Only two people need to be treated for sexually transmitted infections. What to do if the microflora of partners is incompatible? Features of infection depending on the type of HPV

Natalia Artikova

gynecologist

No matter how much we fight for gender equality, the male body in its biology is more resistant to certain diseases than the female body.

It is logical that many people have a question: how can a partner’s possible problems affect women’s health?

Sexual infections

Let's start with what lies on the surface: STIs are sexually transmitted infections. Let me remind you that these include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, herpes (both type 1 and 2), HIV, HPV, and pubic lice. A woman's anatomy is such that her body is more susceptible to these pathogenic protozoa, bacteria and viruses for several reasons:

the vaginal mucosa is much thinner, fragile and vulnerable than the skin on the penis;
a woman “accepts” biological material and stores it for a certain time, while a man, on the contrary, throws it out;
The vagina, where it is dark, warm and optimally moist, is the ideal thermostat for the growth of many microorganisms.

That is why even a casual acquaintance without long-term commitments for a woman is more likely to end in a “sex disease” than for a man whose head was briefly turned by a stranger.

In addition, women are also quite careless: they often confuse the symptoms of an STI with something else, for example, with “thrush”. The need to wear a panty liner does not bother us at all. But for a man, any unexpected moisture from the head of the penis is a reason for terrible concern and a trip to the doctor. A brutal macho man will turn to the doctor in case of any visual change in the aesthetics of his dignity. But ulcers as a result of herpes or syphilis inside the vagina can go unnoticed for a long time.

And most importantly: STIs in men, as a rule, do not have irreparable consequences for them in the form of infertility; they do not have ectopic pregnancies. The most common infection, HPV, which is associated with cervical cancer in women, in most cases does not affect men’s health at all.

The notorious “thrush” and bacterial vaginosis are not sex-related infections, but...

When gardnerella and other anaerobic microorganisms, instead of being transit passengers in the vagina, become the main residents, this causes a number of unpleasant symptoms, including itching and a “fishy smell”. These bacteria are not pathogens for men; there is no analogue to bacterial vaginosis in representatives of the stronger sex - which is why it has not yet been classified as an STI. However, the risk of developing the disease in women is closely related to sexual intercourse. Usually the smell of female discharge appears or intensifies after it. This, of course, causes controversy: should both partners be treated if only the woman has thrush?

Clinical studies have shown that the use of drugs for bacterial vaginosis simultaneously in both sexual partners did not increase the rate of symptom resolution or reduce the frequency of relapses. But the men who received the real treatment were more likely to report feeling unwell than those who received the placebo.

However, there are other studies that have shown that in the long term (several months) condoms reduced the recurrence rate of bacterial vaginosis in women.

So where is the truth? The answer may seem strange: some representatives of the stronger sex ignore simple sanitary rules. In an uncircumcised man, smegma accumulates under the foreskin - a whitish, waxy substance, and if the skin that covers the head of the penis is not pulled back for a long time and everything under it is not washed with soap, then various microorganisms begin to feel at ease and multiply rapidly. Including gardnerella and mushrooms, which in large quantities can enter the vagina during sex, disrupting the normal balance of flora. The problem with recurrent genital candidiasis in women may also be associated with men's hygiene. Clinical guidelines do not support antifungal therapy for both sexual partners; just don't let an unwashed man into your bed.

Antifungal drugs are not prescribed to a partner even if he experiences burning, itching, redness and rash on the penis immediately after sexual intercourse. This condition is called “postcoital hypersensitivity reaction” - a manifestation of allergies both to candida themselves and to antigens that appear in the female vagina when yeast fungi are present in it for a long time. In this case, glucocorticoid creams provide relief.

2013-01-17 12:30:15

Lyudmila asks:

The doctor diagnosed bacterial vaginosis, but did not undergo treatment. Afterwards there was unprotected contact. What are the consequences for me and my partner?

Answers Medical consultant of the website portal:

Hello, Lyudmila! There are three main possible consequences of unprotected sexual intercourse - unwanted pregnancy, nonspecific inflammatory process and sexually transmitted diseases. The presence of bacterial vaginosis (dysbiosis) reduces the activity of local immunity, and therefore the likelihood of the last two events (in the presence of other predisposing factors, including infection in your partner) increases somewhat. The most reasonable action on your part would be to visit a gynecologist again. Take care of your health!

2012-06-04 18:11:24

Evgenia asks:

Hello. I have a problem that after unprotected sexual intercourse with a regular partner, I develop inflammation of bacterial vaginosis, and the partner is completely healthy, no infections have been detected. in his flora smear:
1. leukocytes - single lymphocytes
2. epithelium - small groups of transitional epithelial cells
3.flora-single small.palm.
4. red blood cells - abundantly
Conclusion: the cellularity of the smear is low. The cytogram shows layers of transitional epithelial cells of normal structure. The background of the smear is clean: a single small rod. No cytological signs of inflammation were found.
My smear result during inflammation:
Neutrophils 1-2 in the urethra. Vagina: more than 40 in visual field. Cervix: 10-12 in p.z.
Flora Urethra: single.mel.pal. Vagina: dead.palm and cocci. Cervix: few.palm.and cocci.
Conclusion: AK was not detected in the cytograms of the smear. In the vaginal smear there was a cytogram of bacterial vaginitis. Among the cells of the squamous epithelium, intermediate squamous cells with aggregation and folding predominated, which can be a progesterone background. In the cervical smear, complexes of exo and endocervix cells of a normal structure are determined. A variant of the norm .
We don’t know what to do at all, the gynecologist didn’t really say anything, after my treatment history repeats itself........

Answers Lazarevich Alla Eduardovna:

Dear Evgenia, I’m sorry, but you indicate the diagnosis (bac. vaginosis), and not your complaints after sexual intercourse. Your dysiosis (vaginosis tank) may not be related to your partner, it is an imbalance in your flora. And it directly depends on your flora in the gastrointestinal tract. There is no need for treatment - it is necessary to restore the flora - locally - lactobacilli and orally with the obligatory correction of the microflora in the intestines. In the meantime, you will deal with this issue - use local antiseptics Miramistin or Citeal as intimate hygiene.

2016-11-17 18:16:02

Ksenia asks:

Hello. For a long time I treated ureaplasma parvum, after much suffering it is, that is, it is not there. After that I treated Candida, completed a course of treatment for candidiasis and it is not clear where bacterial vaginosis came from. Tell me, is it possible that ureaplasma has started again and can it provoke it? Or Will bakvaginosis provoke ureaplasma again? And should the sexual partner be treated? Thank you.

Answers Wild Nadezhda Ivanovna:

2016-11-09 10:55:59

Tina asks:

Good afternoon There was a change of sexual partner, unprotected sex, after which I noticed a small amount of blood, not menstrual. I consulted a gynecologist, they suspected cervical dysplasia, cytology showed an inflammatory process. I was tested for STDs using the PCR method and bacterial culture. Bacterial vaginosis and chlamydia trachmatis were detected; the partner was examined using PCR, but nothing was found in him. We have no complaints, discharge or itching. I was prescribed a treatment regimen with antibiotics, suppositories, injections, and then they offered to do cryodestruction. is this true? I haven’t given birth yet and plan to in the future. Is it possible that there is an error in the analysis? What is the best method to retake? They say PCR is a reliable method, but it showed different results!

Answers Wild Nadezhda Ivanovna:

Good afternoon. Treatment is necessary; if you have had unprotected sex, it is advisable for the man to undergo a course of treatment. Cryodestruction is performed on nulliparous women as a preference. Scar changes do not form on the w/m. If a woman undergoes a course of treatment and follows all the recommendations, then it is possible to be treated without cryodestruction - but this can be seen during the appointment. If you have doubts about the examination, you can donate blood tests for lgM, lgG for chlamydia. The PCR result depends on the quality of the material taken, on the medications taken, on when there was sexual activity, when there was douching, on the phase of the chlamydia life cycle, on the person’s immunity. Treatment is necessary, since chlamydia can cause adhesions in the pelvis and cause infertility in both women and men. In addition, the urinary system, eyes, and joints suffer.

2016-03-29 15:34:56

Irina asks:

Hello! The story is this - I have been a permanent partner for the last 3 years. From time to time, I was bothered by copious yellowish discharge, but upon examination by a gynecologist, only bacterial vaginosis was discovered, and was treated locally with suppositories. then she broke up with her partner, and about a few months later, after suffering from sinusitis, she came to see a gynecologist again with complaints about discharge - Trichomonas and an inflammatory process in the vagina were discovered. Treatment regimen - Trikaside 500 mg 3 days 1-7 days, Fromilid 250 mg 2 days 8-14 days, Betadine suppositories at night 1-14 days, Difluzol 150 mg on the 10 day. The discharge has not stopped, but its character has changed, I am waiting for a repeat analysis in a few days.
Question: is it possible that all this time the test results were false negative? Why did the infection appear after a long time and was not diagnosed earlier? Does continued discharge indicate an inappropriate treatment regimen?

Answers Bosyak Yulia Vasilievna:

Hello Irina! It is almost impossible to draw conclusions virtually. I cannot talk about false negative tests. By what method were Trichomonas identified? By PCR method?

2015-02-13 06:21:13

Julia asks:

Good afternoon The situation is this: I changed my sexual partner, and a month later, during sexual intercourse, blood appeared, as if a wound had formed (but the blood had gone away within a month), and an unpleasant odor, I took tests, found Gardnarella and HPV type 16, Prescribed Trichopolum, Hexicon, and after Acelact, before taking Acelact, the smell disappeared, everything returned to normal, as soon as I started using Acelact, everything came back. Not only that, but itching and burning appeared. I stopped putting these suppositories, went to the doctor again, prescribed Unidox Solutab and Vagilak, at the end of the course nothing had changed. And then I went to another doctor, he took additional tests for Ureaplasma spp, ureaplasma parvum, Ureaplasma T-960, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, and for HPV - Cytological examination of scrapings from the ecclesiastical canal. None of this was found. He again diagnosed me with Bacterial vaginosis and prescribed Dalatsin, Viferon suppositories, and Trichopolum for my partner. All the symptoms disappeared, the treatment helped. I finished taking the suppositories a couple of days ago, now my partner said that my discharge has become bitter. Tell me, what's wrong with me again?

2014-09-10 19:29:20

Alice asks:

Hello! The reason for going to the doctor was slightly increased vaginal discharge and discomfort when urinating. The results of the smear are completely white blood cells. Examination results (PCR diagnostics) - Ureaplasma species and Gardnerella vaginalis were detected. After the examination, the doctor diagnosed: urogenital ureaplasmosis, bacterial vaginosis and prescribed treatment: an antibiotic such as maclolide, an antibiotic - tetracycline, Flucanazole, Genferon and Gynoflor suppositories. Please tell me whether PCR diagnostics is enough to make such a diagnosis? Is the treatment regimen the same for urogenital ureaplasmosis and bacterial vaginosis? Will antibiotic treatment make bacterial vaginosis worse? Do men need a different treatment regimen for ureaplasmosis than for women? My husband, with whom I have been married for 6 years and have no other sexual partners, read on the Internet an opinion that ureaplasma should not be treated at all, especially with antibiotics, and now refuses to go to the doctor.

Answers Sukhov Yuri Alexandrovich:

Hello Alice. Go for a consultation with an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist, maybe 2-3 different ones. You need treatment, but no one in their right mind will prescribe treatment for you in absentia. Sincerely, Yu Sukhov.

2013-05-30 14:04:51

Vic asks:

Hello, I’m 20 years old, tell me, I had infections of mycoplasma, uromycoplasma, bacterial vaginosis, the doctor cured me, after treatment I took PCR and IFA tests, and a smear, everything is fine, I discovered a small erosion, the doctor said that such erosion is not necessary treat, it will heal on its own, she did a coloscopy for me, it says ectopia, it was in early March. I recently had unprotected intercourse, the intercourse lasted 4 hours, how can this affect erosion? My partner is clean, I have an hour after intercourse two brown discharge appeared although it was three days before my period, what is it? Is it because of the rub? Or is it an infection again? But from where, my partner is clean, my partner, by the way, starts shaking after me, but then it goes away, and how long does it take for the erosion to heal? and will it heal at all? and is it possible to have unprotected sex??

2013-02-09 11:11:19

Sveta asks:

Hello Ekaterina Dmitrievna. I am 29 years old. I haven’t changed my partner for 5 years. A year ago, I took tests, according to the results of PCR: Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma species, Chlamydia thachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis were not detected. According to the results of the ultrasound, the left ovary was slightly enlarged and no pathologies were identified. Culture results: Escherichia coli 10^4 CFU/ml, Enterococcus faecalis 10^6 CFU/ml. Based on the results of all the tests, the gynecologist did not prescribe treatment. Now, for six months, I have been experiencing an inflammatory process, which manifests itself in the form of itching, irritation and pain in the vagina. But then the itching and pain go away after about 3-4 days until the next cycle. At the same time, for the last two months in a row I have had light brown discharge in the middle of my cycle. I took a culture test at the time of the exacerbation and the results were as follows: Enterococcus faecalis 10^5 CFU/ml, Escherichia coli 10^6 CFU/ml, Candida albicans 10^4 CFU/ml. Based on the results, it turns out that I have bacterial vaginosis, and enterococcus and coli exceed the norm. At the same time, my husband and I are planning to have a baby, but for about a year now I haven’t been able to get pregnant. Is it necessary to restore the vaginal microflora? Is it possible that bacteria kill sperm? Does my husband need to take a bacterial culture test?

Quite often, after a doctor has confirmed a woman’s diagnosis of thrush, the question arises regarding the need and advisability of treating her sexual partner. You should know that thrush is not a sexually transmitted disease. Symptoms of thrush can appear in a woman regardless of the presence or absence of sexual activity. But can men have thrush? And if so, how to treat it?

Experts do not exclude the possibility that a fungus of the genus Candida can be transmitted by a woman to a man during genital contact. In most cases, fungal cells getting on the partner’s penis does not lead to any consequences for the man. Only in some cases is it possible to develop candidal balanitis and/or balanoposthitis. However, in women with a recurrent form of thrush, the partner can be a source of regular reinfection.

There is also a certain risk of spreading infection during oral-genital and genital-anal contact. In the first case, the source of fungal cells can be the oral mucosa, which is very susceptible to fungi Candida and therefore is often their natural reservoir. In the second case, the source of the disease is fungal cells from the intestinal mucosa - rectal ampoules. Thus, a woman can transmit a fungal infection to her sexual partner or become infected from a man.

Treatment for men is provided in the following 4 cases:

1 For partners of women with a recurrent form of thrush, that is, if there are 4 or more episodes of exacerbations during the calendar year
2 In the presence of clinical symptoms of the disease (curdy coating on the glans penis, itching, burning)

Honeymoon cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder walls that occurs in a young girl after her first sexual experience.

The main symptoms appear a few hours after intimacy. The reason for this is the penetration of microorganisms into the area of the genitourinary system, since the obstacle (hymen) has disappeared.

The disease cannot be ignored; the likelihood of becoming chronic increases. In the future, intimacy has a chance to be accompanied by symptoms of cystitis, which may affect the psychological level.

painful sensations, burning sensation during the process;
difficult and slow healing, since during sexual intercourse bacteria move from the vagina to the urethra;
the general condition of the body worsens;
infection of the ground floor through infectious microflora of the phallus and vagina;
low immunity, resulting in favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic flora.

Causes

The main role in inflammation of the bladder belongs to infectious microorganisms that enter the tissues of the genitourinary system in different ways. Often, infections in girls/women occur from the area around the anal ring and vaginal area during sex. This is explained by the fact that under normal conditions, microorganisms of opportunistic flora constantly live in these places and in the future can cause infection.

Men think little about whether cystitis is transmitted from woman to man. They suffer from it quite rarely due to the peculiar structure of the urinary organs: a long, narrow urethra, located far from the peri-anal zone. It is difficult for infections to enter the urethra and the development of inflammation is excluded. But most often a woman becomes infected with cystitis from a man.

This happens during intimacy, when sexual partners change their aggressive microflora (pathogens that trigger the inflammatory process, if the necessary conditions are present). Initially, the infection actively develops in the vaginal walls, on the cervix, then reaches the bladder. Whether the infection reaches its final result or not depends on the following circumstances:

failure to maintain personal hygiene, improper washing of intimate organs (from the anus towards the vagina);
unprotected sex;
constant change of sexual partners;
the use of various objects during sex that injure the organs of the urinary system, which accelerate infection;
weak immune defense.

Cystitis is sexually transmitted if the cause is Candida fungus. Infection and initiation of this process is possible in immunologically weak people. In this case, the candida fungus is transmitted and leads to the development of thrush in the reproductive system (white granular discharge, itching), which is complicated by inflammation of the urethra and bladder.

Manifestations of cystitis occur after complete contact. This disorder occurs due to changes in the bacterial background of the vagina. Deviations are observed even when sexual activity is not active. During contact, women receive an imbalance of microorganisms in the vaginal tissues; these processes primarily affect the urinary organs, in particular the urethra and bladder are affected.

During the life of microorganisms, they spread. Pathogenic flora affects the weakest and closest internal organs. If the immune system is unable to protect itself from spreading, it is possible to become infected with acute cystitis. Subsequently, the disease can become chronic. When such a course of the disease occurs, it can be argued that the inflammation is transmitted during copulation.

What is the difference from an infection?

The disease cystitis has many causes, but the main role is played by infections. Infectious diseases can be very different and manifest themselves in different ways. Bacteria that cause sexual pathological conditions include:

trichomoniasis;
chlamydia;
gonorrhea;
ureoplasmosis.

Infectious penetration into the body occurs as a result of sexual contact. When transmitting inflammation, the provoking factors are microorganisms: streptococci, Escherichia coli, staphylococci. They settle in the body and do not manifest themselves in any way until the appropriate conditions arise.

There are no clear boundaries that would define fundamental differences. Infectious diseases are very diverse and have different manifestations. Bacteria that cause sexual deviations are chlamydia, ureoplasmosis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Penetration of infection into the body occurs through copulation.

Root causes of the disease

Among the diseases that are transmitted from a sexual partner are the following:

mycoplasmosis;
ureaplasmosis;
trichomoniasis;
chlamydia.

These infections are often asymptomatic, but without treatment, foci of inflammation can persist in the human reproductive organs for a long time. A prolonged inflammatory process inhibits the functioning of the reproductive system and often leads to infertility. Even if a woman manages to become pregnant if there is an infection in her body, bearing a child will be complicated.

Is cystitis transmitted from man to woman?

There is every chance of transmitting cystitis to a partner through sexual contact. Most often, the stronger sex is exposed to cystitis during a period of long-term and systematic intimate relationships with a woman who has this disease, which has a chronic or acute form. However, with good immunity in a man, cystitis will not be able to develop, since the bacteria die in the urethra before they have time to enter the bladder.

Cystitis is not a sexually transmitted disease, which means that cystitis cannot be contracted from a sexual partner who has the disease. However, the question of whether cystitis is contagious is still controversial, and both sides of the debate have their own arguments on this matter.

Misconceptions about cystitis in men lead to the belief that you can get cystitis from a woman. Not all women can infect a partner with cystitis, so the myth that you can get sick even after one sexual act remains a myth. At the same time, there are diseases in which a man should still worry about his health. With concomitant sexually transmitted infections, cystitis is still contagious for a man, and it is worth refusing sexual intercourse.

A man cannot contract cystitis from a woman if the disease is not caused by sexually transmitted infections. That is, if the cause of cystitis is E. coli or staphylococcus, then you should not be afraid of the disease. These pathogens already live in a man’s body. And with a strong immune system, fighting them is not difficult, because cystitis is not sexually transmitted, and the male urethra is much longer than the female.

An important factor is that the bacteria that cause cystitis cannot live in an acidic environment, which is precisely the environment found in the vagina. Most pathogens die in it, and if there is thrush and cystitis, then the environment in the vagina becomes slightly acidic, and the bacteria remain viable.

But do not forget that if a woman has sexually transmitted diseases, cystitis is quite easy to get. The source of inflammation in this case is pathogenic pathogens that are sexually transmitted. After such unprotected contact, a sexually transmitted infection first develops, which can be complicated by cystitis.

The opinion that a man cannot infect a woman with cystitis can to some extent be considered erroneous. Cystitis is contagious for a female partner if it is caused by a pathogenic microbe that, during unprotected intercourse, penetrates the woman’s genital tract.

If the pathogen belongs to the normal flora, the risk of getting cystitis increases, but there is no absolute evidence that you can get cystitis from an infected partner. Cystitis takes root only in an environment that is favorable for it, when bacteria fall on fertile soil. They feel best in an alkaline environment, i.e. in case of violation of the vaginal microflora. It is not surprising that in addition to the underlying disease, a woman can get cystitis.

You can also become infected with cystitis from a partner if the urethral opening is incorrectly located. In itself, such cystitis is not infectious in nature. But with irritation of the urethra, microscopic ruptures, it appears as a consequence of microtrauma. After intimate contact, cystitis appears in women, and outwardly it looks like the woman gets cystitis after sexual intercourse. In this case, the sexual partner can be healthy. Persistent cystitis after sex will haunt the patient until urethroplasty is performed.

Despite the presence of such dangerous factors in the development of the disease, it is unlikely to get cystitis after sexual intercourse if a woman has a strong immune system, and the mucous membranes are not damaged and have a healthy acidic environment. However, in order to avoid contracting cystitis from a man, doctors recommend using barrier contraception in case of cystitis in a sexual partner to further protect against cystitis.

The anatomical structure of the urinary system in men determines the fact that cystitis is diagnosed much less often in them than in women. In addition, representatives of the stronger sex suffer much less, since their symptoms are not so pronounced. Therefore, men who suffer from a chronic form of cystitis may not even suspect that they have this disease.

However, they remain dangerous to their sexual partners. Men at risk of spreading the infection are those who:

often change sexual partners;
practice vaginal and anal sex in turn, without using protective equipment;
with non-traditional sexual orientation.

In all of the above cases, the risk of becoming infected with pathogenic microflora in partners increases significantly. Cystitis is transmitted sexually especially well if a woman has reduced protective mechanisms of the immune system, as a result of which she cannot properly respond to the invasion of foreign bacteria and fungi, namely:

trichomonas;
gonococci;
chlamydia;
candida;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
coli;
Proteus and many other pathogens.

Infectious agents that enter the vagina do not necessarily reach the bladder. They may well provoke inflammatory processes here too. As a result, a woman develops vaginitis, inflammation of the urethra and cervix, as well as a number of other problems.

When answering the question whether cystitis is contagious, you need to pay attention to when sexual intercourse occurred. If this happened immediately before and after the end of menstruation, then in this case the risk of disease will be very high. Women with strong and stable immunity can become infected from a partner much less often.

Now let's look at the situation from the other side. Not only men can infect their sexual partners with various infections that provoke cystitis, but also vice versa. Moreover, in the second case this is observed much more often.

Infection is possible if a woman:

does not comply with personal hygiene rules. The vagina is a universal environment for the development of all kinds of bacteria and fungi, and therefore this area must be looked after very carefully and regularly;
lack of consistency in choosing a sexual partner, promiscuous sex life;
recent change of partner.

Is cystitis transmitted to a partner who leads a healthy lifestyle, does not abuse alcohol and smoking, plays sports, that is, has a strong and reliable immune system? Very rarely - in such cases it will be rather an exception to the rule. But men whose immune systems are not very strong are at risk, since in their case the infection can spread throughout the entire genitourinary system.

Inflammation of the bladder mucosa in representatives of the stronger sex may indicate complex health problems. The fact is that along the “path” of infectious agents there are many other organs where they can settle, for example, the prostate is a favorite place for various kinds of pathogenic microorganisms.

Is cystitis transmitted from woman to man? The disease is more often transmitted in women than in men due to the characteristics of the urethra. In the weaker sex, it is smaller and wider - the likelihood of pathogenic microflora entering it is higher. Cases of transmission of inflammation in women are caused by pathogenic processes in the vagina. From there, bacteria have a better chance of moving into the urethra.

If, as a result, disturbances in the bacterial background of the vagina begin, the transmission of inflammation will not take long to occur. Is cystitis contagious for men? A woman cannot transmit cystitis to a man; rather, he is a carrier. However, there is always a danger of transmitting sexually transmitted infections from partner to partner.

Can a woman infect her partner?

Is cystitis transmitted from man to woman (and vice versa)? Is cystitis contagious? Inflammation itself cannot be contagious, but the causative agents of this disease may well enter the body through sexual contact. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

Inflammation of the bladder and genitourinary tract is the most common disease in urology. Almost 100% of women of puberty have encountered manifestations of this pathology. In some patients, cystitis goes away on its own, while others require long-term drug treatment.

The problem with treating cystitis is that ideally, the patient should be treated by two specialists at once - a gynecologist and a urologist. But in reality, it often turns out that a woman who is admitted to urology with severe pain during urination receives a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, drinks them, is discharged, and after a while returns to the hospital again.

Thus, cystitis becomes recurrent - and all because there is a constant infection with a bacterial or fungal strain from a man. In this case, infectious agents penetrate into the urethra and bladder from the vagina: penetration is facilitated by the anatomical features of the female urethra - it is wide and short, therefore bacteria and fungal microorganisms make their way there without difficulty.

Cystitis often develops together with colpitis - vaginal inflammation. Another concomitant disease is bacterial vaginosis. Both pathologies are caused by a violation of the bacterial microflora of the vagina. Foreign bacterial agents can enter the vagina in a variety of ways, including sexual intercourse.

Infection with cystitis pathogens through sexual contact is facilitated by factors such as:

Change of sexual partner;
Having multiple sexual partners;
Insufficient sexual hygiene.

The use of primary contraception (condom) minimizes the risk of infection.

Is it possible to become infected with cystitis through close contact with a patient? Is cystitis transmitted from men to women? How does infection primarily occur, that is, how is cystitis transmitted?

The disease occurs due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms and bacteria into the body. As such, cystitis is not contagious, but the viruses that contribute to its occurrence may well be transmitted from one partner to another.

However, sexual transmission of cystitis is not always possible. This aspect entirely depends on the following factors, in the presence of which infection is quite possible:

weakened, reduced immunity due to any reason;
the presence of causes predisposing to the occurrence of the inflammatory process, for example, a number of concomitant diseases;
hidden, that is, inflammatory processes in the genitourinary area not expressed by external signs.

In modern medical practice, cystitis ranks first in prevalence among inflammatory diseases of the excretory tract. Provided that treatment is started after the initial symptoms appear, the disease quickly responds to the effects of therapy, expressed in taking antibiotics.

However, the disease may well take on a recurrent nature due to the fact that only one of the partners undergoes treatment, while the other is, in fact, a viral carrier. Accordingly, infection between a man and a woman in a couple can occur periodically. In accordance with this factor, if symptoms of cystitis are detected in one partner, the other should also take a course of medications.

You should be aware that infection with cystitis may be more likely if you have a number of the following diseases that are caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria, as well as some other causes:

colpitis, bacterial vaginosis. These diseases are inflammatory in nature and manifest themselves as a result of disturbances in the optimal state of the microflora of the mucous membrane of the female genital area;
other diseases of the genital area, both male and female, caused by viruses and bacteria;
low level of hygiene, that is, there is no compliance with basic rules of personal toilet;
frequent, periodic change of sexual partners, that is, there is no permanent one;
neglect of primary contraception;
significant weakening of the immune system caused by poor diet, the presence of colds, non-compliance with the regime, and so on.

As can be seen from the above, the risk of contracting cystitis between sexual partners is still present. To minimize it, it is necessary to take into account all the factors listed above and appropriate measures can be taken.

To exclude a pathological condition, you must follow some rules:

Avoid promiscuous intimate relationships.
Protect yourself with a condom.
Maintain good hygiene in general, and also wash your private parts immediately before sex.
Do not have sex during menstruation.
Strengthen the body's immune defense and lead a healthy lifestyle.

When the body's defenses weaken, a person becomes susceptible to the effects of negative factors, such as infection. Cystitis occurs due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms enter the human urethra. In women, it is short, so bacteria easily enter the bladder through the urethra and colonize its mucous membrane.

If symptoms of cystitis appear, you should consult a urologist. The doctor will prescribe a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug.

If after a course of treatment the symptoms of cystitis completely disappear, and later reappear after several sexual acts, this indicates that the woman’s sexual partner is a carrier of the infection.

When cystitis is transmitted sexually, pathogenic microorganisms enter the woman’s vagina, which also enter the urethra and move to the bladder, which leads to cystitis. Often, in parallel with this disease, inflammation of the vaginal walls (bacterial vaginosis) occurs. Bacteria that enter a woman's body through sexual contact also provoke inflammation of the cervix.

The female body is most vulnerable before and immediately after menstruation. At this time, the risk of sexual transmission of infection is highest. Also, a woman’s genitourinary system may be at risk from cystitis if she has recently changed partners. Pathogenic microorganisms enter the woman’s genitourinary system during promiscuous sexual activity, especially if barrier contraception is not used.

Whether cystitis is contagious or not in each specific case depends on many factors. It matters how susceptible the partner is, what are the causes of cystitis, as well as the form of the disease, because with acute cystitis the amount of pathogenic microflora on the mucous membranes increases significantly.

Whether cystitis becomes contagious or not depends on the factors in the development of the disease, among which are the following:

bacteria entering the unhealthy vaginal mucosa;
mechanical irritation of the vagina and urethra, which contributes to the appearance of microtraumas;
ascending spread of the disease in the presence of a “dormant” infection.

With strong immunity, it is almost impossible to infect a partner with cystitis, because his body will actively resist the pathogen and neutralize it. It is also worth considering what causes cystitis - not all forms of cystitis pose a particular danger. For example, cystitis is not contagious if it is an allergic form of the disease.

This is a strong recommendation from specialized experts. In this case, we are not talking about whether cystitis is contagious or not. The fact is that patients will not experience any positive impressions from the process of sexual intercourse itself.

Firstly, sex will be accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen. It is also possible that a burning sensation may appear after sexual intercourse is completed. This is mainly true for women. But men shouldn’t relax either. Secondly, regular intimate life significantly complicates the process of treating the disease. It becomes much more difficult for such people to recover.

And thirdly, the risk of spreading infection increases. Many people who are looking for an answer to the question of whether cystitis is transmitted or not are sure that it is impossible to contract this disease from a partner. Indeed, cystitis itself is not contagious, since the inflammatory process itself cannot be transmitted to another person.

However, what provokes the development of the disease? Infectious lesion. Moreover, the causative agent of the disease can be not only pathogenic microorganisms that have entered the body from the outside, but also native, so-called opportunistic microflora. Accordingly, the infection can (and almost always happens) be transmitted to a sexual partner.

How to treat inflammation?

Although the genitourinary system in men and women differs from each other, the therapy for eliminating the disease is almost the same. In case of acute cystitis, the patient must remain in bed, consume plenty of fluids, follow a special diet that excludes salty, spicy foods and give up alcohol.

It is useful to brew and drink herbal decoctions: kidney tea, bearberry, lingonberry leaves and other diuretic herbs. To alleviate pain, take warm baths and use a heating pad.

In case of severe pain, the doctor may prescribe analgesic drugs (Papaverine, Drotaverine, Pentalgin) to relieve spasms.

In the chronic form of cystitis, treatment is aimed at restoring the functions of urine flow, as well as neutralizing infectious foci, this also includes chronic tonsillitis.

To reduce the number of infectious bacteria, antibiotics are used to treat inflammation. However, such products destroy both beneficial and pathogenic flora. During therapy, there is no need to provoke the entry of foreign organisms into the organs. To do this, it is necessary to carefully observe personal hygiene, and also refrain from acts of copulation.

Risk factors

So, we have determined that during sexual intercourse it is not cystitis itself that can be transmitted, but the infection that provoked it. This does not mean that any intimate intimacy can result in this trouble, but it must be taken into account that the risk is quite high. There are many factors that provoke a significant increase in the likelihood of an infectious lesion of the genitourinary system during sex with a partner suffering from cystitis.

These factors include:

hormonal imbalance - age-related, as well as cyclical changes in hormonal levels cause a decrease in the production of the hormone estrogen. As a result, the entire genitourinary system suffers. This increases her susceptibility to cystitis;
too intense sexual intercourse. A partner's rudeness can result in excessive irritation of the urethra and vagina. As a result, infectious agents can penetrate damaged mucous membranes, and from there into the bloodstream;
abuse of alcoholic beverages, drugs, and medications. They all contain aggressive substances that tend to accumulate and irritate the bladder. This is an important reason for the development of cystitis;
hypothermia of the body. Almost every second woman has experienced cystitis precisely because of this provoking factor. There is nothing strange in the fact that the peak incidence of this disease occurs during the cold season. It is enough to simply dress inappropriately for the weather or sit on a cold surface. The reason is that under the influence of low temperatures, the vessels supplying the organs of the genitourinary system, including the bladder, narrow, which is why they deteriorate the supply of blood and beneficial microelements to the organs. This is an excellent opportunity for various bacteria and fungi to provoke inflammation, and they, as a rule, use it very often;
stagnation of blood in the pelvis. A sedentary lifestyle traditionally leads to this very harmful phenomenon. Blood stagnates, provoking the development of various pathologies, including cystitis;
artificial urinary retention. Many people underestimate this factor, and it’s completely wrong. Ideally, you need to visit the toilet “little by little” five to six times a day. It is strictly not recommended to endure it. This is not only harmful to the muscle tissue and nerve endings of the bladder, but also provokes stagnation of urine, as a result of which pathogenic microorganisms begin to develop in it, provoking inflammatory processes.

Is it possible to infect a partner with cystitis? Yes, and the likelihood of this is very high. Therefore, first take care of a complete cure for this unpleasant illness, and only then indulge in love pleasures.

Prevention

It is not difficult to protect yourself from cystitis if you follow some preventive measures. If a person leads a healthy lifestyle and strengthens the immune system, the likelihood of sexual transmission of infection, which provokes cystitis, is low.

Barrier contraception during sexual intercourse with a partner whose health status is unknown is mandatory. Using a condom reduces the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted diseases that can cause cystitis.

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal diseases and a common cause of unpleasant odor, vaginal discharge and itching in the intimate area.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis often causes the following symptoms:

Unpleasant “fishy” odor from the vagina. The smell may be constant or appear during or after sex.
, sometimes resembling mucus. Discharge can be heavy or moderate.
Irritation, itching, discomfort, redness of the skin in intimate areas.
Pain and cutting during urination.
Dryness and...

You are more likely to have bacterial vaginosis if:

Have you recently taken antibiotics?
You recently changed your sexual partner
You have had two or more sexual partners in the past few weeks
You have
Have you recently used a jacuzzi or taken a bath?
Have you recently douched?
You don't comply

All of the above factors are not the direct cause of inflammation, but they disrupt the vaginal microflora and predispose to the development of bacterial vaginosis.

When does a smear indicate bacterial vaginosis?

Most women find out that they have bacterial vaginosis precisely by the result. If a woman has bacterial vaginosis, the following changes are detected in the smear:

many key cells
many cocco-bacillary forms (bacteria that look like rods and cocci)
abundant coccal flora
leukocytes are elevated or within normal limits
presence of mobiluncus
The pH of the secretions is above 4.5

Bacterial vaginosis is often combined with other infections, so the smear may contain changes characteristic of other diseases, for example, candidiasis (),.

Gardnerella and bacterial vaginosis

Sometimes bacterial vaginosis is mistakenly called gardnerellosis, since most often it is the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis that causes inflammation in this disease.

However, gardnerella is often found in the vagina in healthy women who do not have inflammation. That is why, if you have been diagnosed with gardnerella, but there are no signs of inflammation (there are no symptoms of inflammation and the smear result is normal), then there is no question of any bacterial vaginosis, and you are fine.

Why is bacterial vaginosis dangerous?

The bacteria that cause inflammation in bacterial vaginosis are very sensitive to standard antibiotic treatment, and the disease is easily treatable. But if bacterial vaginosis is not treated, it can cause complications:

- inflammation of the uterus.
Salpingitis is inflammation of the fallopian tubes.
Adnexitis is inflammation of the uterine appendages (fallopian tubes and ovaries).
Infertility.

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can lead to premature birth.

How to treat bacterial vaginosis?

If bacterial vaginosis appears for the first time:

Metronidazole 500 mg (Trichosept): one tablet 2 times a day for a week, or
Vaginal gel Metronidazole 0.75% (Rozex): insert one applicator into the vagina before bed for 5 days, or
Clindamycin vaginal cream 2% (Clindacin): insert one applicator into the vagina before bed for 7 days.

If bacterial vaginosis does not go away with the prescribed treatment, the gynecologist will prescribe an alternative treatment:

Tinidazole: 2g per day for 2 days, or 1g per day for 5 days, or
Clindamycin 300 mg: one tablet 2 times a day for a week.

Probiotics in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Probiotics are preparations that contain the same beneficial bacteria, which make up the normal microflora of the vagina and help protect against infections.

The following probiotics are used for bacterial vaginosis:

Gynoflor: vaginal tablets
Vagilak: tablets for oral administration

The regimen for taking probiotics for bacterial vaginosis is as follows:

7 days of daily use
7 days break
7 days of re-appointment

This regimen of taking probiotics will avoid the return of infection several months after the end of antibacterial treatment. According to the manufacturers, taking these drugs is not prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can cause it, so treatment is necessary. It is recommended to take medications prescribed to pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy (not earlier than 13 weeks):

Metronidazole 500 mg: one tablet 2 times a day for 7 days
Metronidazole 250 mg: one tablet 3 times a day for 7 days
Clindamycin 300 mg: one tablet 2 times a day for a week

Local treatment (vaginal ointments or creams) helps eliminate the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, but does not reduce the risk of complications of the disease during pregnancy (premature birth).

Attention: These treatment regimens are indicative and may be changed by your doctor. Before using medications, be sure to consult your gynecologist!

Does my husband (sexual partner) need treatment?

It is known that in 80% of men whose sexual partners suffer from bacterial vaginosis, the main causative agent of this disease is found in the urethra Gardnerella vaginalis and other bacteria. This means that the bacteria "move" from the vagina into the man's urethra during unprotected sex.

And, nevertheless, men should be treated No need. Numerous studies have shown that treatment of sexual partners does not affect the recovery of women and does not reduce the chances of relapse.

Treatment for your partner necessary if this is not the first time you have developed bacterial vaginosis, or if you have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases.