Though researchers have found it to be the most common type of pregnancy infection, moms-to-be still need to be aware of how Bacterial Vaginosis can affect them in pregnancy.
A woman's vagina contains natural "good bacteria" (lactobacilli) and a few "bad bacteria" (anaerobes), which coexist harmoniously. However, disrupting this balance and allowing the bad bacteria to multiply leads to infections such as Bacterial Vaginosis.
Aside from being the most common vaginal infection during pregnancy. Bacterial vaginosis is also the most common infection in women aged 15 to 44.
About half of women affected by this infection show no symptoms. But others experience itching, odor, burning, or pain. Once detected, doctors usually recommend antibiotics or oral/topical medication.
Those who don't receive any treatment are at risk of developing sexually transmitted infections and experiencing pregnancy complications, such as pre-term labor or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, clarifies Jeanne Faulkner, R.N. in an article for Fit Pregnancy, but it is commonly seen in women who've recently changed sexual partners.
Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy
About 10 to 30% of pregnant women will be infected at least once. This is because many changes are occurring in a woman's body, including her vagina's natural PH and flora.
Though doctors don't normally screen for BV during the prenatal period, it's important to know that it is still a concern. Though rare, there have been cases of infection traveling from the vagina to the cervix, fallopian tubes, and uterus.
This results in a painful condition known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. If this causes scarring or blockage, it could lead to ectopic pregnancy or infertility. So it's important to treat it before it spreads.
Other rare pregnancy-related complications that pregnant women with this infection should be aware of are premature labor, late miscarriage, and premature rupture of membranes (amniotic sac).
Can pregnancy cause BV?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 million pregnant women have BV each year. Because of the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, pregnant women are more susceptible to BV.
It's common for pregnant women to get several BV infections during their pregnancy. Hormones will continue to rise and fall until after birth, causing the bacteria's natural equilibrium to be constantly upset. This can be aggravating, especially if you're having unpleasant symptoms, but BV must always be treated to keep your kid safe.
BV is usually a minor infection that can be treated with medicine. If left untreated, the illness can raise your risk of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy difficulties.
BV during pregnancy's first trimester
The presence of BV at a specific gestational age may have a role in the development of pregnancy difficulties later on, and the risk of disease may fluctuate depending on BV positivity at various stages of pregnancy.
For example, the risk of preterm delivery owing to BV in the first trimester, when fetal and placental development is still early, may differ from the risk of preterm delivery in the second and third trimesters, when the placental function is more abundant. These connections are presently unknown.
One study found a 2.6-fold increased risk of preterm labor, a 6.9-fold greater risk of preterm delivery, and a 7.3-fold increased risk of preterm, premature rupture of the membranes when BV was identified during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Another study found a link between BV detected in the second trimester and a higher risk of preterm delivery and premature membrane rupture. The study also attributed 83 percent of the risk for preterm birth to BV.
What are the symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?
Approximately 50 to 75 percent of BV-positive women have no symptoms. You may experience strange and foul-smelling vaginal discharge if symptoms appear.
The discharge is typically thin and gray or white in color, and it may also be foamy in some circumstances. The bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis produce compounds that give off a fishy stench, which is commonly associated with the discharge.
The stench is generally worsened by menstruation and sexual activity when blood and sperm react with bacteria to generate odorous compounds. In women with BV, itching or irritation at the exterior of the vaginal opening can also develop.
What causes Bacterial Vaginosis in females?
The overgrowth of specific bacteria in the vaginal canal causes BV. The vaginal canal, like other regions of the body such as the mouth and intestines, is home to a variety of microorganisms.
Many of these microorganisms actually defend the body against disease-causing germs. Lactobacilli are naturally occurring bacteria in the vaginal area that fight infectious microorganisms. Anaerobes are the bacteria that cause infection.
Lactobacilli and anaerobes are generally in a natural balance. Lactobacilli normally make up the bulk of bacteria in the vaginal canal and regulate anaerobe proliferation.
On the other hand, a diminished lactobacilli population allows anaerobes to grow. BV occurs as a result of anaerobes expanding in the vaginal area.
How do you get bacterial vaginosis?
The specific cause of the bacterial imbalance that causes BV is unknown to doctors. Certain variables, however, can enhance your chances of contracting the infection. These are some of them:
- Douching
- Using vaginal medicines
- Having multiple sex partners
- Use of antibiotics
- Having a sexual encounter that isn't protected
- Use of intrauterine device (commonly known as an IUD)
Bacterial vaginosis vs yeast infection
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) or yeast infections can cause vaginitis. Neither of these is usually a cause for alarm. Although the symptoms of these infections are typically the same or similar, their causes and therapies differ.
Some yeast infections are treatable with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, but BV requires prescription therapy in all cases.
Vaginal discharge
Unusual vaginal discharge can be caused by both BV and yeast infections.
The discharge from a yeast infection is usually thick and white in color, with no odor. BV discharge is thin, yellow or gray in color, and has a strong disagreeable odor.
Cause of infection
Simply explained, a yeast infection is a fungus, whereas BV is a bacterial infection. The Candida fungus causes yeast infections, while an overgrowth of one of the bacteria found in your vagina causes Bacterial Vaginosis.
A change in your vaginal pH might trigger Bacterial Vaginosis. This shift can cause the bacteria naturally present in your vagina to become more prominent than they should, with the most common culprit being an overgrowth of the Gardnerella vaginalis bacterium.
If the Candida fungus overgrows in the vaginal area, yeast infections can develop. High blood sugar, antibiotics, birth control medications, hormone therapy, and pregnancy can all cause this.
Despite the fact that yeast infections aren't classified as sexually transmitted infection (STI), some data suggest that they can develop as a result of sexual activity.
How to prevent bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy?
Womenshealth.gov offers the following measures to reduce your risk of developing this infection.
Keep your vaginal bacteria balanced
When washing the outside of your vagina, use warm water without soap, because even mild ones can cause irritation. Wipe from front to back and wear cotton underpants to keep the area cool and comfortable.
Don't douche
Douching washes away the normal bacteria that help fight vaginal infection.
Safe sex
Though abstinence is still best to avoid the spread of bacterial vaginosis, practicing safe sex is also a good measure. Use condoms, birth control pills, implants, or diaphragms.
Undergo STD testing
To avoid all types of infection and disease, ensure that you and your partner undergo STD testing to detect infection as early as possible.
How to treat BV while pregnant
Doctors frequently use antibiotics to treat BV. You can take them as pills or apply them as a lotion to your vaginal area. Regardless of the treatment method, following your doctor's directions and completing the entire course of medication is critical.
These drugs are usually useful in the treatment of BV. With the exception of metronidazole, they all have comparable adverse effects. When combined with alcohol, this medicine might produce severe nausea, vomiting, and headaches. If you have any concerns about any of the possible side effects, talk to your doctor.
BV generally clears up within two to three days after receiving therapy. Treatment, on the other hand, normally lasts at least one week. Stop taking your drugs only if your doctor instructs you to. To avoid a recurrence of the infection, it's critical to finish the antibiotic course.
If your symptoms persist or return, you may require long-term treatment.
When to call a doctor?
Tell your healthcare physician straight away if you suspect you have BV. Your doctor can examine your vaginal area for evidence of vaginal discharge and test a sample of vaginal fluid for BV bacteria.
Always consult your OB/Gynecologist for proper guidance and to make sure you have a healthy and happy delivery.
Healthline, Birth Injury Help Center, Oxford Academic, Journal of Gynecological Research and Obstetrics, Healthline, March of Dimes
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