Content
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most frequent infections during pregnancy and occurs mainly as a consequence of hormonal changes common in pregnancy, which leads to an imbalance of the vaginal microbiota and the appearance of characteristic signs and symptoms of vaginosis, such as gray discharge with a strong smell and a feeling of burning when urinating.
Vaginosis in pregnancy is usually associated with the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis or Gardnerella mobiluncus and, although it does not interfere with the baby's development, it can increase the risk of having a premature birth or even of the baby being born with low weight, for example. Thus, in case of any vaginal alteration it is very important to consult the obstetrician or gynecologist to identify if there is a problem and to start the most appropriate treatment.
Main symptoms
In most cases, bacterial vaginosis does not cause any symptoms and, therefore, many women end up discovering the infection only during a routine examination at the gynecologist or obstetrician. However, other women may experience symptoms such as:
- Foul smell, similar to rotten fish;
- White or grayish discharge;
- Burning with urine;
- Redness and itching in the genital region.
These symptoms can also be confused with candidiasis and, therefore, it is very important that the diagnosis is made by the gynecologist, because the treatment of vaginosis and candidiasis are different.
The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is made from the evaluation of signs and symptoms presented by the woman, in addition to the results of tests that may have been indicated as urine and urine culture, for example. Understand how the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is made.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy should always be guided by the obstetrician or gynecologist and is usually done when the pregnant woman has symptoms or is at great risk of having a premature birth, for example.
Thus, treatment can be done with the use of oral antibiotics, such as Clindamycin or Metronidazole, for 7 days or with the application of antibiotics in ointment for about 5 days. The treatment time must be respected according to the doctor's instructions, even if the symptoms disappear beforehand.