On this page
Most women with unpleasant vaginal symptoms immediately suspect a yeast infection and reach too quickly for over-the-counter pessaries – often without success. Statistics show that the most common vaginal complaint in women of reproductive age is not yeast, but bacterial vaginosis (BV), which means the balance of the vaginal flora has been upset.
With the modern, ultra-sensitive multiplex PCR test available at Sabjanics Medical Center, we detect, at gene level, the two main culprits behind the problem: the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae.
How does bacterial vaginosis develop?
A healthy vaginal flora is dominated by protective lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli), which form a natural shield. But if this protection weakens, the Gardnerella and Atopobium bacteria that are normally present in the flora anyway start to multiply dramatically.
Together, the two pathogens can also form an invisible, sticky protective layer on the vaginal wall, called a biofilm. This biofilm works like a shield: it protects the bacteria from the immune system and from standard treatments, which explains why the infection comes back in up to 80% of women after standard courses of treatment.
Which symptoms suggest you should have a PCR test?
In many cases the infection causes no symptoms at all, but when it does, they can be very disruptive to daily life and to your private life:
- Heavy, thin, greyish-white vaginal discharge.
- A distinctive, unpleasant (fishy) smell, which becomes stronger after sex or during a period.
- A mild burning or itching feeling, or discomfort during sex.
Why should it not be ignored? (Possible complications)
Untreated or recurring bacterial vaginosis goes far beyond discomfort. It breaks down the protective barrier of the mucous membrane, so:
- It increases the risk of catching other sexually transmitted infections (e.g. HIV, Chlamydia).
- It can lead to pelvic inflammation and inflammation of the lining of the womb.
- Especially dangerous in pregnancy: it increases the risk of preterm birth, premature rupture of the membranes and infections after birth.
Why is a multiplex PCR test the best choice?
With traditional culture methods, Atopobium vaginae is extremely hard to detect. In contrast, the molecular PCR technology used in our clinical laboratory looks for the bacteria’s genetic material (DNA). This method is currently the most accurate diagnostic tool: it detects even a very small number of pathogens straight away, so misdiagnosis and unnecessary medication can be avoided.
How is the sample taken?
The test is completely painless. With a special, thin sampling brush, we take a sample rich in epithelial cells from the cervix, the vagina or the urethra.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
- Who is it for?
- For acute or recurring symptoms, when planning a family (before pregnancy), and as screening before planned gynaecological surgery.
- How should I come?
- For 48 hours before the sample is taken, do not use pessaries, creams or vaginal douching, and avoid sex.
- What does the result mean?
- A positive result confirms that the bacteria are present. It is important to know that carrying them without symptoms (if there are no symptoms and no pregnancy) does not always need treatment – the body can restore the flora by itself.
- How will I receive my result?
- With your consent, we email your result as an encrypted, password-protected PDF. At the follow-up consultation, our specialist will explain it to you in detail. How results are sent
What should you do after you receive the test result?
A positive PCR result is a highly accurate compass, but it is not the same as a prescription. If the result confirms an infection and you have symptoms, you need personalised, targeted antibiotic treatment or treatment to restore the flora. Drug-resistant strains of bacteria are becoming more and more common, so the specialists at Sabjanics Medical Center put together your treatment based on the latest international protocols, so that you can say goodbye to recurring symptoms for good.
What about male partners? Can they have symptoms?
Although bacterial vaginosis is essentially a women’s condition, the bacteria behind it can also be present in the male urogenital (urinary and reproductive) system.
In men, Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae are completely symptom-free in the vast majority of cases. Rarely, however, they can cause symptoms in men too: mild urethritis, superficial inflammation of the glans, or a temporary burning or itching feeling after passing urine or ejaculating.
So why is it still important to test the partner?
If there are no symptoms, routine antibiotic treatment for men is not medically justified. However, stubborn infections in women that keep coming back and flaring up again are often caused by the so-called “ping-pong effect”. A resistant layer of bacteria (biofilm) hiding in the male urogenital tract can reinfect the female partner. If the woman’s symptoms keep coming back despite treatment, at Sabjanics Medical Center we recommend multiplex PCR screening and an andrology/urology examination for the male partner too, so you can both recover for good.
Book an appointment soon. Do not wait until a chronic infection causes complications. Turn to the expert team at Sabjanics Medical Center with confidence, and let us restore the healthy balance of your vaginal flora together.
This guide does not replace a consultation with a doctor.