PCR) norm. Gardnerella vaginalis: characteristics, tests, symptoms in women and men, treatment

Gardnerellosis in women- an inflammatory process caused by an imbalance in the microflora in the vagina. Does not apply to venereal diseases. Without treatment, it causes chronic inflammatory processes in the reproductive system, and can be the cause of recurrent miscarriage.

Gardnerellosis appears due to a violation of the microflora in the vagina

What is gardnerellosis?

The microflora of the vagina is represented by lacto- and bifidobacteria. Normally, this is 95% of the total mass of microorganisms that inhabit the reproductive organs. They maintain vaginal pH, produce hydrogen peroxide, and perform protective functions. The remaining 5% of microorganisms are various cocci, Trichomonas, fungi of the genus Candida.

Gardnerella under magnification

Gardnerella belongs to opportunistic bacteria, but is a normal inhabitant of the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs. As long as this ratio is met, the woman is considered healthy.

With the predominance of gardnerella vaginalis, gardnerellosis develops. According to ICD 10, the disease was assigned the code N89.8 "bacterial vaginosis".

Causes of gardnerellosis

The pathogen is transmitted exclusively by contact. The disease rarely affects men, but they are carriers of gardnerella vaginalis.

With a normal ratio of lactobacilli and opportunistic flora, the incubation period can last for years. The pathogen will be present in the vagina, but the amounts will be negligible. In this case, gardnerella is not detected in smears, there is no inflammatory process.

When exposed to adverse factors, lactobacilli die, and conditionally pathogenic flora begins to multiply in the vagina.

Factors contributing to the development of the disease:

frequent change of sexual partners;
ecological situation;
the emergence of a new partner;
unbalanced diet, lack of dairy products;
STD history or active state;
inappropriate use of antibiotics;
aggressive treatment of other diseases;
use of contraceptives;
douching without a doctor's prescription;
excessive use of hygiene products with antibacterial properties;
passion for daily pads and underwear made of synthetic thread;
endocrine diseases;
pregnancy - immune defense is reduced, which prevents the rejection of the fetus;
immunodeficiencies of various etiologies;
stress;
overwork;
dysbacteriosis of the gastrointestinal tract.

Disruptions in the endocrine system can cause gardnerellosis

Without treatment, chronic gardnerellosis develops. At the same time, the pH of the vagina shifts to the alkaline side, which contributes to the development of other inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs.

Symptoms of gardnerellosis in women

Manifestations of gardnerellosis are similar to those of other sexually transmitted infections.

Symptoms of the disease:

itching in the vaginal area;
discomfort;
discharge - dense, white-gray, homogeneous;
pain and cramps during urination and sexual intercourse;
symptoms worsen after intimacy;
smell - the discharge has the smell of raw fish.

If such symptoms appear, you should stop sexual intercourse and consult a doctor.

With gardnerellosis, vaginal discharge appears

Which doctor to contact

treatment of this disease. If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient to,.

Diagnostics

To confirm the diagnosis, a woman should visit a doctor. The gynecologist will examine the vagina in the mirrors, make a smear of the discharge on the flora. The presence of a bacterium is not a criterion for making a diagnosis; the ratio of beneficial and conditionally pathogenic flora is important.

Standard diagnosis for gardnerellosis:

analysis of the patient's complaints;
smear on flora;
detection of secretions with a characteristic odor;
change in the pH of the vagina to the alkaline side;
the presence of "key" cells - these are epithelial cells covered with gardnerella;
amine test - material from the vaginal mucosa is treated with potassium alkali.

A smear on the flora helps to identify the degree of the disease

Gardnerella can be determined using PCR analysis of discharge from the urogenital tract. But the opinions of experts in this case are divided. Some do not consider it appropriate to conduct this study in the absence of signs of sexually transmitted diseases. Others insist on conducting this test.

Effective treatment of gardnerellosis

Treatment of the disease is carried out in a complex manner. Shown drug therapy and both partners, the normalization of the diet, the exclusion of factors contributing to the recurrence of the disease.

Medications

Drug treatment is carried out in 2 stages. The first shows the suppression of pathogenic flora, the second shows the normalization of the vaginal microflora. Treatment is carried out at home, hospitalization is not required.

For oral administration

Oral antibacterial agents - Metronidazole, Trichopolum, Ornidazole, Dazolik. These are tablet preparations based on metronidazole and ornidazole. Shown in case of damage by protozoa, bacterial flora, including gardnerella. Dosages are selected by the doctor.

tablets Metronidazole, Trichopolum - 500 mg 2 times a day;
Ornidazole, Dazolik - 2.5 g per day, divided into 2-3 doses.

Metronidazole - antibacterial tablets

When taking metronidazole preparations, alcohol is prohibited, as an intolerance reaction develops with nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate. Dairy products should be included in the diet.

Preparations of this group are prohibited for prescribing to children under 6 years of age, in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, during lactation, with severe liver pathologies.

Patients complained of the following side effects:

defecation disorders;
nausea, vomiting;
dry mouth;
candidiasis of the oral cavity and vagina;
pain in the joints.

Vaginal preparations

Antibacterial suppositories - Hexicon, Terzhinan, ointments with clindamycin. They are inserted into the vagina for 7-10 days. In parallel, douching with Miramistin is prescribed.

Hexicon - the main component is chlorhexedine. Of the side effects, dryness of the mucous membrane, itching, and minor bleeding are most often observed.

The drug is not prescribed:

with individual intolerance;
children under 12 years old.

Terzhinan is a complex drug. Contains tenidazole and nystatin. The tablet is inserted into the vagina at night. The recommended course is 10 days.

Terzhinan is a complex drug

Side effects develop rarely, are possible:

irritation at the injection site.

Contraindication - only individual intolerance to the components. The drug is approved for use during pregnancy.

Klevazol is a vaginal cream. It contains the antibiotic clindamycin and the antimycotic miconazole. The drug is injected into the vagina 1 time per day. The effective dosage is 5 ml.

Contraindications:

hypersensitivity to the components of the cream;
intolerance to lincomycin;
bowel disease.

Side effects against the background of the use of Klevazol rarely develop. Patients complained of discomfort after the administration of the drug.

Miramistin is the main component of a solution of 0.1% Miramistin. Active against most types of pathogenic flora. The solution is used for douching. Processing is carried out 2 times a day. The drug is approved during pregnancy.

Miramistin - solution for douching

Side effects may include:

burning;

Unpleasant sensations pass within 15 minutes on their own. Contraindication - only individual intolerance to Miramistin.

Normalization of microflora

Preparations for restoring the normoflora of the vagina - Vagilak, Atsilakt. These preparations contain strains of acidophilic lactobacilli.

Vagilak - a remedy for restoring the normoflora of the vagina

Medicines of this group are used after the suppression of pathogenic flora. Suppositories are inserted into the vagina at night. The duration of the recovery period is from 5 to 10 days. If necessary, the course is repeated after 20 days. Lactated suppositories are approved for use during pregnancy.

There are no reports of side effects in the medical literature. It is not recommended to prescribe drugs of this group to patients suffering from chronic candidiasis - there is a risk of developing a relapse of the disease.

Diet

There is no specialized diet for the treatment of gardnerellosis.

It is enough to follow the principles of a healthy diet:

avoid fried, fatty, spicy foods;
reduce the amount of sugar and sweets in the diet;
increase - vegetables, fruits, non-starchy root vegetables.

With gardnerellosis, eat more vegetables and fruits

Why is gardnerella dangerous for the female body?

Violation of the microflora is fraught with the development of inflammatory diseases of the reproductive and urinary systems.

Possible complications of garnerellosis:

inflammatory processes of the reproductive system;
endometritis after childbirth or abortion, surgical treatment;
infertility;
habitual miscarriage;
neoplasia of the tissues of the cervical canal;
bartholinitis;
the appearance of cysts, abscesses.

If left untreated, gardnerellosis can develop bartholinitis

Is it possible to get pregnant with gardnerellosis?

The presence of a pathogenic organism in the vagina does not affect the development of the egg. And the pH shift in the reproductive organs towards a neutral or alkaline environment only contributes to the activity of spermatozoa.

But the presence of an inflammatory process can affect the pregnancy that has already taken place, cause a miscarriage. Therefore, during the treatment of vaginal dysbacteriosis, one should refrain from intimate life or use barrier methods of protection.

Gardnerellosis during pregnancy

Immunosuppression develops during pregnancy. This prevents the rejection of the fetus. Therefore, the growth of conditionally pathogenic flora, including gardnerella vaginalis, is possible.

There is no need to panic with such a diagnosis. The bacterium does not directly affect the fetus. But it is necessary to be treated, since the inflammatory process can cause a miscarriage, a missed pregnancy, and the development of endometritis in the postpartum period.

In the first trimester, in the absence of signs of an obvious inflammatory process and discomfort in the patient, treatment is not carried out. All therapeutic interventions begin from the 13th week of the gestational period.

At this time, it is not advisable to use system-wide treatment, but metronidazole and its analogues are allowed for prescription.

In the first 12 weeks of gestation, suppositories must be given Hexicon, Betadine. Candles Terzhinan are recommended to be used starting from the 13th week of pregnancy. Douching is prohibited during the entire gestational period.

Prevention of sexual infection

Preventive measures consist in observing the rules of personal hygiene, sexual intelligibility. But excessive sterility, washing or douching using antibacterial agents is also not required.

Maintain personal hygiene

Wear underwear made from natural fabrics. Exclude thongs, panty liners. Use antibiotics only when indicated.

Gardnerella vaginalis is a disease that affects mainly females. But with unprotected sexual contact, the disease can also be transmitted to a man. As an independent disease in men, experts do not consider it. But gardnerellosis can cause acute inflammatory processes. What is gardnerella vaginalis how to diagnose and treat treatment, let's look at it in more detail.

What is Gardnerella

Gardnerella is a bacterium that, at the time of exposure to adverse factors, causes inflammatory processes. During this period, a person needs medical treatment. The incubation period of gardnerella on average, it ranges from several days to 3-4 weeks. By itself, this bacterium is not dangerous, but its vigorous activity can cause severe inflammation, which can lead to dangerous consequences and additional diseases.

Localization of gardnerella infection is observed in the mucous membranes of the genital organs of a woman, which contributes to its development in violation of the microflora. In men, gardnerellosis is diagnosed only when pronounced signs appear under the influence of irritating factors.

Causes of the disease

Gardnerellosis is caused by unprotected sexual contact with an infected woman. That is, the ways of transmission of gardnerella are not full of their diversity. In most cases, in a man, this pathology does not continue its development. But under the influence of adverse factors, strong inflammatory processes and other symptoms of gardnerellosis vaginalis. These include:

long-term use of antidepressants and other potent drugs that depress the immune system;
stressful situations and psycho-emotional overstrain;
transferred diseases of the genitourinary system;
regular intake of hormonal or antibacterial drugs.

In general, one can say that the gardnerella infection is activated as a result of a sharp decrease in immunity. The body of a man loses its protective functions, as a result of which favorable conditions appear for the activation of the vital activity of a pathogenic microorganism.

It is important to know! Men who do not have a permanent sexual partner need to make sure that condoms are always used during intimacy! This will help protect him from fungal diseases such as trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis, and so on.

Symptoms of Gardnerella

Symptoms of gardnerellosis may not appear for a long period of time, that is, the entire incubation period. As for the characteristic signs of the development of the disease in men, the most common ailments in this case are:

the appearance of a white coating on the groove of the glans penis;
an unpleasant odor that cannot be eliminated even after washing;
minor rashes on the foreskin;
inflammatory processes in the urethra;
discharge with gardnerellosis may have a yellowish-greenish tint;
burning and itching in the urethra at the time of excretion of urine;
pain that is cutting.

Active the development of this disease in men can cause a number of concomitant pathologies, such as:

balanoposthitis - inflammation in the head of the penis;
urethritis - inflammation in the urethra.

And also many other diseases associated with the genitourinary system can be observed. They are appear as a result of the spread of gardnerella in all organs of the genitourinary system.

Can gardnerella cause cystitis? Such a possibility exists. But in practice, the risk of cystitis is minimized, as well as diseases such as pyelonephritis or prostatitis.

Diagnosis of gardnerellosis

After detecting ailments in the genitourinary system, a man should consult a doctor for help. Specialists in this matter are a urologist, venereologist or dermatovenereologist. After questioning, examining and examining the patient, an accurate diagnosis is established. For this a man is required to undergo such studies in the laboratory:

PCR diagnostics. To conduct this analysis for gardnerellosis, a blood sample is taken. If, according to the results of this study, gardnerella DNA is found, then this means that the patient is infected. When deciphering the results of the analysis, it is possible to determine the defeat of gardnerella vaginalis. Gardnerella 10 to the 4th degree indicates the absence of the virus. If the result showed 10 to the 6th degree, this indicates that the pathogenic bacterium began its active development.
Excretion research. This is one of the most informative methods for detecting a disease. Thanks to scraping, it is possible to determine not only the presence of a pathogenic microorganism, but also the norm of gardnerella in a smear or its deviation. Identification of the concentration of gardnerellosis helps to determine the most effective treatment in the future.
Analysis of urine. To conduct this study, in order to obtain the most accurate result, a man should not visit the restroom for 3 hours before the material is handed over. The study takes place by exposing the biomaterial to special reagents.

Modern laboratories help to accurately detect or exclude the development of gardnerellosis in men, thanks to innovative equipment.

After conducting the required tests based on their results, the doctor establishes an accurate diagnosis. Based on the indicators of analyzes for gardnerellosis, the most effective and safe treatment is determined, to which the patient should immediately begin.

Treatment of gardnerella

Many modern experts claim that treatment of gardnerellosis in men is not a mandatory procedure. Pathology poses the greatest danger to women. In fact, this is not the case, since the activation gardnerella virus can lead the representative of the stronger sex to unpleasant consequences in the form of additional diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out a therapeutic effect.

To eliminate the pathogenic microorganism, drug complex therapy is prescribed. Medicines of the following groups can remove the infection:

Antibacterial drugs. In order to start treatment of gardnerella with antibiotics, you need to consult a specialist. He prescribes an acceptable dosage, taking into account the individual characteristics of the male body, as well as his well-being. The most effective antibacterial drugs are: Vilprafen, Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Clindamycin and others.
Antiprotozoal drugs. Their action is aimed at eliminating the simplest. They have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microorganisms, including gardnerella vaginalis. These medicines include: Metronidazole, Ornidazole, Tinidazole, Tiberal, Osarbon, as well as their analogues.
Antiseptic agents of local action. When applied to the penis, these drugs disinfect the surface. For this purpose, such drugs are prescribed: Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Hexicon, Macmirror and others.
Antifungal medicines. They have a detrimental effect on all types of fungi. The most common means of this group are: Pimafucin, Terzhinan, Fluconazole.
Probiotics. They are aimed at normalizing the microflora. The most prominent representatives of probiotics are: Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin, Laktovit, Bifilakt and others.

If a man with gardnerellosis has previously been diagnosed with diseases of the genitourinary system of a chronic nature, then he needs topical antibacterial drugs. The following ointments are most effective: Oxyconazole, Kanesten, Miconazole, Mikospor, Clotrimazole. They not only have a destructive effect on microbes, but also protect against the development of other diseases of the genitourinary system.

In order to determine exactly how to treat gardnerellosis, you need to carefully listen to the appointments and recommendations of a specialist.

During the treatment of gardnerella, for a faster recovery, a young person must follow the following rules:

refuse intimacy with women;
follow a diet aimed at the exclusion of spicy, smoked and spicy foods;
to exclude the use of alcoholic beverages, even in small quantities;
avoid visiting public saunas or baths;
do not overexert, physical activity during the treatment period should be moderate;
get enough rest - sleep at least 8 hours a day;
receive positive emotions, avoid stressful situations.

These rules are aimed at normalizing the immune system, thereby increasing the protective functions of the body. In this manner it is possible to enhance the effect of medications during the treatment of gardnerellosis.

Can gardnerella go away on its own in men? This is possible, but subject to a strong immune system that protects the body from the harmful effects of pathogenic microorganisms.

Consequences of gardnerellosis in men

special dangers of gardnerella for a healthy man does not represent. But as a result of the impact of adverse factors, his immunity may sharply decrease, which will lead to the active life of pathogenic microorganisms, after which strong inflammatory processes will be observed. In order to understand what is dangerous gardnerellosis in men, attention should be paid to what consequences its occurrence sometimes leads to. These are:

Urethritis. Over time, a man develops inflammatory processes in the urethra.
Prostatitis. This pathology is characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland.
Vesiculitis. This is a more serious disease, which is characterized by damage to the seminal vesicles. Prolonged exposure to this condition without proper treatment can lead to infertility.

For the male part of the population, it is not the gardnerella itself that is dangerous, but the fact that it causes inflammation in the pelvic organs. That is, it leads to more serious pathologies.

Prevention of gardnerellosis in men

In order to avoid the active development of this bacterium, a man must, first of all, follow the basic rules of hygiene. This is a universal method for the prevention of all diseases caused by fungi. And also a young man must necessarily use condoms during sexual contact with casual partners. But it is best to find the only woman in whose health you can be sure. In such situations, preventive measures are aimed at controlling the well-being of the partner, that is:

If a man notices problems in his woman in terms of gynecology, then her visit to the doctor should not be postponed. Especially to self-medicate. A qualified specialist will identify the exact problem, after which he will prescribe the necessary treatment for the woman. It is possible that a man will also need drug therapy in such cases.
In situations where a woman has been diagnosed with gardnerellosis, one should not be afraid if intimacy passes without a condom. The male body is resistant to this type of bacteria. But, in any case, an examination by a urologist will not hurt, since the active development of the microorganism can cause inflammatory processes.
Gardnerellosis in men does not always require treatment. In some cases, strict personal hygiene will be sufficient measure.

A man should carefully monitor the health of his partner. If any discomfort occurs during intimacy or atypical discharge, it is required to immediately send her to a gynecologist.

And also a man can avoid the occurrence of gardnerellosis by strengthening his immunity. To do this, he needs to adhere to the following rules:

get rid of bad habits, such as smoking or uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages;
live a healthy life;
avoid sudden changes in temperature, as a result of which the body can become overcooled;
strictly observe personal hygiene of the genitals;
wear underwear only from natural materials;
regularly take complex vitamins, especially in the autumn-winter period;
saturate your diet with seasonal vegetables and fruits;
after suffering pancreatitis, direct all efforts to protect the pancreas from harmful effects.

And also with the appearance of symptoms characteristic of gardnerellosis in the form of inflammation or atypical discharge from the penis, you should immediately consult a doctor. In no case should you start self-treatment. A specialist is required to visit at least once every 6 months for preventive purposes.

Video: How to treat gardnerella.

Bacterial vaginosis is a disease that often occurs in sexually active women. In the vast majority of cases, pathology appears under the influence of bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis (Gardnerella vaginalis). Strictly speaking, gardnerellosis is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection, however, sexually transmitted diseases provoke the development and aggravate the course of bacterial vaginosis of a similar etiology.

Gardnerella is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism, that is, it is present in small quantities on the mucous epithelium of the vagina. Taxonomically, these pathogens are classified as facultative anaerobic flora. In other words, their life cycle proceeds without access to oxygen, however, unlike other anaerobes, gardnerella can also tolerate aerobic conditions.

Outwardly, gardnerella are similar to small sticks with oval ends, their size rarely exceeds 1.5 microns. Previously, pathogenic microorganisms Gardnerella were considered representatives of the genus Haemophilus (they were called Haemophilus vaginalis).

However, in the mid-1980s, they were proven to belong to the Bifidobacteriaceae family. The vast majority of cases of Gardnerella are Gram-negative, although a Gram-positive stain is occasionally possible.

"Inhabiting" the mucous epithelium of the vagina, lactobacilli, as a result of the destruction of glycogen, produce lactic acid. It determines the pH value in the range of 3.8 - 4.5, which prevents the reproduction of various microorganisms. In addition, lactobacilli have an enzymatic effect, so their level serves as a kind of indicator of the state of the female genital organs. Bacvaginosis develops against the background of the replacement of microorganisms of the genus Lactobacillus by an association of pathogenic or conditionally pathogenic bacteria.

Gardnerella vaginalis produces specific catabolites that inhibit the functional activity of local immunity and leukocytes. As a result, bacteria penetrate deep into the vaginal mucosa, affect the overlying sections of the genital tract, and spread to the urinary tract. In addition, the development of gardnerella contributes to the reproduction of other flora (staphylococci, streptococci, klebsiella, E. coli, klebsiella, etc.).

Bacterial vaginosis provoked by gardnerella is the most common infectious disease among sexually active women aged 18-45 years. According to different authors, the incidence of such an infection ranges from 30 to 80% in the structure of inflammatory diseases of the genital organs in the fairer sex. Such inaccuracy in the numbers is due to the fact that in a third of women gardnerellosis is asymptomatic.

Gardnerella vaginalis: transmission routes, factors provoking the development of pathology

Some doctors are inclined to believe that gardnerellosis is sexually transmitted. However, in this case, the question of the presence of these bacteria in a small amount in the vagina of girls and virgin girls remains open. Therefore, experts believe that this disease can be safely attributed to polyetiological.

The following factors contribute to the appearance of pathological concentrations of gardnerella vaginalis:

promiscuity, especially without the use of proper protective measures (condoms);
concomitant sexually transmitted diseases (trichomoniasis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.);
a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic intravaginal manipulations (douching, especially if it is therapeutically unreasonable, colposcopy, etc.);
abortions;
taking drugs that impair the functioning of local immunity (corticosteroids, antibiotics and fungicides, including local action in the form of ointments and suppositories, cytostatics, chemotherapy);
extragenital diseases that negatively affect the state of the immune system;
improper diet with a predominance of too sweet foods and a deficiency of sour-milk products;
use of topical spermicides;
the use for hygiene purposes of pads, tampons, intimate products with too high a content of synthetic perfumes and allergens;
wearing tight underwear with a synthetic gusset;
hormonal disorders caused by both natural causes (pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding period), diseases or taking appropriate medications;
chronic fatigue, emotional overstrain and exhaustion;
diseases and conditions accompanied by a violation of the microflora of the digestive and genitourinary tract;
malformations and anatomical features of the structure of the vagina;
insufficient personal hygiene;
foreign bodies in the vagina and uterus (spirals, caps, etc.).

Infection with gardnerella vaginalis does not occur through sexual contact. However, the development of this disease is closely related to the characteristics of sexual relationships. The risk of bacterial vaginosis increases with an early onset of sexual activity, the presence of a large number of sexual partners, a high frequency of urogenital, rectogenital sexual contacts, etc.

Gardnerella infection: symptoms in women, diagnostic methods, possible complications

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis provoked by Gardnerella are nonspecific. Many sexually transmitted diseases (for example, chlamydia, trichomoniasis) can occur under the guise of gardnerellosis. The incubation period of infection is from 3 to 10 days, but on average - a week.

Symptoms characteristic of the pathology are:

quite abundant, sometimes foamy discharge from the vagina, at the initial stages of the disease they are homogeneous, gray-white in color, but later acquire a thicker consistency and a yellowish tint;

the characteristic unpleasant smell of stale fish, it intensifies after sex, during menstruation, after washing with soap, such a sign is due to the breakdown of amino acids produced by anaerobic gardnerella;
itching and burning, but only a third of women with bacterial vaginosis complain of these symptoms.

The occurrence of an unpleasant "fishy" odor from the vagina, combined with abundant discharge, is the reason for contacting a gynecologist.

Diagnostic criteria for gardnerellosis are:

plaque, evenly covering the mucous membrane of the vagina and external genital organs, while pathophysiological signs of the inflammatory process occur extremely rarely;
pH values above 4.5 after carrying out pH-metry separated by the vaginal epithelium;
a positive amino test result, this is one of the express diagnostic methods, which is carried out by mixing a vaginal smear with a 10% potassium hydroxide solution on a glass slide, in the presence of gardnerella, a strong smell of rotten fish appears;
detection of cells characteristic of bacterial vaginosis after microscopy of a Gram-stained smear from the vagina.

Instrumental methods for detecting the disease supplement the data of the anamnesis and complaints of the patient. Gardnerella infection requires differential diagnosis with other urogenital pathologies caused by gonococcus, trichomonas, chlamydia, opportunistic microorganisms. For this, PCR tests are prescribed to detect the DNA of bacteria.

Without appropriate treatment (and sometimes against the background of drug therapy), gardnerellosis is prone to a chronic relapsing course. So, six months after the first episode, the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis reappear in a third of patients, and within a year - in 50 - 70% of women. Such violations of the composition of the physiological microflora of the vagina often leads to persistent recurrent candidiasis and other lesions of the urogenital tract. Sometimes gardnerella is also found in the bladder in the process of identifying the causes of cystitis.

In recent years, information has appeared that anaerobic pathogens of bacterial vaginosis secrete nitrosamines. They serve as coenzymes of carcinogenesis and can cause dysplastic and dystrophic processes in the cervix. They, in turn, can cause a variety of pathologies, including malignant cell transformations.

Gardnerellosis in women: features of the course and therapy during pregnancy, manifestations of the disease in men

Often, bacterial vaginosis, provoked by bacteria of the genus Gardnerella, occurs during pregnancy. As a rule, this is due to concomitant changes in hormonal balance. For early detection of pathology, regular gynecological examination is mandatory, especially in women at risk (with previous or concomitant sexually transmitted infections, chronic inflammatory lesions of the genitourinary system, etc.)

But to date, a clear connection has been established between the development of such a disease and infertility, an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy, the threat of miscarriage, and premature birth. In addition, in the absence of therapy, gardnerellosis is dangerous for early rupture of amniotic fluid, intrauterine infection of the fetus, and various inflammatory lesions of the uterus in the postpartum period.

Therefore, with the appearance of secretions of a characteristic consistency and with a specific odor, it is necessary to urgently begin therapy. Most medications for bacterial vaginosis are contraindicated in the first trimester. Therefore, at this stage, even doctors recommend using folk remedies.

Starting from the second trimester, gardnerellosis in women is treated with:

Clindamycin (Dalacin, Clindamycin) in the form of a cream or suppositories of 5 g or one piece, respectively, at night for 3 to 5 days;
Metronidazole (Metrogil, Metrovagin, Trichopolum, Trihosept, Flagyl) cream (0.75%), suppositories - 2 times a day intravaginally or tablets of 0.5 g twice a day, the course of therapy is 5 - 7 days.

In men, gardnerellosis is usually asymptomatic. As a rule, representatives of the stronger sex are carriers of the infection. However, if immunity is weakened as a result of any diseases or medications, there is a risk of developing bacterial urethritis (inflammation of the urinary canal) or balanoposthitis (damage to the head of the penis, foreskin).

Similar pathologies are manifested in the form of burning during urination, discharge with an unpleasant odor from the urethra. Often note the appearance of a grayish-white sticky coating on the glans penis, redness and slight swelling of the skin in the area of the foreskin.

How to treat gardnerella: drug and alternative therapy, restoration of local immunity, methods of prevention

Anaerobic pathogens of bacterial vaginosis are highly sensitive to various antibacterial drugs from the group of fluoroquinolones, penicillins (but only in combination with clavulanic acid), macrolides. Tetracycline antibiotics (for example, Minocycline) are less active against Gardnerella. However, most experts believe that the use of potent antimicrobial agents for the treatment of uncomplicated vaginosis is unjustified.

Therefore, first-line drugs are:

Nitroimidazoles(Metronidazole, Ornidazole, Tinidazole). They are used orally, intravaginally in women and topically in men. Dosage and duration of treatment is determined individually. As a rule, take Metronidazole (or its analogues under other trade names) 2.0 g once or 0.5 g twice a day for a week. Ornidazole drink 0.5 g twice a day for 5 days, Tinidazole - 2.0 g once. Preparations of this group in the form of suppositories or ointments are used twice a day for 5 days.
Lincosamides. Of the drugs in this class, clindamycin is the most effective. It is applied topically (applied to the glans penis or inserted into the vagina) once a day at night for 6 days. Oral administration of 0.3 g twice a day for a week is possible.

Additionally, doctors emphasize that metronidazole is absolutely incompatible with alcohol. Therefore, it is necessary to refrain from taking alcoholic beverages for the entire duration of treatment and for 24 hours after its completion. Clindamycin creams and suppositories can damage the latex used in condoms and vaginal diaphragms. Therefore, during therapy with this drug, it is better to give up sexual life (sexual contacts with gardnerellosis without a condom can aggravate the course of the disease).

Some patients prefer to treat bacterial vaginosis and urethritis with alternative medicine methods.

Pour 3 tbsp. dry herb celandine with a liter of boiling water, squeeze a few cloves of garlic, insist for 3-4 hours, strain and use for douching.
Pass pine and juniper needles through a meat grinder (take in a ratio of 1: 1), squeeze out the juice from the resulting slurry, moisten a regular swab in it and insert it into the vagina overnight. To increase the effectiveness of treatment, alternate with gauze or cotton swabs soaked in a mixture of onion and horseradish juice. The course of therapy lasts 12 days.
Mix 10 g of lavender herb, bird cherry flowers and Chernobyl, 20 g of calendula herb, sage and cudweed, oak bark, birch leaves, 30 g of chamomile flowers. Pour two tablespoons of the mixture with a liter of hot water, wrap the dishes with a towel, leave for 2-3 hours, strain and douche at night for 2 weeks.
Buy yarrow and eucalyptus tinctures at the pharmacy, mix and drink 25 drops in 50 ml of water three times a day on an empty stomach.
Mix equal proportions of mistletoe and yarrow herb. Brew a couple of spoons with half a liter of boiling water, insist overnight and strain. Can be used for douching or taken orally 1 tbsp. three times a day.
Grind a tablet of Trichopolum into powder, add a teaspoon of honey and the same amount of onion gruel. Apply the resulting mass to a swab and insert into the vagina at night. Alternate with tampons with calendula ointment (available at the pharmacy).
A tablespoon of tansy baskets is poured with a glass of boiling water, simmer in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool to room temperature and strain. The solution is used for douching.
Mix in equal proportions black poplar buds, calendula and chamomile flowers, eucalyptus and bird cherry leaves. Take 2 - 3 tablespoons, pour a liter of boiling water, insist overnight and strain. First, douche with this solution, then insert a swab with lanolin-based propolis ointment into the vagina (if it is not in the pharmacy, you need to mix 10 g of crushed propolis and melted lanolin). The duration of treatment is 2 weeks. In parallel, you can drink a decoction of wormwood.
Pour a tablespoon of bird cherry fruits with 300 ml of boiling water, boil over low heat for 20 minutes, cool and strain. Drink 1/3 three times a day half an hour before meals. Also, this solution can be used for douching.
For men, for the hygiene of the penis, the following composition is recommended: half a liter of chamomile decoction, 1 tbsp. soda, 5 drops of potassium permanganate and 2 drops of iodine.

However, treatment does not guarantee re-infection. Its likelihood increases if provoking risk factors are not excluded. You can increase the activity of local immunity with the help of drugs designed to restore the normal composition of the vaginal microflora. They are used both in the form of suppositories and in the form of tablets.

In order not to face the problem of how to treat gardnerella, it is better to engage in the prevention of infection in a timely manner. It is necessary to minimize the wearing of tight synthetic underwear and clothing, especially in the hot season. Panty liners and sanitary pads should be changed at least every three hours. Too frequent and unnecessary douching should also be avoided. In addition, you must adhere to the rules of safe sex and use condoms.

Gardnerella vaginalis are facultative microorganisms that may be present in small amounts in the microflora of a healthy adult woman.

What kind of disease is gardnerellosis that affects the female body and causes severe discomfort?

Under certain conditions, the cells of the microbe begin to actively multiply and displace the beneficial microflora that protects the vagina from infection. If the infectious agent enters the body from the outside, then its incubation period is from 3 to 10 days. But infection does not always lead to the development of the disease, the bacterium can settle on the mucous membrane and coexist peacefully with other microbes for a long time.

Causes of gardnerellosis

There are both endogenous and exogenous risk factors for bacterial vaginosis. It occurs when the natural balance is disturbed and there is a rapid reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, including gardnerella in the vagina.

External causes that can trigger bacterial vaginosis include:

Diet with insufficient content of sour-milk products, consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates and sweets.
Changing a sexual partner, even if he does not have health problems and sexually transmitted diseases, the body still needs to get used to the new microflora during sexual contact.
The presence of sexually transmitted diseases, which disrupts the balance of microflora in the vagina.
Environmental problems that adversely affect the state of the whole organism, including the genitourinary system.
The use of antibiotics and corticosteroids, which can simply deal a crushing blow to the microflora of the vagina and intestines, and cause serious problems if you neglect the recommendations of a doctor and do not pay due attention to recovery after therapy.
The use of hygiene products, such as pads and tampons, which do not have the best effect on women's health, as they disrupt the normal flow of air and contribute to stagnant processes in the pelvic organs.
Wearing synthetic, tight and uncomfortable underwear that interferes with blood circulation and the natural process of ventilation creates a kind of greenhouse effect.

The internal factors provoking the development of the disease include:

Hormonal disorders, including during pregnancy.
Exhaustion of the body and the state of immunodeficiency.
The presence of chronic diseases that undermine human health for a long time.
Intestinal dysbacteriosis can have many unpleasant consequences for the body, including a decrease in defenses in the fight against viruses and bacteria.
Stress and fatigue.

More than a dozen types of bacteria can be found in a woman's vagina. A healthy microflora consists of a predominant number of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and peptostreptococci. Thanks to lactic acid, an acidic environment is maintained in the vagina, which serves as a local defense. Also on the mucosa in small quantities there are anaerobic bacteria, gardnerella, candida, Trichomonas and mycoplasmas. With a sharp increase in them, vaginal dysbacteriosis occurs.

Most often, when studying the flora in the laboratory in women with vaginosis, a sharp increase in the number of gardnerella vaginalis is found. Therefore, this disease is also called gardnerellosis. The main role of the bacterium is that it creates favorable conditions for the development and reproduction of other conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. The environment in the vagina becomes alkaline, and the disease progresses. Waste products of gardnerella exacerbate mucosal disorders, which contributes to the development of diseases of the genitourinary system.

The main route of infection with gardnerella is sexual. It is passed from male to female and vice versa.. Moreover, all types of sex are dangerous, including oral-genital and anal-genital. This infection cannot take root in the mouth, but through it it can get to the genitals. Also, gardnerella is transmitted from mother to child, but this bacterium does not develop in the fetus, since girls have little estrogen before puberty, and she does not have enough glycogen for good nutrition.

Often a person is a carrier of a microorganism and does not even know about it. The presence of gardnerella is determined in him, but there are no signs of the disease. This is dangerous both for him and for his sexual partners in that the infection is transmitted and, under favorable conditions, the disease can manifest itself. Having found symptoms of a violation of the vaginal microflora or discharge from the urethra in men, it is imperative to visit a doctor and take a smear for analysis in order to accurately determine the cause of the violation of the microflora of the genital mucosa.

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With cystitis and fungus, which are quite common, the flora in the body is also disturbed, but completely different drugs and pills are needed to treat the disease. Gardnerellosis during pregnancy contributes to premature birth and increases the risk of complications. If gardnerella is present in large quantities in the vagina, this increases the likelihood of developing inflammation of the uterine appendages, which can lead to infertility. Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is imperative to take an analysis of the vaginal microflora in order to treat possible infections even before conception.

Gardnerellosis in women and men

Gardnerellosis is mainly a female disease, but the pathogen can also settle on the genitals of a man. Therefore, diagnostics and treatment are carried out immediately for all partners, in order to avoid possible relapses of the disease. Fortunately, this type of bacteria does not take root in the children's body. In women, the symptoms of gardnerellosis make it easy to trace the occurrence of this disease. One of the main signs is the appearance of yellowish or grayish copious discharge from the genital organs with or without an odor.

Even if a woman simply feels discomfort in the vagina, burning, itching, especially if they become aggravated after intercourse and menstruation, this means that there is an inflammatory process in the vagina and you need to go to a consultation with a gynecologist and take a flora smear for analysis. Since the discharge may not bother a woman for a long time, and in the meantime the disease can become chronic, so make it a rule to visit a doctor at least twice a year in order to detect violations that may occur in the female body in time.

The rapid development of gardnerella can provoke douching with soda and hydrogen peroxide, as well as the use of local hormonal ointments that disrupt the normal flora of the vagina. Often, vaginal thrush can also be diagnosed with gardnerellosis, so a doctor should prescribe a medicine to eliminate dysbiosis, after examining the test results. In men, in the genital area, burning and itching may be felt, as well as scanty discharge with an unpleasant odor and plaque.

A neglected disease can lead to prostatitis, as well as inflammation of the appendages and testicles. These complications, left unattended, can even lead to infertility. To make a diagnosis of gardnerellosis, the gynecologist takes smears from the vagina and sends them to the laboratory for analysis, where not only their presence is determined, but also the quantitative ratio of bacteria in the vaginal secretion. With dysbacteriosis of the genital mucosa, the number of gardnerella increases sharply, and lactobacilli decreases.

More about the disease

Gardnerellosis can be diagnosed if at least three of the following conditions are met:

There are complaints of the patient about the presence of secretions, which can be transparent, yellowish or grayish, with an unpleasant smell of rotten fish, which appears during the life of gardnerella.
The flora in the vagina has become alkaline, PH > 4.5.
In smear microscopy, there are “key” cells, namely, epithelial cells covered with gardnerella.
A positive result of the amine test, which is carried out by adding a couple of drops of potassium hydroxide to the vaginal discharge. If a characteristic smell appears, it means that they contain amines that form gardnerella in the course of their life.

Gardnerella in women: what to do if gardnerella is found in the vagina during pregnancy

Doctors have determined that gardnerella in women, if it is determined in a small amount, does not cause vaginal dysbacteriosis. The problem arises when, for a number of reasons, the microorganism begins to develop rapidly and displace other types of bacteria. Often gardnerella during pregnancy shows its pathological activity, as the woman's hormonal background changes.

Manifestations of gardnerellosis in women can be both acute, with the appearance of discomfort, burning and itching, as well as pain during sexual intercourse, and almost imperceptible, when the presence of imbalances in the flora is practically not noticeable. Features of the course of the disease, both in men and women are largely similar. And this disease must be properly treated, in order to avoid the appearance of serious complications, such as inflammation of the genital organs and appendages, which can cause infertility.

Regardless of the presence or absence of severe symptoms, the treatment of the disease in women is mandatory, no matter what it becomes chronic and does not lead to complications: inflammation of the ovaries and appendages, as well as infertility. When planning a pregnancy, the vaginal microflora should be normal in order to exclude the influence of possible infections on the development of the fetus. Therefore, if gardnerella is found in the flora taken for analysis during pregnancy, then it is necessary to undergo treatment.

How to treat during pregnancy dysbacteriosis caused by gardnerella in women

During pregnancy, gardnerellosis can occur due to changes in the hormonal background of the female body, then discharges that have not been observed before, burning and itching may appear. If left untreated, it can cause complications during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as provoke bleeding. Therefore, it is imperative for pregnant women to contact a antenatal clinic to find out how to treat vaginal dysbacteriosis without harming the fetus, and it will also be useful to learn ways to increase the body's immunity and activate its defenses.

Usually, in the first trimester, pregnant women are prescribed Ampicillin, and starting from the second trimester, Metronidazole. Treatment with clindamycin is not used, as this antibiotic can harm the fetus. On medical forums, you can find information about the prescribed treatment if gardnerella is found in women, and its results, as well as patient reviews on the use of certain drugs.

Gardnerella in men in the urethra and its consequences

Since gardnerellosis mainly affects women, the question may arise, is gardnerella transmitted from a woman to a man? Yes, it is transmitted. The sexual route of infection with this bacterium is the main one. And although gardnerella in men in the body most often simply dies, but during this time it can cause infection of another woman, with unprotected sexual contact.

Gardnerellosis in men cannot occur due to the structural features of their bodies, but the settlement of gardnerella in the urethra and on the head of the penis can provoke urethritis or even balanoposthitis, the symptoms of which are the appearance of an unpleasant "fishy" smell and plaque on the penis. A man most often acts as a carrier of infection and becomes a source of infection for partners with whom he has sexual contact.

The features of the course of the disease in men are that in the clinical picture of the disease there are often no noticeable symptoms and the disease may have a sluggish form, but burning, itching and clear or white discharge may still be observed, as well as pain during sexual intercourse, which may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process.

For an accurate diagnosis, you need to contact a urologist who will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary tests. Therefore, although there is no such diagnosis: gardnerellosis in men, this bacterium can still cause some discomfort to male patients. Why is the disease dangerous in men? If left untreated, it can lead to prostatitis, balanoposthitis and inflammation of the testicles, which in turn can cause infertility.

Gardnerellosis: treatment with antibiotics and folk remedies

Gardnerellosis is a bacterial infection, so before using traditional medicine, you need to take a course of antibiotic therapy. Which drug should be used by the patient, the doctor should prescribe after examining the patient and evaluating the clinical picture.

You should immediately consult a doctor if you suspect gardnerellosis. Treatment of a timely diagnosed disease lasts no more than two weeks, and the recovery period after therapy takes 1.5 months. This time is needed to restore normal microflora in the vagina. In addition to tablets, the doctor often prescribes suppositories and gels that act locally directly at the site of infection, to which gardnerella is sensitive. Treatment, if inflammation of the mucosa is found, it makes sense to supplement the intake of immunostimulating drugs and vitamins of groups B and C, which help strengthen the body and help it fight infection. During therapy, sexual intercourse is not desirable, in extreme cases, they are permissible using a condom.

Drugs that are prescribed in the treatment of gardnerellosis are antibiotics such as Metronidazole, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin or Trichopolum. The prescription of drugs and the treatment regimen depends on the complexity of the disease and the presence / absence of other infections, such as thrush. Folk remedies are not always effective if gardnerella is found.

Treatment should begin with a course of antibiotic therapy, but as ancillary measures in addition to the main treatment, and at the stage of restoring normal microflora after taking them, herbal decoctions are simply irreplaceable. During pregnancy, you should definitely consult a doctor, whether or not you can use certain means, no matter what harm yourself and the baby.

To normalize cellular immunity, you can prepare medicinal preparations from birch leaves, mint, celandine, chamomile, licorice root and elecampane, as well as wormwood, nettle, sweet clover, blueberry leaves and pine buds. These herbs must be mixed in equal proportions. Two tablespoons of raw materials should be poured with a liter of boiling water, wrapped and let it brew for at least 6 hours. The infusion should be kept in the refrigerator and drink half a glass three times a day before meals. The course of treatment lasts a month. You can repeat it 4 times a year.
Against the reproduction of gardnerella, fresh walnut leaves will help, from which you need to prepare a decoction of a certain concentration. You need to take 5-7 pieces, chop, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink a glass of broth during the day in small sips. The course of treatment is two weeks.
Also perfectly helps to restore the microflora of the vagina infusion of sage. It can be prepared by taking one tablespoon of dry leaves and pouring them with a glass of boiling water. You need to insist for half an hour, and then strain. On the day you need to drink two glasses of infusion, one in the morning and the other in the evening.

At home, during and after treatment, you need to monitor personal hygiene, change linen more often as it gets dirty, and avoid hypothermia. Eat a high protein diet and avoid sugary foods for at least 4-6 months while your body is recovering.

You also need to forget about douching, they are not useful either during treatment or after it, as they cause vaginal dysbacteriosis. In the process of their implementation, useful flora is washed out, which prevents the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. It is better to visit a gynecologist to prescribe antibacterial agents that will effectively cope with gardnerella. Gardnerellosis is quite common in medical practice, and this disease can have unpleasant and dangerous consequences for a woman's body.

Therefore, it is worth paying attention to its prevention, which includes the following activities:

Exclusion of casual sexual contacts and the use of barrier methods of contraception.
Minimize the use of vaginal antibacterial and contraceptive products, as well as personal care products that are not suitable for your body.
Observe measures of general and intimate hygiene.
Follow proper nutrition and maintain normal intestinal microflora. This will help not only prevent the development of dysbacteriosis, but also improve immunity and well-being.

Do not wait until gardnerellosis is detected, treatment for this disease is carried out for a long time and with a course of antibiotics, it is better to take care of its prevention and be healthy!

Gardnerella vaginalis is the main causative agent of bacterial vaginosis in women. Although other microorganisms can also cause this pathology.

Often, with tank vaginosis, a large number of corynebacteria, mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas and other microorganisms are detected.

As a rule, gardnerella does not cause inflammatory processes. There is no pain, no swelling, no hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the reproductive organs.

The only symptom is leucorrhoea with an unpleasant smell of stale fish. However, this manifestation, although it does not cause subjective sensations, but becomes a cause of psychological discomfort. It can interfere with the quality of sexual life. In addition, with bacterial vaginosis, the risk of other infections increases. This is due to the fact that there is a weakening of the protective properties of the intravaginal environment.

There are too few lactobacilli. They are gradually being replaced by gardnerella.

As a result, the production of lactic acid is reduced. Vaginal pH changes. The acidic environment becomes more alkaline, and therefore favorable for the growth of pathogenic microbes. Since most women suffering from bacterial vaginosis want to get rid of gardnerella in the vagina, the question of how to treat gardnerellosis is very relevant.

Most women want to know how to cure this disease forever. We'll talk about this.

Gardnerella in women treatment

Let's start with where gardnerella comes from. This microorganism is not among the sexually transmitted infections. It lives on the mucous membrane of the vagina of most women. But only some cause manifestations of bacterial vaginosis.

The prevalence of this disease is quite high. In different population groups, it ranges from 15 to 80% of women.

The causes of the pathology are not the same as those of venereal diseases. There is no direct relationship between the occurrence of gardnerellosis and the specific sexual contact during which the infection occurred. However, studies show that sexual behavior plays a role in influencing the risk of pathology.

Gardnerella is more likely to cause bacterial vaginosis in women who:

early sexual activity;
have a large number of sexual partners;
often have sex;
take antibiotics uncontrollably;

overly worried about the cleanliness of the vagina (they use antiseptics, wash themselves several times a day using hygiene products, douching, etc.).

Despite the fact that the main causative agent is gardnerella, its isolation is not an indication for treatment. Because the microorganism is also isolated in completely healthy women. A diagnosis requires the presence of 3 out of 4 criteria.

They are the following:

There are characteristic symptoms of gardnerellosis. This is profuse vaginal discharge. It is liquid or creamy. Has an unpleasant smell.
Key cells are found. They are detected in a smear on the flora. Gardnerella have a high adhesive ability. They easily adhere to the cells. Epithelial cells, which are “stuck around” with gardnerella, are called key cells. They are not called that because they look like keys. It's just a key laboratory symptom of gardnerellosis.
Positive amino test. Its essence lies in the fact that the vaginal discharge is mixed in equal proportions with a solution of KOH 10%. As a result, there is a smell of spoiled fish.
The vaginal discharge has a pH of 4.5 or more.

The main symptom of gardnerella is leucorrhoea. Discharge causes 87% of women with bacterial vaginosis to see a doctor. But there are other symptoms as well. Patients do not always complain about them on their own.

However, when the doctor begins to ask questions, new subjective signs become clear.

These may be:

burning in the genitals;

pain syndrome, mainly in the area of the vestibule of the vagina.

Each of these symptoms occurs in approximately one in four patients. Dysuria is even less common.

Only 15% of women with gardnerella complain of discomfort during urination. It was found that at the time of treatment, 75% of patients already had an unsuccessful experience of self-treatment. On examination, the doctor may detect discharge. They are mostly white, sometimes grey. They have a homogeneous structure.

In the case of a prolonged course of pathology, the color may turn yellow or green. Leucorrhea also becomes thick and sticky. While at the initial stage of gardnerellosis they are rather liquid.

The main feature of the disease is the absence of inflammation. The walls of the vagina during examination are not edematous and not reddened. Only occasionally red spots are found.

Mainly in women with estrogen deficiency or menopause. Immediately, the doctor measures the pH in the vagina. As already mentioned, the criterion for diagnosis is a pH of 4.5 or higher. But on average, in women, the pH is 6.0 in the presence of a large number of gardnerella in the reproductive system. Sometimes there are signs of an inflammatory process. Because gardnerella, although it does not cause inflammation by itself, increases the risk of infection with other flora.

In 40% of women, pathologies of the cervix are detected. It can be ectopia, scars or cervicitis. So, gardnerella was found in the vagina.

Whether it is necessary to treat this pathology?

Sometimes this is necessary, but not always. About 25% of women are carriers of gardnerella. But not everyone develops symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.

The main indications for the appointment of treatment:

an increase in the number of gardnerella up to 10 4 or more copies of DNA;
the appearance of symptoms of bacterial vaginosis;
preparation for the conception of a child (during pregnancy, the risk of its adverse outcome and complications increases);

preparation for surgery or abortion.

The main goals of treating the infection are:

elimination of symptoms;
decrease in the number of gardnerella;
restoration of normal vaginal biocenosis;
prevention of complications;
prevention of pelvic inflammatory disease, which may develop after invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Gardnerella in women treatment drugs

The treatment regimen consists of two stages. The goal of the initial stage of therapy is to destroy the opportunistic flora. Drugs to which gardnerella is sensitive are prescribed.

At the second stage, restoration of the normal microbiocenosis of the vagina is required. To do this, the vagina needs to be populated with beneficial microflora. Preparations containing live lactobacteria and bifidobacteria are used.

Another approach to treatment involves the use of folk remedies. But usually they do not help to destroy the gardnerella.

And only lead to complications and progression of the disease.

At the first stage of treatment, the most important role belongs to etiotropic therapy. For this, local remedies and tablets are prescribed.

Local preparations that can be used to destroy gardnerella:

chlorhexidine;
metronidazole in the form of a gel;

clindamycin.

Usually chlorhexidine and clindamycin are used in suppositories. The course of treatment is 3-5 days. Oral preparations are also used. These are ornidazole, secnidazole or tinidazole.

During the gestation period, only metronidazole can be used. During therapy with this drug, the use of alcohol is prohibited. In addition, some products are available in the form of a cream. They contain fat. This means that the latex of the condom can be damaged. This will reduce the effectiveness of contraception. In addition to antibiotics, other drugs are also prescribed.

Among them:

Lactic acid - to shift the pH to the acid side. The change in acidity creates favorable conditions for the restoration of lactobacilli. At the same time, such an environment is disastrous for gardnerella.
Immunocorrectors. Used when there is a suspicion of immunodeficiency.
Estrogens. They are prescribed to improve the secretory activity of the vagina.
prostaglandin inhibitors. Help reduce inflammation.
Local antiseptics. Used according to indications. They are prescribed as a means of symptomatic therapy. They are mainly used if a woman is tormented by severe itching.

The problem with this disease is that gardnerella is usually not completely destroyed. Some bacteria remain in the vagina. Therefore, relapses are possible. Especially in cases where the normal microflora of the vagina is not properly restored. It is difficult to prevent them.

Supportive therapy for gardnerellosis in women is considered inappropriate. The carrier of gardnerella can be a man.

But research has shown that partner treatment does not affect a woman's relapse rate. Therefore, such therapy is not mandatory.

In case of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, a second course of therapy is used. But the scheme is shorter.

A woman is prescribed a single oral dose of 1 gram of ornidazole.

Clindamycin is rarely used. It is used at 0.25 g, 1 time per day, in a course of 5 days. The second stage of therapy helps to reduce the risk of relapse. A woman is prescribed drugs containing live lactobacilli.

Names of medicines:

Lactobacterin;
Acipol;
Acylact.

Sometimes preparations containing bifidobacteria are used. There are also drugs in which these two types of microorganisms are combined.

An important rule of the second stage of therapy is that it begins no earlier than 3 days after the end of oral antibiotics. Otherwise, a post-antibiotic effect is possible.

Part of the antimicrobial agents continue to circulate in the blood. But they affect not only gardnerella.

Lactobacilli also suffer from antibiotics. Therefore, the effectiveness of drugs can be reduced. In order for the normal microflora of the vagina to be restored, a break is needed between antibiotic therapy and probiotics.

Gardnerella treatment reviews

Bacterial vaginosis is a very common disease in women. Few people really know how to treat this disease. But anyone can go online and read stupid recipes.

Instead of going to the doctor, women seek advice from those who have recovered from bacterial vaginosis. They ask them for advice, read reviews. But this path leads to a dead end.

Most instructions from the Internet only lead to aggravation of symptoms.

Very often, women go to the doctor with severe symptoms of gardnerellosis after:

herbal medicine (herbs are taken both internally and locally);
soda douches (the pH of the vagina already shifts to the alkaline side, and soda makes the environment even more favorable for pathogenic flora);
the use of antibiotics.

It would seem that gardnerella is a bacterium. Bacteria are destroyed by antibiotics.

Conclusion: with gardnerellosis, you do not need to go to the doctor, it is enough to be treated with antibiotics. But in reality, it turns out that they are ineffective, and can even harm.

Often self-treatment leads to:

increased growth of gardnerella (they are immune or insensitive to most antibacterial drugs);
fungal inflammation (drugs destroy normal microflora, so fungi have fewer competitors);
the formation of drug resistance in pathogenic and opportunistic microflora (a consequence of non-compliance with optimal dosages and duration of the course, as well as the wrong choice of antibiotics).

In most cases, self-medication hurts, not helps. Therefore, do not waste time on such methods of treatment.

It is better to contact our clinic. Experienced gynecologists work here. The doctor will help you choose the right treatment.

After a course of therapy, the risk of recurrence of the pathology caused by gardnerella is minimized.