Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for gardnerella

by Lizzie Jacobson Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Treatment options
Gardnerella infection is easy to cure, and treatment is usually completed with oral antibiotics, such as metronidazole, secnidazole, or clindamycin. Ointments can also be prescribed, and they should be applied to the genital area.

Medication

Treatment of Gardnerella vaginalis infection. This review of the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Gardnerella vaginalis culture isolates shows that the drugs found sensitive to G. vaginalis cultures include the new antimicrobial agents- ciprofloxacin, cefuroxine and ceftazidine, and some older antibiotics- ceftriaxone, cloxacillin, erythromyci ….

Self-care

Jul 08, 2011 · Vaginal Clindamycin Cream/Vaginal Metronidazole Gel These two creams can also be used as an effective treatment for gardnerella. If you suspect you have gardnerella then cease all sexual activity – do not rely on contraceptives for protection.

Nutrition

Sep 30, 2021 · In women, Gardnerella bacterial vaginosis is preferentially treated with metronidazole or clindamycin. However, in men that present with prostatitis due to Gardnerella, treatment must include antibiotic coverage to penetrate the prostatic tissue.

What is Gardnerella and why does it affect me?

Jun 01, 2021 · BV treatment (or what was formerly and inaccurately known as Gardnerella vaginalis treatment) consists of a five- to seven-day regimen of antibiotics, prescribed either vaginally or orally....

Is Gardnerella a sexually transmitted disease?

Oct 26, 2021 · Most cases of BV caused by Gardnerella vaginalis respond very well to treatment with 500 mg of oral metronidazole, which is taken twice a day for 7 days. A metronidazole intravaginal gel can also be used. A different topical antibiotic called clindamycin can also be used in women who can’t receive metronidazole due to allergies or other reasons.

Is Gardnerella a STD?

Oct 13, 2020 · Treatment options metronidazole MetroGel-Vaginal Cleocin Vandazole Clindamax

How does Gardnerella affect men?

Aug 07, 2021 · Asymptomatic Gardnerellacolonization does not need to be treated. It has even been reported that up to 30% of cases of BV may even resolve on its own without treatment.[1] However, if a patient is bothered by the symptoms of BV, or is pregnant, it should be treated with either oral or vaginal clindamycin or metronidazole.

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Apr 22, 2021 · What Is the Treatment for Gardnerella? Treatment is super easy! Generally, you'll be prescribed an oral antibiotic, or an antibiotic cream that you can apply to your vagina at bedtime. Our doctors at wisp will prescribe the most effective FDA-approved medication based on …

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What antibiotics treat Gardnerella?

Medication Summary Medications include metronidazole (Flagyl), clindamycin (Cleocin) oral or vaginal suppositories, and metronidazole vaginal gel (MetroGel-Vaginal). Metronidazole and clindamycin are the preferred medications used to treat Gardnerella infections.Jan 28, 2022

How long does it take to cure Gardnerella?

A prescription treatment will likely clear up your symptoms in 2 to 3 days. If you're pregnant or undergoing any medical procedures, it's especially important to have your BV taken care of sooner rather than later. Your doctor may prescribe an oral or vaginal antibiotic, like clindamycin, metronidazole, or tinidazole.Jul 17, 2019

Can Gardnerella be cured?

Gardnerella is curable and can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. You should abstain from sexual intercourse until your treatment is finished, and ensure that your sexual partners are also treated to avoid re-infecting each other.

How did I get Gardnerella?

How can I catch Gardnerella? Gardnerella can be spread by sexual contact and is most frequently observed as occurring from women to men and from women to women. It has not been definitively established that men can transmit a Gardnerella infection to women.

Why does Gardnerella keep coming back?

Causes. Although the exact cause of BV isn't clear, experts believe that sex is a contributing factor. Unprotected sex, sex with a new partner, and sex with multiple partners may alter the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Other practices, such as douching, may also increase your risk of BV.Feb 1, 2021

Does my partner need to be treated for Gardnerella?

Men can have a colonisation of Gardnerella in their urethra but it does not generally cause any symptoms and they do not necessarily need to be treated. If the man is symptomatic and there are no other possible causes, a course of treatment can be provided.

What does positive Gardnerella mean?

Gardnerella is already present in your body in small amounts, but when it starts to multiply, it messes with your vaginal microbiome. This can lead to BV symptoms like pain, itching, and abnormal discharge. To put it more simply: GV is a bacteria, and BV is a condition that can be caused by this bacteria.Jun 1, 2021

Is Gardnerella a STD?

Abstract. The Gardnerella vaginalis infection of the urogenital tract, an STD, is of clinical importance in females and of epidemiological importance in males. Females suffer from vulvovaginitis amine colpitis, with a bad-smelling grey vaginal discharge with a pH of 5.0-5.5, which contains "clue cells".

Can BV be caused by stress?

Excessive exposure to psychosocial stress is independently associated with increased prevalence of BV (20, 73–75), which is the most common vaginal condition in women of reproductive age.Sep 24, 2018

How long does it take for Flagyl to cure?

Oral consumption of metrodinazole (Flagyl) takes 7 days to cure the problem. It is recommended that any sexual partners also follow the same course of treatment. As well as preventing the infection to effect the male partners, this can also reduce the chances of recurrence in women.

Why does my vagina feel like it's burning?

The condition is caused by a bacterial infection of the genital tract and is the most common form of bacterial vaginitis. Along with the discharge, gardnerella also causes itchiness in the vagina coupled with a burning sensation during urination.

How to prevent bacterial vaginosis?

But here are a few tips to minimize your risk of getting it: Limit your number of sexual partners, or if you do choose to have multiple partners, always use condoms.

How long does it take to cure BV?

Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment. BV treatment (or what was formerly and inaccurately known as Gardnerella vaginalis treatment) consists of a five- to seven-day regimen of antibiotics, prescribed either vaginally or orally. Metronidazole (Flagyl) and clindamycin (Cleocin) are two common options, prescribed as 150mg, 300mg, or 500mg tablets.

What is BV testing?

Testing and Diagnosis. BV Treatment. Prevention. It’s a tongue twister of a term, but an important one: Gardnerella vaginalis is the scientific name for a species of bacteria that lives inside your body, working alongside trillions of other microorganisms to keep your vaginal flora (that’s code for the bacteria that typically live in ...

Is BV a vaginal infection?

While it used to be common practice to refer to BV as a Gardnerella vaginalis infection, you won’t hear those terms used interchangeably nowadays. Instead, think of Gardnerella vaginalis as one of many bacteria that can lead to this common vaginal infection.

What is BV in vagina?

Bacterial vaginosis is a treatable condition caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your vagina. Gardnerella vaginalis isn't a condition in itself, but rather a species of bacteria that can contribute to the development of BV. Gardnerella is already present in your body in small amounts, but when it starts to multiply, ...

Why does my vagina smell so bad?

The smell is often stronger after sexual activity and menses or anything that can increase the vaginal pH. BV can also cause itching and discomfort around your vulva and vaginal opening. The odor is really what distinguishes BV from other types of vaginal conditions like yeast infections or STIs.

What causes BV in women?

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an imbalance in vaginal bacteria. One of the leading causes of BV is a bacteria known. Around 30% of women will develop BV at some point during their pre-menopausal years, and some people are unlucky enough to get it on a recurring basis. BV is not technically considered a sexually transmitted infection, ...

How to diagnose bacterial vaginosis?

Your doctor can diagnose bacterial vaginosis based on the results of a gynecological examination and laboratory tests of your vaginal fluid. There is no perfect test, but if you have three of the following four criteria, it is highly likely that you have bacterial vaginosis: 1 White, thin, coating on your vaginal walls during the pelvic exam 2 pH test of vaginal discharge that shows low acidity (pH greater than 4.5) 3 Fishy odor when a sample of vaginal discharge is combined with a drop of potassium hydroxide on a glass slide (the "whiff test") 4 Clue cells (vaginal skin cells that are coated with bacteria) visible on microscopic exam of vaginal fluid

What are the risk factors for bacterial vaginosis?

Risk factors that seem to increase the likelihood of bacterial vaginosis include a history of multiple sex partners, a sexual relationship with a new partner, cigarette smoking, vaginal douching and the use of the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD).

Why is bacterial vaginosis considered to be sexually transmitted?

Doctors are not exactly sure why bacterial vaginosis develops. Because it occurs more commonly in people who are sexually active, bacterial vaginosis is considered by some to be sexually transmitted. However, bacterial vaginosis also occurs in people who either are not sexually active or have been in long-term relationships with just one person.

What does it mean when your vagina smells fishy?

In others, it causes an unpleasant "fishy" vaginal odor and a yellow or white vaginal discharge. For some women, these symptoms are especially bothersome during or after intercourse. The discharge seen in bacterial vaginosis tends to be thinner than the "cheesy," thick discharge seen in vaginal yeast (Candida) infections.

Can condoms help with HIV?

Scientists don't understand why this happens. In some cases, treating the male sex partner or routine use of condoms may help to prevent this, but these interventions don't always help. Having bacterial vaginosis may make it easier for you to be infected with HIV if your sexual partner has HIV.

What are some personal hygiene habits?

Personal hygiene habits, such as douching and your use of feminine deodorants. Whether you wear tightly fitting undergarments. Whether you use tampons. Your doctor also may ask if you have any other diseases, such as diabetes, or if you have used antibiotics recently.

Can bacterial vaginosis cause premature labor?

Bacterial vaginosis often occurs during pregnancy. It may cause premature labor and delivery, premature rupture of membranes, and postpartum uterine infections. This is why pregnant women with a history of premature labor or other complications may be checked for bacterial vaginosis even when they don't have any symptoms.

What is Gardnerella infection?

Gardnerella is a common genital infection that is often encountered by the emergency department physician, nurse practitioner, internist, and the gynecologist. Asymptomatic Gardnerella colonization does not need to be treated as nearly 30% of cases resolve spontaneously.

What is Gardnerella vaginalis?

Continuing Education Activity. Gardnerella vaginalis is an anaerobic bacterium that is the causative agent in bacterial vaginosis (BV). This bacteria normally is part of the vaginal flora and any overgrowth can cause BV which is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. This activity reviews the evaluation and treatment ...

What are the risks of BV?

BV can lead to the following: 1 Increased risk for endometritis and salpingitis 2 Increased risk of post-surgery infections 3 Adverse outcomes in pregnancy including premature labor, premature rupture of membranes and postpartum endometritis. 4 Pelvic inflammatory disease 5 Neonatal meningitis

What is the most common cause of vaginal discharge?

BV is the most common cause of vaginal discharge.[1] Of clinical consequence, BV is associated with preterm birth and increased risk for acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). [1] Etiology.

Can BV be treated with metronidazole?

However, if a patient is bothered by the symptoms of BV, or is pregnant, it should be treated with either oral or vaginal clindamycin or metronidazole. [1][11]Unfortunately, it has been shown that recurrence may occur in up to 80% of women after treatment.

What are the factors that contribute to bacterial vaginosis?

Factors that may play a role in the development of bacterial vaginosis include frequent tub baths, douching, multiple sex partners, use of over the counter intravaginal hygiene products and increased frequency of sexual intercourse. Epidemiology.

What is the most common vaginal infection?

Additionally, BV is the most common vaginal infection found in women of reproductive age and is estimated to occur in 5% to 70% of women. [3][4] Gardnerellahas consistently been isolated as a key pathogen in BV, suggesting a high overall prevalence of Gardnerellain this population. [3]

What Is Bacterial Vaginosis?

In order to understand how you get a Gardnerella infection, it's important to learn more about the chemistry that goes on inside of the vagina. A healthy vagina has a mix of bacteria and fungus that all serve a specific role.

How Do You Get a Gardnerella Infection?

As we talked about, a Gardnerella infection is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria of the Gardnerella bacteria. Common causes of this bacterial infection include:

What Are the Symptoms of Gardnerella Infection?

Sometimes, you might not even know you have Gardnerella, but the most common symptoms of Gardnerella vaginitis (AKA BV) are:

How Is Gardnerella Diagnosed?

If you have any of the symptoms discussed above, it's important to contact your doctor or seek an online medical consultation immediately. A doctor can provide an online consultation, so you don't have to leave the privacy of your home to visit the doctor, and within hours your meds will be processed.

What Is the Treatment for Gardnerella?

Treatment is super easy! Generally, you'll be prescribed an oral antibiotic, or an antibiotic cream that you can apply to your vagina at bedtime. Our doctors at wisp will prescribe the most effective FDA-approved medication based on your BV symptoms.

Are There Any Health Risks Associated With Gardnerella?

Gardnerella is super easy to treat, so normally you won't have any health risks. But, if you don't get it treated you could experience some of these health risks:

How Can I Prevent Getting Gardnerella?

Prevention is fairly easy, especially if you follow these helpful tips:

What Is It?

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal odor and discharge. It is caused by a change in the type of bacteria found in the vagina. Normally, bacteria belonging mostly to the Lactobacillus family live harmlessly in the vagina and produce chemicals that keep the vagina mildly acidic.

Disclaimer

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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