Bacterial vaginosis, sometimes there is but not seen

The vagina is populated by many bacterial strains, which form the so-called microbiota.

In physiological conditions, lactobacilli predominate, bacteria “friendly” to the woman able to maintain the vaginal pH around values of 4. The acidity allows to protect the mucosa from pathogenic bacteria that coexist together with lactobacilli, but at concentrations so low as to be completely harmless.

Some factors, such as excessive use of vaginal douches and constipation, can however determine an alteration of the vaginal flora and favor the excessive proliferation of pathogenic bacteria, causing one of the most frequent gynecological disorders in childbearing age, bacterial vaginosis.

Symptoms

Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by an unpleasant and intense odor, very similar to that of spoiled fish, which is associated with milky grayish-white secretions, more or less abundant.

Many women, however, do not know this disorder and mistake it for a problem of poor intimate hygiene, thus starting to wash more and more frequently, which only worsen the situation.

In one case out of two, the symptoms are instead so subtle as not to be perceived, or to be mistaken for temporary disorders of little importance.

What are the risks

Misinformation and the absence of symptoms are mainly responsible for the failure to treat bacterial vaginosis. Often, in fact, the doctor is not even consulted, underestimating a disorder that can have serious complications.

It has been shown that the imbalance of the vaginal microflora that causes vaginosis makes women more susceptible to sexually transmissible pathogens; this is why vaginosis, regardless of the presence or absence of obvious symptoms, increases the risk of contracting even very serious infections, such as Thricomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis (responsible respectively for trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and chlamydia), Herpes simplex virus type 2, in addition to the even more fearsome one from HIV.

Dangers in pregnancy

The threshold of attention towards vaginosis must be even higher in women who are planning a pregnancy or who are already pregnant. If neglected, it can in fact predispose to unfavorable conditions for the uterine environment and the development of the fetus.

In addition to the increased risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, which can also become very dangerous for the fetus, bacterial vaginosis can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth which, especially before the 32nd week of gestation, can seriously compromise the health of the newborn.

To this possibility is added the risk of premature rupture of the membranes, abortion in an advanced stage of gestation and low weight of the baby at birth.

The severity of complications is independent of the intensity of the symptoms: it is therefore extremely important, especially during pregnancy, to consult your gynecologist in case of appearance of disorders, even slight, that may make you suspect vaginosis.