Gardnerella Vaginalis, also called bacterial vaginosis, is a vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. The normal balance of bacteria in the vagina goes out of balance, and causes an increase in growth of bad bacteria in the vagina.
Causes
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not fully understood, but one thing that is known is that it can be caused by sexual activity. Bacterial vaginosis appears in women who have not had vaginal intercourse, but it is more common in individuals who have had sexual partners.
Risk Factors
Having new or multiple sex partners, douching, using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control, or not using a condom during sexual intercourse increases your risk of having bacterial vaginosis.
Pregnant women who are diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis should be aware that if the problem is not treated, they are increasing their chances of having a premature delivery or a low-birth-weight baby.
Symptoms
The typical symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include unpleasant vaginal odor, nonirritating discharge, and/or a grey, whitish secretions coming from the vaginal area. The most common complaint that a physician hears from a patient with bacterial vaginosis is about the odor.
Diagnosis
During an examination with a physician, the physician will take a sample and review the specimen under a microscope looking for "clue cells". Clue cells are numerous stippled or granulated cells. The characteristic of bad bacteria growth is there are few white blood cells and lactobacilli cells present in the specimen.
Treatment
The most common treatment for bacterial vaginosis is the use of an oral medication called metronidazole, 500 mg, twice a day for six days.
There is no increase in risk for a pregnant women who uses the same medication versus a non-pregnant women. Most physicians will prescribe a lower dosage to the pregnant patient as an extra precaution.
Other Medical Problems
Bacterial vaginosis, if untreated, can lead to other problems such as troubles with pregnancy, low birth weight babies and premature births.
Prevention
The best way to prevent bacterial vaginosis is to use a condom or practice abstinence, be a faithful partner in your relationship, avoid douching, and get tested immediately if you have symptoms (especially if you are pregnant).
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