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Doderlein bacilli, also called lactobacilli, are bacteria that are part of the normal microbiota of the vagina and are responsible for protecting the intimate region of women and preventing the proliferation of microorganisms that can cause disease when they are in excess, as is the case of Candida sp. and the Gardnerella sp.
The disease happens when the amount of lactobacilli decreases, which can happen due to changes in the immune system, use of antibiotics or unprotected sex, favoring the development of fungi and bacteria and leading to the appearance of signs and symptoms of infection.
Lactobacilli protect a woman's intimate region by consuming the glycogen produced by cells in the vagina under the influence of the hormone estrogen. Then, they convert glycogen into lactic acid, which leaves the vagina with a pH of around 3.8 - 4.5, preventing the appearance and proliferation of bacteria and fungi that harm health.
Is excess Doderlein bacilli bad?
Excessive Doderlein bacillus poses no risk to women's health and can even be considered beneficial, since they are protective bacteria in the female intimate region.
This excess can be noticed through a whitish and odorless discharge that is not usually accompanied by other symptoms. However, in some rarer cases, a woman may report typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as itching, redness and burning when urinating.
If these symptoms occur, it is important to go to the gynecologist to make the correct diagnosis, as it may be a bacterial or fungal infection.
What can decrease the amount of bacilli
Some situations can decrease the amount of Doderlein bacilli and make women more susceptible to infections, such as:
- Use of antibiotics;
- Poor hygiene of the intimate region;
- Low immunity;
- Use of tight clothing;
- Unprotected sex.
The amount of lactobacilli also decreases during the menstrual period, in the postpartum and breastfeeding period, because there is a decrease in the concentration of estrogen, which decreases the production of glycogen and, consequently, the conversion into lactic acid by the bacteria, increasing the pH of the vagina and allowing other bacteria to proliferate, including Gardnerella vaginalis, which is responsible for bacterial vaginosis. Here's how to identify bacterial vaginosis.
When treatment is needed
Treatment is generally used in cases where the woman has a decrease in the amount of Doderlein bacillus. In these situations, the doctor usually recommends using probiotics that help in the reconstruction of the vaginal flora, such as the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus. The reconstitution of the flora can also be done with a sitz bath in which the water contains an open probiotic capsule. See how to take lactobacilli in capsules.
In addition, it is important to have a healthy diet, exercise regularly, avoid wearing tight clothing, always perform good hygiene in the intimate area and use cotton panties to preserve bacterial flora and prevent fungi and other bacteria from proliferating.