Bartholinitis during pregnancy: symptoms, causes, treatment and recommendations of a gynecologist

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The female body is particularly sensitive to various diseases during pregnancy. Bartholinitis is no exception. This disease poses a threat to both the expectant mother and the fetus inside the womb.

Medical certificate

Bartholin's glands are paired organs that are located in the vestibule of the vagina. Their main purpose is to develop natural lubrication. It prevents damage during an intimate act. Such secretions appear both during mechanical action and during sexual arousal.

Bartolinitis is an inflammatory disease. It is characterized by the formation of a purulent abscess in one of the glands. Over time, it swells, causing pain. Pathogenic microflora penetrates into the tissues of the mucous membranes through microscopic damage, causing infection of the organ.

Is bartholinitis dangerous during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a woman is worried not so much by inflammation and the discomfort that accompanies it, but by the purulent contents of the formation. It initially accumulates inabscess or cyst, but rather quickly the pathogenic microflora goes beyond the focus.

Once in the blood, the infection threatens the development of the fetus. In the early stages, bartholinitis can lead to spontaneous miscarriage or fading. The development of an acute inflammatory process 1-2 weeks before birth threatens to infect the child when it passes through the birth canal. As a result, after the birth of a baby, conjunctivitis, damage to the umbilical ring, and pneumonia can be diagnosed. In especially serious cases, meningitis occurs.

Bartholinitis during pregnancy also affects the body of the expectant mother. A developing abscess, in addition to severe pain, causes an external change in the labia. In addition, there are difficulties in the process of delivery. Inflammation interferes with the natural process, endangering the life of the child.

Reasons for appearance

Bartholinitis strikes after puberty. In childhood and adolescence, the disease is excluded, since the glands are not yet a sufficiently formed organ.

Inflammation occurs against the background of the penetration of the following bacteria into the body: streptococci, gonococci, staphylococci, chlamydia, etc. This happens during sexual contact or in the household way.

The following factors can provoke the development of an infectious process during pregnancy:

• frequent hypothermia of the body;
• use of poor quality or too tight underwear;
• pathologies of an infectious nature;
• immunity weakening;
• long-term use of antibiotics;
• poor personal hygiene;
• sexually transmitted diseases.

According to reviews, bartholinitis during pregnancy can have a favorable outcome if therapy is started in a timely manner.

Clinical picture

The disease has 3 forms of flow: acute, subacute and chronic. Each of them has a specific clinical picture. However, the following symptoms are common to all forms:

• appearance of swelling on the genitals;
• temperature increase;
• body aches;
• reddening of the bases of the labia majora;
• purulent secretion when pressing on the swelling;
• painful discomfort during intercourse.

The progression of the disease only complicates the condition of the pregnant woman. A pulsation occurs at the site of the abscess, and the temperature remains stable at around 39-40 degrees. The labia acquire a bright red hue, the inguinal lymph nodes increase. On palpation, their compaction is noted. Impact on the place of swelling is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome.

Sometimes bartholinitis during pregnancy is asymptomatic. A woman may not notice changes in the genitals until a secondary infection occurs. It is characterized by a deterioration in general well-being, weakness and loss of strength.

Diagnostic Methods

To diagnose the disease, it is enough to examine thegynecological chair. However, to confirm the final diagnosis, a comprehensive examination is required, which includes:

• general and biochemical blood tests;
• general urinalysis;
• blood test for HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections;
• smear from the vagina, from the cervix and the affected Bartholin's gland;
• bakposev on flora to determine sensitivity to antibiotics;
• PCR study for the detection of sexually transmitted diseases.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor selects the therapy.

Gynecologist's treatment recommendations

In most cases, patients turn to the gynecologist for help too late and only when there is severe discomfort, pain at the site of the lesion. However, during pregnancy, bartholinitis is diagnosed mainly in the early stages, as women often visit a doctor.

The basis of therapy is antibacterial drugs. They are prescribed even for pregnant women. Currently, there is a wide range of antibiotics that do not harm the intrauterine development of the fetus. The main condition for this is the correct dosage.

Also, gynecologists recommend bed rest for the entire period of therapy. Topical medications may be prescribed if necessary. In especially serious cases, surgery is performed.

Drug therapy

Complex treatment of bartholinitis during pregnancyinvolves the use of drugs from different groups.

Disinfection of the affected area is carried out using Chlorhexidine or Miramistin. To relieve inflammation, ichthyol ointment and Levomekol are usually used in pairs. If the pathology is accompanied by severe pain, analgesics are prescribed. During pregnancy, the reception of "No-Shpy" is allowed. In the case of a chronic course, it is advisable to use drugs to restore the vaginal microflora ("Acilact", "Laktonorm") and immunomodulators.

Bartolinitis is an infectious disease. Therefore, treatment with antibacterial agents is indispensable. It is preliminary recommended to pass a test for the sensitivity of pathogenic flora to drugs of this group. The following drugs are characterized by the greatest efficiency: Azithromycin, Ofloxacin, Ceftriaxone. The standard course of treatment is at least a week.

Surgery

When bartholinitis during pregnancy is accompanied by the appearance of an abscess, surgical treatment is recommended. There are two options for intervention:

• extirpation of the Bartholin's gland;
• marsupialization.

Marsupalization refers to a procedure in which the doctor makes an incision in the inflammation and removes its contents. After that, disinfection of the affected area is mandatory, the installation of a drainage tube to remove a purulent secret. It is removed after a few days.

Removal of the Bartholin's gland is a radical method of treatment. The procedure is performed underanesthesia. First, the doctor makes an incision from the inside, then removes the gland. At the final stage, sutures are applied. This method of treatment is resorted to in exceptional cases.

Help of traditional medicine

The use of prescriptions of folk healers for bartholinitis in women during pregnancy allows you to stop the symptoms. However, such treatment should be used only after consultation with a gynecologist. It cannot be considered the main method of dealing with the disease. The most effective recipes are listed below:

1. Baths based on medicinal herbs. For this purpose, oak bark, St. John's wort, calendula and chamomile are used. Medicinal plants relieve inflammation well, have an antimicrobial effect.
2. Saline compresses. In warm water, it is necessary to dilute a small amount of table s alt. A gauze bandage should be soaked in the solution, squeezed out and applied to the affected area.

If after using the listed recipes the condition worsened, you should immediately consult a gynecologist.

Prevention Methods

In the photo, bartholinitis (during pregnancy, the process proceeds or not - it doesn’t matter) looks rather unpleasant. To avoid its occurrence, it is important to adhere to the following prevention rules:

• take a shower daily;
• wear only high-quality underwear made from natural materials and does not restrict movement;
• Use a barrier during intercoursecontraception;
• eat right;
• avoid stressful situations;
• visit the gynecologist regularly.

With timely access to a doctor, bartholinitis responds well to treatment. At the same time, the harm done to the child in the womb is minimal. The expectant mother should set herself up for a positive outcome of therapy and strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.