Gardnerella vaginalis and Gardnerella mobiluncus are two types of bacteria that normally live in the vagina without causing symptoms; however, when they multiply too much, they can cause an infection known as bacterial vaginosis, resulting in a grayish white secretion and a strong odor. .
Treatment is done with antibiotics, such as metronidazole or clindamycin tablets, or ointments to be applied to the vagina, although in some cases proper washing of the area may eliminate infection.
- Gardnerella infection is more common in women because the bacteria is part of the normal vaginal microbiota.
- But men can also become infected during unprotected.
- Condom-free sex with an infected partner.
Gardnerella may appear in different ways in men and women, with one or more of the following symptoms:
White or greyish flow
Pain when urinating
The smell of nausea gets worse after unsused intimate contact
Pain during intimate contact
Yellowish flow of the urethra
It is more common for Gardnerella infection to cause no symptoms in most men and treatment may not be necessary; However, if this happens very often in women, your doctor may recommend that a man also follow treatment, as he or she may pass it on to women, especially if they have condom-free sex.
In addition, if the infection occurs simultaneously with other bacteria, women may have inflammation of the uterus and tubes, which can cause infertility if treatment is not performed.
There is no specific cause for this type of infection, however, it is more common in women with risk factors such as those with multiple sexual partners, smokers, those who perform regular vaginal washing or those who use an IUD as a method of contraception.
Therefore, Gardnerella genital infection is not considered an STI (sexually transmitted infection) and the incubation period of the disease is 2 to 21 days, during which time the bacteria is present, but symptoms do not appear.
Diagnosis of infection can be made in a gynecological office, where your doctor may see signs of infection, especially typical secretion and odor. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may also recommend a vaginal culture, in which vaginal discharge is collected for microbiological analysis.
It is possible to confirm the bacteria responsible for the infection from the analysis of the secretion and thus appropriate treatment can be initiated.
For men, the diagnosis should be made by the urologist, who analyzes symptoms and evaluates penile secretion.
Gardnerella infection is easy to cure and is usually treated with antibiotics, such as metronidazole, senidazole or clindamycin, in the form of tablets or ointments to be applied in the intimate area.
Treatment usually lasts about 7 days for the antibiotic in tablets, or 5 days for ointments, meanwhile, maintain adequate intimate hygiene practices, washing only the external genital area with pH-neutral soap or suitable for the area.
Treatment should only be performed in pregnant women with antibiotics in the form of tablets prescribed by the gynecologist, as well as good hygiene of the area.