Though it has been found to be the most common type of pregnancy infection, moms-to-be still need to be aware of how Bacterial Vaginosis can affect pregnancy.
What can you read in this article
- Bacterial Vaginosis in pregnancy
- How do you get bacterial vaginosis
- How to treat BV while pregnant
A woman’s vagina has natural “good bacteria” (lactobacilli) and a few “bad bacteria” (anaerobes), which exist in harmony. But once this balance is disrupted, and the bad bacteria multiply, it results in 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 undergo any treatment are at risk for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy complications, like pre-term labor or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, clarifies Jeanne Faulkner, R.N. in article for Fit Pregnancy, but it is commonly seen in women who’ve recently changed sexual partners.
Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy
Pregnancy infection. | Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels
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 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 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 discovered that BV detected in the second trimester was linked to a higher risk of preterm delivery and premature membrane rupture and that BV was responsible for 83 percent of the attributable risk for preterm birth.
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What are the symptoms of BV
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. It may also be foamy in some circumstances. The compounds produced by the bacteria that cause BV gives off a fishy stench, which is commonly linked 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 BV 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.
Anaerobes, on the other hand, have a chance to grow if the lactobacilli population is diminished. BV is caused by an expansion of anaerobes 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
Vaginitis can be caused by bacterial vaginosis (BV) or yeast infections. Neither is usually a cause for alarm. While the symptoms of these infections are typically the same or similar, the causes and therapies are not.
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. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the Candida fungus, whereas BV is caused by an overgrowth of one of the bacteria found in your vagina.
BV might be triggered by a change in your vaginal pH. The bacteria that naturally thrive inside your vagina can become more prominent than they should due to a shift in pH. Gardnerella vaginalis bacterium overgrowth is the most common culprit.
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 during 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
During douching, the normal bacteria that helps fight vaginal infection is washed away.
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.
Make sure you are tested for STDs
To avoid all types of infection and disease, make sure you and your partner are tested for STDs, so you can be able to detect infection as early as possible.
How to treat BV while pregnant
Antibiotics are frequently used to treat BV. These can be taken as pills or applied as a lotion to your vaginal area. Regardless of the treatment method, it’s critical to follow your doctor’s directions and finish the entire course of medication.
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 health care 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.
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