A lot of different bacteria live in the human body. Most of them are localized in the intestine and genital area. These microorganisms are both beneficial and harmful, as well as opportunistic. The last group includes the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis. Modern men often experience health problems because of her.
Brief description of the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis
Gardnerella vaginalis, or gardnerella vaginalis, is a bacterium that is part of the vaginal microflora. It is a common cause of bacterial vaginitis and bacvinosis. The microbe was first discovered in women in 1955 by American scientists Dewson and Gardner. Then he was given the name Haemophilus vaginalis (hemophilic vaginal bacillus). In 1980, new pathogenic characteristics of this microorganism were revealed. As a result, the bacterium was renamed by the name of one of the authors of its discovery.
Gardnerella vaginalis is a conditionally pathogenic microorganism. This means that he can be in the genital tract and not cause health problems. The growth and high activity of gardnerella usually inhibits human immunity. If the body's defenses are weakening, it begins to multiply intensively, provoking the development of gardnerellosis disease. In men, it is extremely rare. However, the detection of characteristic symptoms requires quality treatment.
Features of the disease
The diagnosis of gardnerellosis for men does not exist. The disease is better known as bacterial vaginosis and is more common in the fair sex. This is due to the specific anatomy of the female genital organs. They are more susceptible to the ingestion of harmful bacteria due to their special structure.
Gardnerellosis is a disorder of microflora in the vagina. It is characterized by a decrease in the number of lactobacilli and an increase in other pathogenic microorganisms. Gardnerella vaginalis is usually given as an example.
Pathogens can enter the male body. Representatives of the stronger sex do not experience as much inconvenience as women feel. This is due to the rapid removal of bacteria from the body, which happens about 2-3 days after intercourse. If the infection overtook in a period that coincided with a number of favorable factors (weakening of the immune system, other pathologies), the likelihood of "fixing" gardnerellosis in a man is quite high. As a result of this, an inflammatory process occurs, accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.
Main reasons
The causes of gardnerellosis in men are inappropriate to consider, since infection occurs only after sexual contact with a sick partner. As already noted above, the bacterium independently leaves the body within 2-3 days. However, the presence of certain factors can favorably affect the disease. The following disorders and disorders often act as a trigger for the development of the pathological process:
- reduced immunity;
- frequent emotional distress;
- physical overwork;
- chronic diseases of the genitourinary sphere;
- prolonged use of antibiotics;
- venereal diseases.
In a man, gardnerellosis, if it is absolutely healthy, may not manifest at all. However, he will be a carrier of infection and can infect a partner during any sexual contact.
Infection pathways
Doctors are considering 3 possible routes of transmission:
- Sexual. This is the most common infection. With unprotected sexual contact, the risk of infection is almost 100%.
- Vertical. Gardnerella vaginalis can be transmitted from mother to child during delivery. However, the risk of contracting is negligible. Many scientists dispute this mode of transmission of bacteria. In girls, before the onset of menstruation, gardnerella is extremely rare. Cases of infection of boys in childbirth are generally not known to science.
- Contact household. Sometimes gardnerella is transmitted through personal hygiene items and wet underwear. In medicine, several cases have been described when the bacterium was found in young girls with vaginosis and in boys with balanoposthitis.
Thus, sexual contact is the most likely option for gardnerellosis infection in men. Other methods are technically possible, but the risk is negligible.
Clinical picture
The incubation period of the disease is from 3 to 10 days. Sometimes it lasts up to 5 weeks.
Most often, the infection does not manifest itself, and the man at the same time is its hidden carrier. Active reproduction of bacteria in the body leads to inflammation of the urethra - urethritis. Therefore, the symptoms of gardnerellosis in men are in many ways similar to the manifestations of this pathology. First of all, the patient addresses the following complaints:
- The appearance of uncharacteristic discharge from the urethra. Usually they are watery, have a smell and a greenish tint.
- Darkening of the glans.
- Skin rash on the penis.
- Discomfort and itching in the groin.
- Soreness during intercourse.
If the above symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. A male urologist is involved in the treatment of gardnerellosis in men.
The complicated course of the disease
Pain and burning during urination, uncharacteristic discharge and discomfort in the groin - all these symptoms quickly disappear on their own. Therefore, men rarely seek medical attention in a timely manner. Gardnerellosis can result in complications such as pyelonephritis, epididymitis or cystitis. The number of recorded cases of an unfavorable course of the disease is negligible. However, every man must know the symptoms, based on which it is possible to identify the development of complications, in order to inform the doctor about them.
With pyelonephritis, an increase in temperature is observed up to 39 degrees, muscle aches. Symptoms of cystitis are largely similar to manifestations of prostatitis. The only difference is that discomfort appears only when urinating. In the case of epididymitis, patients complain of pain in the testicular region, which can give off to the sacrum or lower back. The appendages of the testis greatly increase in size, the skin turns red here.
Symptoms of a partner’s disease
In order to prevent infection, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms of the disease in the female sexual partner. First of all, abundant vaginal discharge with a fishy smell appears . Their shade can vary from grayish white to yellow. After intimate contact, these signs are especially intensified. When they appear, you need to immediately begin treatment, and the man should be tested for the identification of Gardnerella vaginalis.
Diagnostic Methods
It is not possible to diagnose "gardnerellosis" in men from a photo or only based on a clinical picture. If a patient is suspected of having a disease, the doctor first takes a smear from the urethra, performs a Gram stain and examines it under a microscope. Even the presence of squamous cells with gardnerella is not evidence that the inflammation started precisely because of this bacteria. Therefore, more accurate analyzes are additionally assigned. This is a PCR quantitative method and bacterial culture. If the results show that the number of bacteria in 1 ml of material exceeds the permissible norm, a preliminary diagnosis is confirmed.
How to treat gardnerellosis in men?
As a rule, the treatment of the disease is based on the use of antibacterial agents. Medicines should be selected by the doctor, taking into account the results of determining the pathogen's response to antibiotics. Usually, treatment takes no more than two weeks. During this period, it is important for the patient to observe the following recommendations:
- refusal of sexual activity;
- exclusion of spicy and spicy food from the diet;
- limitation of physical activity;
- refusal to visit saunas and baths;
- prevention of emotional upheaval.
Most often prescribed local drugs for the treatment of gardnerellosis in men. Oral medication is usually accompanied by many side effects. Well proven gels "Dalacin" and "Metrogil".
When local treatment fails, and the disease is accompanied by complications, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Preference is given to medicines from the group of lincosamides or tetracyclines. In order to avoid intestinal dysbiosis after taking oral preparations, pre- and probiotics are additionally prescribed to patients. The latter include lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, necessary for the normal operation of the gastrointestinal tract. Prebiotics contain components for the vital activity of these bacteria.
During the treatment of any infectious disease, special attention is paid to the state of the immune system. Therefore, general strengthening drugs are added to the main course of therapy. These include the following: Immunal, tincture of Eleutherococcus, various vitamin and mineral complexes. If the body’s defenses are weakened, immunomodulators may be needed.
Prognosis for recovery
The timely treatment of gardnerellosis in men has a favorable prognosis for recovery. After the end of the course of therapy, a second examination is required.
After the destruction of bacteria in the body, the patient does not develop immunity resistant to it. Therefore, re-infection is not excluded. To avoid relapse, it is important to undergo treatment at the same time as the sexual partner.
Prevention Methods
Prevention of the disease is reduced to observing the rules of personal hygiene and to the use of barrier contraceptives. In the second case, we are talking only about condoms. It is worth considering that they are still not a panacea for all pathologies. The risk of infection is negligible, but still exists. Therefore, casual sexual contact is best avoided. With the appearance of symptoms of gardnerellosis in men, only a doctor should be involved in the treatment and diagnosis.
Also, for preventive purposes, specialists give the following recommendations:
- If a female partner has symptoms of gynecological diseases, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is unacceptable to engage in self-medication, which can only aggravate the course of pathology.
- When a doctor confirms bacterial vaginosis at the doctor’s appointment, a man should also be examined.
- Gardnerellosis is a non-dangerous disease, if not accompanied by a complicated course or other pathologies. If the man is absolutely healthy, the bacterium will independently leave his body within 2-3 days. With weakened immunity, serious therapy will be required. The doctor at the reception should tell about the causes of gardnerellosis in men and symptoms.
- Treatment is usually prescribed for both partners. In this case, it is important to use the same drugs during the time indicated by the doctor. The entire period of therapy is important to follow a diet and refrain from intimacy.
Compliance with the listed recommendations allows to minimize the risk of infection with gardnerellosis. However, they do not exempt partners from regular screening by specialized specialists for preventive purposes.