Bacterial vaginosis pathophysiology
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Pathophysiology
Bacterial vaginosis is resulting from replacement of the normal hydrogen peroxide producing Lactobacillus sp. in the vagina with high concentrations of anaerobic bacteria (e.g., Prevotella sp. and Mobiluncus sp.), Garderella vaginalis, Ureaplasma, Mycoplasma, and numerous fastidious or uncultivated anaerobes.
Microscopic Pathology
Bacterial vaginosis is actually a syndrome resulting from an imbalance in the different types of bacteria in the vagina (also called vaginal "flora"). A healthy vagina has numerous organisms that naturally live there. The vast majority--about 95 percent--belong to a type of bacteria called lactobacillus.
There are several different kinds of lactobacillus, at least one of which is responsible for keeping the vagina's pH at normal levels. When these levels become unbalanced, certain microorganisms may overtake the normal flora leading to a low-grade infection that often produces an abnormal vaginal discharge.
