What is Bacteria Vaginosis?
July 14, 2009 by admin
Filed under Background Research
Matt Gray asked:
Bacteria vaginosis is the result of a serious change in the bacterial make-up within the ******.
Whether you know it or not, your body is teeming with a variety of different bacteria, and these bacteria play an important role in regards to your body’s health. The ****** is no different, and when something disrupts the normal balance of the bacterial make-up within a vagina, just like the rest of the body, a health condition will result.
In the case of bacteria vaginosis, it is a condition that develops when the normally predominant bacteria within the ****** begin to experience a decrease in numbers, while the typically less prevalent bacteria start to have an abnormal increase. When this change to the normal balance of things within the ****** becomes severe enough it can lead to bacteria vaginosis, an abnormal vaginal condition characterized by a handful of unpleasant symptoms including a pungent fishy odor and an atypical vaginal discharge.
As has been mentioned, a ****** contains a variety of different types of bacteria. The predominant bacteria in a normal and healthy ****** are the Lactobacillus species. This type of bacteria prefers and thrives in an oxygen-rich environment.
Lactobacillus bacteria are responsible for the production of very small amounts of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Both of which are thought to help in protecting the ****** from the unwanted growth of other organisms (i.e. bacteria, viruses, etc.) that could pose a health threat.
The less prevalent bacteria in the ****** include the Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncas, Peptostreptococcus, Mycoplasma hominus, and Prevotella species. These various species of bacteria tend to excel and grow more rapidly in an oxygen-depleted environment.
So by simple deduction it can be concluded that the normal environment of the ****** is an oxygen-rich one.
The real problem, then, arises when the the normal, oxygen-rich condition of the ****** changes. This in turn causes the numbers of the Lactobacillus bactreria to be dramatically reduced (decreasing the amount of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide as well), while at the same time creating the right conditions (limited oxygen) for the Gardnerella and other species of bacteria to thrive and begin to challenge the Lactobacillus for predominance. Once this ever-growing imbalance reaches a certain point bacteria vaginosis occurs.
It is important to note that as the acidity levels begin to be reduced in the ****** due to this change in the normal vaginal make-up, the pH levels will increase. The pH of the ****** is normally between 3.8 and 4.2, with anything over 4.5 being considered an abnormal vaginal condition. So, when a woman develops bacteria vaginosis the pH levels will be well above the normal numbers, and this fact helps doctors to more easily identify and diagnose bacteria vaginosis.
gardnerella
Bacteria vaginosis is the result of a serious change in the bacterial make-up within the ******.
Whether you know it or not, your body is teeming with a variety of different bacteria, and these bacteria play an important role in regards to your body’s health. The ****** is no different, and when something disrupts the normal balance of the bacterial make-up within a vagina, just like the rest of the body, a health condition will result.
In the case of bacteria vaginosis, it is a condition that develops when the normally predominant bacteria within the ****** begin to experience a decrease in numbers, while the typically less prevalent bacteria start to have an abnormal increase. When this change to the normal balance of things within the ****** becomes severe enough it can lead to bacteria vaginosis, an abnormal vaginal condition characterized by a handful of unpleasant symptoms including a pungent fishy odor and an atypical vaginal discharge.
As has been mentioned, a ****** contains a variety of different types of bacteria. The predominant bacteria in a normal and healthy ****** are the Lactobacillus species. This type of bacteria prefers and thrives in an oxygen-rich environment.
Lactobacillus bacteria are responsible for the production of very small amounts of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Both of which are thought to help in protecting the ****** from the unwanted growth of other organisms (i.e. bacteria, viruses, etc.) that could pose a health threat.
The less prevalent bacteria in the ****** include the Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncas, Peptostreptococcus, Mycoplasma hominus, and Prevotella species. These various species of bacteria tend to excel and grow more rapidly in an oxygen-depleted environment.
So by simple deduction it can be concluded that the normal environment of the ****** is an oxygen-rich one.
The real problem, then, arises when the the normal, oxygen-rich condition of the ****** changes. This in turn causes the numbers of the Lactobacillus bactreria to be dramatically reduced (decreasing the amount of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide as well), while at the same time creating the right conditions (limited oxygen) for the Gardnerella and other species of bacteria to thrive and begin to challenge the Lactobacillus for predominance. Once this ever-growing imbalance reaches a certain point bacteria vaginosis occurs.
It is important to note that as the acidity levels begin to be reduced in the ****** due to this change in the normal vaginal make-up, the pH levels will increase. The pH of the ****** is normally between 3.8 and 4.2, with anything over 4.5 being considered an abnormal vaginal condition. So, when a woman develops bacteria vaginosis the pH levels will be well above the normal numbers, and this fact helps doctors to more easily identify and diagnose bacteria vaginosis.
gardnerella
