Bacterial vaginosis: early treatment would prevent complications

Bacterial vaginosis is a pathology that represents between 30 and 40 percent of infections that can affect the vagina. It is estimated that one in three women will suffer from this condition throughout their lives. Vaginosis consists of the alteration of the vaginal flora when there is an excessive increase of pathogenic organisms that cause an increase in vaginal pH.

The main symptoms that this disease presents are derived from changes in the vaginal discharge, which turns whitish, fluid, homogeneous, and with a strong odor. Although in some cases vaginosis is not accompanied by symptoms, it can be easily diagnosed in a routine gynecological examination. Although the causes that can produce changes in the vaginal flora are unknown, the disease is associated to certain risk factors that have to do with the ethnic origin, the maintained humidity, the smoking, the early initiation in the sexual relations and the excess of sexual activity with multiple partners.

The alteration of the vaginal flora does not represent a serious health problem in itself; However, it can cause some obstetric and gynecological complications, such as premature birth, late spontaneous abortions, the appearance of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pelvic inflammatory disease or endometritis, which is why experts recommend early diagnosis and treatment of vaginosis. bacterial. According to María Ángeles Gómez, a gynecologist at the Alicante III Sexual and Reproductive Health Center in Alicante, "it is important to treat this disease, especially in pregnant women, because this pathology increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth."

In addition, María Antonia Obiol, gynecologist at the Sexual and Reproductive Health Center Fuente San Luis de Valencia, adds that, in addition to pregnant women, the treatment is recommended in women "who are going to be subjected to any gynecological intervention, such as a direct exploration of the inside of the uterus through endoscopy for diagnostic or surgical purposes (hysteroscopy), perform a curettage after an abortion or place an IUD .

Antibiotic treatment and other alternatives
Currently, the most frequent treatment for bacterial vaginosis is based on antibiotics; However, this type of drugs are only effective in the short term, their capacity to act against certain microorganisms is limited, relapses are frequent and the resistance of bacteria is increasing with their use.

Before the treatment with antibiotics, María José Rodríguez, a gynecologist at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service of the Infanta Sofía Hospital, in Madrid, affirms that "currently there is an alternative that consists of a non-antibiotic, vaginal and broad-based treatment. spectrum, with fast effectiveness against pathogenic organisms and without acquired resistance ". In addition, explains the specialist, "there are no side effects at digestive level, does not affect the integrity of the condom and there are fewer cases of occurrence of other vaginal infections after treatment, such as candidiasis ."