Why does bacterial vaginitis turn into fungal vaginitis?

Written by Ding Ying Bo
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Women with bacterial vaginitis need to be treated with metronidazole, which can be either taken orally or applied as metronidazole vaginal effervescent tablets. Some women may experience recurrent bacterial vaginitis, which leads to a longer duration of medication use, potentially causing an imbalance in the vaginal flora.

Yeast naturally exists in the vagina, but the environment is usually stable due to the predominance of lactobacillus, which inhibits the growth of yeast. However, if the treatment period for vaginitis is extended, it can disrupt the vaginal environment, reduce the amount of lactobacillus, and consequently, yeast can proliferate and lead to yeast-based vaginitis.

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Written by Luo Chun Yan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can mild bacterial vaginitis heal on its own?

Mild bacterial vaginitis generally does not heal by itself and needs timely treatment. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a disruption of the vaginal flora and an increase in the pH value of the vagina, leading to a mixed infection dominated by anaerobic bacteria. This condition results in an increase in vaginal discharge, which is relatively thin but has a distinct fishy odor, and may cause itching of the vulva. The relationship between bacterial vaginosis, endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease is very close. Therefore, even mild bacterial vaginosis should be treated promptly. Treatment can be administered orally or locally via the vagina, mainly using anti-anaerobic agents. If not treated promptly, it may lead to ascending infections, causing endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease, which can result in infertility. Thus, even mild bacterial vaginosis should be treated in a timely manner; it generally does not heal on its own.

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Written by Huang Shuai
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can bacterial vaginitis affect conception?

Bacterial vaginosis generally does not have a particularly large or obvious impact on conception, but it can indeed potentially affect the process of conception. This is primarily because when bacterial vaginosis occurs, there are usually a significant number of inflammatory cells in the vagina or the cervix. These inflammatory cells may affect sperm, thereby potentially impacting the process of conception. Of course, when bacterial vaginosis is present, it is generally recommended to treat it before pregnancy. This is mainly because if bacterial vaginosis exists during pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of bleeding, miscarriage, or premature birth. Therefore, it is usually advised to treat bacterial vaginosis before planning to conceive.

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Written by Huang Shuai
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Can you have children with bacterial vaginitis?

When there is a clear case of bacterial vaginosis, it is generally recommended to cure it before planning to conceive a child. This is mainly because, if one becomes pregnant while having bacterial vaginosis, it may increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. This is primarily due to the fact that bacterial vaginosis can lead to an increase in inflammatory substances in the vagina or cervix. The increase in inflammatory cells can easily stimulate contractions, thus leading to the risks of miscarriage, premature birth, and an increased risk of premature rupture of membranes. Therefore, it is generally advised to first cure the vaginitis before planning a pregnancy.

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Written by He Jing
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can a minor bacterial vaginitis undergo an abortion?

It is advised not to undergo an abortion when suffering from vaginitis, as the procedure involves manipulation of the uterine cavity. If there is vaginitis, the bacteria in the vagina can ascend, leading to inflammation of the uterine lining, and potentially causing pelvic inflammatory disease, fallopian tube adhesion, obstruction, and secondary infertility. Moreover, the body is generally weaker after an abortion, making it prone to inflammatory infections. Therefore, when experiencing vaginitis, it is recommended to first carry out a routine vaginal discharge test. Based on the results of this test, appropriate treatment is generally administered for about three days. A follow-up examination of the vaginal discharge can then be conducted. If the vaginal discharge test results are normal, the abortion procedure can proceed.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
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What is bacterial vaginosis?

Women can suffer from bacterial vaginosis, which is more commonly seen in women who have frequent sexual intercourse, or in postmenopausal women. It is not caused by an infection of a specific pathogen in the vagina, but rather by an imbalance of the normal flora that naturally resides in the vagina. Normally, the female vagina has a self-cleaning capability. What this means is that there are large quantities of lactobacilli in the vagina, which can create an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of other bacteria. However, under certain pathological conditions, such as too frequent sexual activity, this balance can be disrupted, leading to a reduction in the number of lactobacilli. Consequently, the numbers of other pathogenic bacteria may increase, causing bacterial vaginosis. During this condition, there is no inflammatory alteration in the vaginal walls or cervix.