Gardnerella Vaginalis: Symptoms And Causes

Have you heard about the condition termed as GardnerellaVaginalis. Seems like a tongue twister but it is a scientific name of a bacteria that lives inside your body. It is a part of vaginal flora and in balanced state, it wards of infection and keeps your vagina healthy. However, when gardnerella multiplies fast due to disturbed vaginal equilibrium it contributes to bacterial vaginosis. About 30% of female develop bacterial vagina at some point in their life specially during their premenopausal years. It is not a sexually transmitted disease but share symptoms and risk factors similar to other STI. If Gardnerellavaginalis is treated it is easy to fight bacterial vaginitis. So let us learn in detail what is gardnerellavaginalis and how maintain healthy vaginal flora and ward off infections. 

What Is GardnerellaVaginalis?

Gradnerella is a bacteria that naturally grows in female genital area. It is one of the trillion of micro-organism present in female genital that makes up genital flora. It balances the bacterial flora around the genitals, wards off infection and keep genital healthy. However, an overload of this bacteria can cause bacterial vaginosis. Many times commonly, bacterial vaginosis is referred as gardnerellavaginalis infection. However, both are different. Just as gardnerella, many other bacteria present in or entering genitals can lead to vaginal infection.

The question is what the conditions that causes overload of gardnerellavaginalis are.

What Causes GardnerellaVaginalis?

Lack of enough lactobacilli bacteria in vagina causes the vaginal PH to rise to 4.6 or more so the vagina is not acidic enough. This environment causes bacteria such as Gardnerella to multiply. Other bacteria too cling to the Gardnerella bacteria and start growing resulting in bacterial vaginosis. Gardnerella alone do not cause bacterial vaginosis but an imbalance in the vaginal flora causes bacterial vaginosis.

This means that anything that alters the vaginal pH level acts as a trigger for causing bacterial vaginosis. The pH level of vagina get disrupted by douching,using chemical based harsh soaps and deodorants, sexual activity and incorrect vaginal hygiene. Having too much of Gardnerella in your vaginal fluid signals that you are suffering from bacterial vaginosis.Gardnerellavaginalis is a natural part of the flora in our vagina and not something a female can catch. Causes of bacterial vaginosis are unknown, but women with multiple sex partners are more at risk of developing it.

What Are The Symptoms Of GardnerellaVaginalis?

The common symptoms of gardnerellavaginalis include the presence of grey or green or look-off white fluid from vagina. The vaginal discharge may smell fishy. The odor is strong during periods or during sex. Many females may have this condition present without any symptom and may go undiagnosed. 84% of female goasymptomatic in case of this kind of infection and most characteristic sign is presence of strong odour and gray or green discharge. In some cases female may also experience discomfort and itching around your vaginal opening and vulva.

Is GardnerellaVaginalis STI?

No gardnerellavaginalis is not STI because having gardnerella bacteria in your vagina does not mean you have any infection. The bacteria is also present in vagina of females who not sexually active. All above gardnerellavaginalis is the part of vaginal flora and does not naturally occur on penisis. STIs on other hand get transmitted regardless of  reproductive anatomy.However, sexual activity is a risk factor to disturb the vaginal Flora equilibrium leading to increase in the number of gardnerella bacteria that may contribute to bacterial vaginosis.

Treatment of GardnerellaVaginalis

Gardnerella overload causes bacterial vaginosis. Thus, treatment includes antibiotics, vaginal creams and boric acid to prevent recurrent infection.

How to Prevent GardnerellaVaginalis?

Here are a few tips to minimize the chancesosgardnerella overload:

• Limit your number of sexual partners and always use condoms.
• Use pH balanced products around the vaginal area. Avoid scented tampons and vaginal deodorants.
• Don’t douche
• Wear breathable cotton underwear
• Take probiotics to support the health of your vaginal flora

Still if  youend up with a BV infection see a healthcare provider