Violation of the microflora of the vagina: causes and symptoms

Violation of the microflora of the vagina at least once in life disturbed any woman. This disease is also faced by girls who have never lived a sexual life. The disease is asymptomatic, but can cause the most serious consequences, accompanied by an inflammatory process. Gynecologists call pathology dysbiosis or dysbacteriosis.

What is dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis is defined as a violation of the microflora of the vaginal environment. If it is not treated, the disease will progress, triggering a number of the most negative consequences.

Infringement of a microflora of a vagina at the first stage in any way does not show itself. Only change to a small degree of excretion. In a normal state, they are absent from a woman, and if they are, then in a small amount. With a healthy microflora, there are no cuts, pains, smell, burning sensation, dryness during intercourse and discomfort.

Unpleasant odor, an increase in the number of whitish-yellowish discharge indicates the presence of such a pathology as a violation of the vaginal microflora. Why is this happening? This is what will be discussed later.

Normal microflora is 90% composed of lactobacilli and 9% of bifidobacteria. The remaining 1% falls on conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, which rarely provoke any diseases. Minor changes in the body of a woman easily tolerates, especially with good immunity. In serious disorders, where the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria decreases, and the percentage of opportunistic microorganisms increases, the reproductive system may fail. As a result, the multiplication of such harmful bacteria as fungus, gardnerella, streptococcus, proteus, E. coli, chlamydia, etc. There is a dysbacteriosis of the vagina and, as a consequence, an inflammatory process. The immune system continues to fight with pathogenic bacteria, but in the absence of treatment, the protective functions of the body no longer produce the desired effect.

The most common types of disease include:

• Bacterial vaginosis;
• candidiasis;
• Thrush.

If the dysbacteriosis proceeds in a latent form, then the expressed symptomatology is observed rarely. Without analysis and examination of a doctor, it is difficult to recognize a disease in this form. Therefore, women are recommended to visit a gynecologist twice a year.

Causes of a violation of the microflora of the vagina

Factors affecting the appearance of dysbiosis set:

• Single and permanent hypothermia, which reduces immunity and promotes the development of dysbiosis.
• Changing the hormonal background. Unsessial sex life, menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, menstrual irregularity, 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.
• Prolonged treatment with antibiotics.
• 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

Help in time to recognize the violation of the microflora of the vagina symptoms of the disease. Although in many cases, especially at the initial stage of the disease, they are simply absent. If the bacteriosis has begun to progress, the following can be observed:

• Selection of white and yellow;
• Unpleasant odor;
• 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 microflora of the vagina. If disbiosis is not treated, then endometritis, inflammation of the appendages, cervix or vaginal walls may occur. If the infectious process has affected urogenital organs and the urethra, then, as a rule, develops cystitis or urethritis.

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 symptomatology of the disease is aggravated. There is an abundance of secretions, disturbing unpleasant odor, itching and burning sensation in the genital area, painful sensations arise during sex.

Women during pregnancy, many drugs are contraindicated, so a full treatment here is not possible. All actions are directed only at temporary elimination of symptoms, and necessary treatment with antibiotics is carried out after delivery.

There may be a violation of the microflora of the vagina after childbirth. How to treat the patient in this situation? This question is decided only by the doctor. Often young mums 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 had to take.

In this case, the therapy is performed with antifungal agents in combination with probiotics, which have a positive effect on the microflora of the vagina and prevent the secondary appearance of the disease.

Dysbacteriosis of the vagina 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 the sexual partner special problems. The exception is the advanced stage of dysbiosis. In this case, a man may develop signs of balanoposthitis or nonspecific urethritis, and then only if a member of the stronger sex has a predisposition to the disease.

As a rule, sexual partner illnesses do not affect the woman's vaginal environment, of course, we are not talking about sexually transmitted diseases.

Treatment of vaginal dysbiosis is carried out only in women, without the involvement of a partner, unless pathology is caused by sexual infection.

If there are STDs, they are accompanied by a pronounced dysbacteriosis. Causes imbalance in the vaginal environment. Provoke the appearance of the inflammatory process and disrupt the microflora of the vagina. However, there are no situations where only sexually transmitted infection is the causative agent. Always the disease is accompanied by negative changes in the opportunistic microflora. This should be taken into account in the fight against the disease. Here, taking certain antibiotics is unlikely to help, since it does not restore the normal level of microflora.

Always the course of treatment should end with priobotics, restoring the vaginal environment. Serious problems caused by chlamydia and Trichomonas, are solved by antibacterial therapy, after which it is necessary to restore the microflora. These courses should be divided and held one after another.

In situations where the disease has an easy form, it is necessary to perform urogenital diagnosis. 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 had sexual intercourse. A variety of factors influence here. This hormonal changes in the body during puberty, and features of the structure of the hymen, and non-compliance with hygiene (including improper washing of the genitals), and the use of antibiotics and other drugs. The reasons in this case are similar to the 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 secretions, since the hymen prevents them from leaving 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 life in girls a lot of bacteria gets from the vagina to the urethra, which can cause "cystitis of the honeymoon".

Therapy of dysbacteriosis in virgins is quite complicated, since the hymen does not allow a careful treatment of the vagina. In some cases, even a hymenectomy is shown, in which the hymen is broken.

Development of dysbiosis and intestinal environment

Often, some diseases of the stomach and intestines lead to a disturbance of the 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 of which the bacteria pass unobstructed through the walls of the organs. When the intestinal dysbacteriosis develops and progresses, the bacteria (E. coli, enterococci, etc.) that cause this disease easily penetrate the walls of the vagina, where they also violate the background. What to do in this situation? Of course, contact a specialist, in no case resorting to "self-activity" and the help of people's means.

Treatment of a violation of the microflora of the vagina in this case is a complex process, since the probability of a new infection is quite high. Simultaneous therapy of both the vagina and the intestine should be carried out here. This is the most severe form of dysbiosis.

Diagnosis of dysbiosis

In order for the treatment to work, you need to diagnose the disease correctly. First of all, a gynecological examination of the patient is performed. Then, analyzes are given. Typically, this is:

• PCR-diagnostics, which makes it possible to verify the absence or presence of sexual infections;
• A smear on the flora, which speaks of the state of the vaginal microflora;
• Sowing of vaginal discharge;
• The sensitivity of the patient to antibiotics is determined.

The obtained data of laboratory studies allow to establish the cause of the disease and the degree of its complexity.

Treatment of dysbiosis

Therapeutic measures to restore the vaginal microflora are divided into several stages:

• Destruction of pathogenic bacteria that caused this disease.
• Restoration of vaginal microflora.
• Increased immunity.

If the dysbacteriosis arose because of sexual infections, then first eliminate the pathogen by prescribing a course of antibiotics. If a violation of the microflora of the vagina is caused by another cause, antibiotics may not be used. And if they prescribe such therapy, then for a period not exceeding five days.

It is very important for dysbiosis to conduct outdoor procedures. These are different baths and tampons. Such measures hamper the development of pathogenic microorganisms and restore immunity. Treatment of vaginal microflora disorders with antiseptics - in this case they are used topically - is much more effective than antibiotics, and the area of influence is much wider. Almost all bacteria are susceptible to their effects. Still antiseptic agents help to develop immunity of walls of a vagina and normalize its microflora. Brake the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria.

The launched form of dysbiosis is hard to cure only by immunomodulatory therapy, here in addition, antibiotics are almost always prescribed.

Preparations for the treatment of dysbiosis

Infringement of a microflora of a vagina (preparations, as a rule, appoint in the form of ointments, suppositories, vaginal tablets and creams) - enough complex disease at which the complex approach is often required.

Often used for treatment of dysbacteriosis cream "Dalatsin", which is an antibiotic with a wide range of effects. The active ingredient is clindamycin phosphate 2%. It intensively affects the vaginal microflora. Also effectively restore the background in 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 flags "Flagil". 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 injected into the vagina cavity once a day. The course is 10 days.

To treat the dysbiosis of the vagina, many today choose the "Betadin" and "Terzhinan" suppositories. A good effect is provided by the gel "Metronidazole".

If the disease is triggered, and only topical preparations can not be dispensed with, then they are prescribed for oral administration of the pill. It:

• Ornidazole.
• "Naxojin."
• "Meratin".
• The Tiber.
• "Tinidazole."
• "Trichopol" or "Metronidazole".
• "Clindamycin".

Medications are taken for a week. It should be remembered that when using oral means, alcohol consumption is prohibited. Especially it concerns "Trichopol".

In combination with the rest of the medicines, Linex, Probiophore, Bifidumbacterin, Bifiform, Bifidin, or Bifiliz are prescribed to normalize the microflora. To increase the number of lactobacilli in the vaginal environment, prescribe "Acilact", "Lactobacterin", "Acepol", etc. The drug is recommended to drink the course, starting with the second day of taking antibacterial drugs. Also appointed funds to maintain immunity - "Immunal", "Cycloferon", etc.

If the cause of the violation of microflora has become sexual communication, then you should examine and treat your sexual partner, too.

About preventive measures

Treatment of dysbiosis can take up to four weeks. To warn this disease in a number of cases is difficult, because the real cause that caused the disease is difficult to establish. The only thing that a woman can do is strengthen immunity and observe the necessary hygiene rules.

After the restoration of the vaginal microflora, a gynecologist should visit the gynecologist every three months throughout the year. This is necessary in order to timely identify a relapse and take appropriate measures. In the future, under the normal circumstances, the doctor can be contacted once a year.