Vaginal infections that affect pregnant women include- yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and group B strep. When vaginal infections are diagnosed early, they can be treated easily. Hence, it’s important for pregnant women to differentiate abnormal discharge from normal discharge. Below, the best lady gynecologist in Newtown has discussed these differences as well as the types of vaginal infections that occur during pregnancy.
Normal vs. Abnormal discharge:
If your vaginal discharge is white, clear, and odor free, it’s a normal or healthy discharge. On the other hand, if you have excess discharge that is cloudy and full of odor, it might indicate a vaginal infection. This happens when the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina gets disrupted.
Kinds of vaginal infections during pregnancy:
- Bacterial Vaginosis: When there is a bacterial overgrowth in your vagina during pregnancy, it can be due to a few shifting hormones. If left untreated, this bacterial infection can continue and result in the low birth weight of the baby. The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include thin, grayish-white discharge, itching sensation around the vagina, and pain during urination.
- Yeast infection: According to a female gynecology doctor in Newtown, the burning and itching might also be caused by a yeast infection (Candida overgrowth). During pregnancy, high progesterone and estrogen levels help create an environment in which yeast thrives. Signs of a yeast infection include pain in the vagina, swelling and thick whitish-yellow discharge, which might or might not have odor, and discomfort during intercourse.
- Trichomoniasis: Trichomoniasis is an STI or Sexually Transmitted Infection. It is one of the most common types of vaginal infection during pregnancy and is easily curable. Symptoms include foul-smelling discharge which is greenish-yellow in color, irritation, and burning during sex, and discomfort while urinating. However, it is estimated around seventy percent of women with this vaginal infection do not experience any symptoms.
- Group B Strep (GBS): People who have GBS bacteria in their body have them in their rectum, vagina, and intestinal tract. Your doctor will test you for this vaginal infection between thirty-five and thirty-seven weeks of your pregnancy. If this infection is not treated, it can be life-threatening for your baby. At the same time, there might be a risk of passing down the infection to your baby. Symptoms include pain and a burning sensation while urinating, as well as a frequent urge to urinate.
Vaginal infections during pregnancy must be dealt with seriously. Hence, you must consult the best lady gynecologist in Newtown at the earliest to seek early diagnosis and treatment.