Patient's question:
My wife has vaginitis, and she's experiencing severe itching down there. It's especially itchy in the morning every day. She has already gone to the hospital and was prescribed oral metronidazole tablets. At first, they were effective, but then the itching returned. How is bacterial vaginosis best treated?Doctor's answer:
Bacterial vaginosis is primarily a type of vaginitis caused by Gardnerella vaginalis, which can be spread through sexual contact. Bacterial vaginosis is a condition resulting from an imbalance in the vaginal ecosystem, where Gardnerella vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria increase, while lactobacilli decrease. In healthy women, Gardnerella vaginalis is also present in the vagina. When estrogen levels rise in the body, the vaginal epithelium swells, and glycogen production increases, favoring the growth of lactobacilli. However, excessive use of antibiotics or over-washing the vagina with alkaline solutions can inhibit lactobacilli growth, leading to the overgrowth of pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. This disrupts the vaginal microbial ecological balance and endocrine system, ultimately causing bacterial vaginosis.