Bacterial vaginosis Flashcards
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in vagina
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
Loss of lactobilli - friendly bacteria
Increases risk of developing STIs
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
Loss of lactobilli - friendly bacteria
Increases risk of developing STIs
What is the role of lactobacilli
Produce lactic acid keeps vaginal pH low - under 4.5 - prevents other bacteria from overgrowing
What allows bacteria to multiply in BV
Reduced lactobilli allows pH to rise -> alkaline environment enables anaerobic bacteria to multiply
Anaerobic bacteria ass with BV
Gardnerella vaginalis (most common)
Mycoplasma hominis
Prevotella species
What other infections does BV often co-occur with
Candidiasis
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis
Multiple sexual partners
Excessive vaginal cleaning - douching, cleaning products, washes etc
Recent antibiotics
Smoking
Copper coil
What women are less at risk of BV
Combined pill
Using condoms effectively
Presentation of BV
Fishy smelling wateru grey or white vaginal discharge
50% asymtpomatic
What symptoms are not typically ass with BV and suggest alternative cause or co-occuring infection
Itching
Irritation
Pain
How confirm typical discharge
Complete high vaginal swab and exclude other causes of symptoms
Not required if typucal symptosm and low risk of UTI
What is normal vaginal pH
3.5-4.5
Investigations for BV
Standard charcoal vaginal swab - for microscopy
High vaginal swab - during speculum - test for chlamydia and gonorrhea
Self taken low vaginal swab
Findings on microscopy of BV
Clue cells - epithelial cells from cervix that have bacteria stuck inside them - gardnerella vaginalis
