Bacterial Vaginosis; Key Q&A.How do I know if I need to see my health care professional? Pay attention to your body. If you experience symptoms, such as a change in the color and consistency of vaginal fluid, itching or burning, you probably have a vaginal infection, which, if left untreated, can lead to health complications. What makes bacterial vaginosis (BV) serious for women who are pregnant? Studies have shown that women with untreated BV are at higher risk of delivering prematurely or giving birth to a low-weight baby. Not all vaginal infections cause pregnancy problems, but BV is serious and requires attention. Screening and treatment is appropriate for pregnant women with symptomatic BV. Follow-up may be needed during the pregnancy. Are all pregnant women treated for BV? No. Regardless of other risk factors for pre-term delivery, all pregnant women with BV who have symptoms should be treated. However, treating pregnant women who test positive for BV but who don't have symptoms (asymptomatic)--is controversial. Generally, pregnant woman with asymptomatic BV don't require treatment What are my chances of having BV come back? As many as 30 percent of women who have been treated for BV experience recurrences within 90 days of treatment. Not finishing your prescribed medicine can lead to a recurrence. Why does excessive douching increase the risk of developing BV? The healthy vaginal ecosystem requires the right balance of bacteria flora. Nearly 95 percent of the vaginal mucous membrane, which protects against bacteria and other pathogens, is made up of healthy bacteria called lactobacilli Lactobacilli, cariogenic, n a type of bacteria that may play an important role in tooth decay. It is usually found in small amounts in dental plaque. Its concentration increases with high sugar intake. . These bacteria make natural acids that keep unhealthy bacteria from getting out of hand. Too much douching can disrupt the bacterial balance and lead to infection. Are there drugs that are not effective against BV? Yes. Antibiotics that are not effective include ampicillin, erythromycin erythromycin (ĭrĭth'rōmī`sĭn), any of several related antibiotic drugs produced by bacteria of the genus Streptomyces (see antibiotic). , tetracycline/doxycycline, triple sulfa and ciprofloxacin. In addition, vaginal creams and suppositories for treatment of "yeast" (Candida) infections do not treat BV. Why is it important to determine what type of vaginitis vaginitis Inflammation of the vagina. The chief symptom is a whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge. Treatment depends on the cause: appropriate drugs for sexually transmitted diseases (often from Gardnerella bacteria or trichomonads) or yeast infections; estrogen cream for I have? BV, trichomoniasis trichomoniasis (trĭk'əmənī`əsĭs), sexually transmitted disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. and candidiasis (yeast infection) are caused by different pathogens and must be treated differently. Each type of infection requires a different treatment and some infections have more than one cause. What about diagnosing and treating BV in men? The organisms that cause BV in women do not persist in the male urethra. Clinical studies have shown that treating male partners with antibiotics doesn't affect a woman's risk of recurrence or her response to treatment. References Bacterial Vaginosis. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.4woman.gov. Updated May 2005. Accessed September 2005. STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing) Long distance dialing outside of the U.S. that does not require operator intervention. STD prefix codes are required and billing is based on call units, which are a fixed amount of money in the currency of that country. Facts: Vaginitis (Most Common Causes: Yeast Infection, Trichomonas, Bacterial Vaginosis)." Minnesota Department of Health. 2004. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. National Prevention Information Network (NPIN). http://www.cdcnpin.org. Accessed September 2005. "Bacterial Vaginosis." Feminist Women's Health Center. 2002. http://www.fwhc.org. Accessed September 2005. Lactobacillus lactobacillus Any of the rod-shaped, gram-positive (see gram stain) bacteria that make up the genus Lactobacillus. They are widely distributed in animal feeds, manure, and milk and milk products. Organisms and Bacterial Vaginosis. Saint Joseph Mercy Health System Mercy Health System is a non-profit health care provider and hospital based in Janesville, Wisconsin, with over 50 facilities in over 20 communities across a seven-county area including parts of Illinois. . Updated May 19, 2004. http://www.sjmercyhealth.org. Accessed September 2005. Secor, R. Mimi. "Bacterial Vaginosis." Clinician Reviews. 11(11):59-68, 2001. Yen, Sophia, et al. "Bacterial Vaginosis in Sexually Experienced and Non-Sexually Experienced Young Women Entering the Military." Obstetrics & Gynecology. 102(5):927, November 2003. Rakel, Robert, and Edward Bope, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2004: Latest Approved Methods of Treatment for the Practicing Physician. 56th edition. St. Louis: Saunders, 2004. Page 119. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines 2002. MMWR MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report Epidemiology A news bulletin published by the CDC, which provides epidemiologic data–eg, statistics on the incidence of AIDS, rabies, rubella, STDs and other communicable diseases, causes of mortality–eg, 2002;51(No. RR-6) "Vaginitis Due to Vaginal Infections." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Health Matters. October 2004. http://www.niaid.nih.gov. Accessed September 2005. Connett, H. What you need to know about bacterial vaginosis. STD Advisor, 1999; Vol. 2. Insert. The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Institute of Medicine. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press, 1997. Bacterial Vaginosis--CDC Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov. Last updated: May 2004. Accessed September 2005. Bacterial Vaginosis. American Family Physician, March 15, 1998. http://www.aafp.org. Accessed September 2005. Bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth: a comprehensive review of the literature. J Nurse Midwifery. 43(2):83-9, Mar-Apr 1998. Urinary Tract Infections in Adults. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC). NIH Publication 04-2097. November 2003. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov. Accessed September 2005. Keywords: bacterial vaginosis, bv, pregnant, pregnant women, douching |
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