Practical approaches to examination of women with abnormal vaginal discharge: a review of evidence-based recommendations 2021

Literature review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2021.61.57-65

Keywords:

bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, trichomoniasis, sexually transmitted infections, vulvovaginal candidiasis, microscopy, criteria

Abstract

Abnormal vaginal discharge (AVD) is a syndrome that combines conditions of different origin (microbial/non-microbial) and of different anatomical localization (limited to vagina and exocervix/spreading from the endocervix to the pelvic organs) that cause discomfort and changes in the characteristics of vaginal discharge.
Review objective: to systematize modern approaches to the diagnosis of the most common causes of AVD – bacterial vaginosis (BV), trichomoniasis, aerobic vaginitis (AV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) – in a practical context. Laboratory component of diagnosing the AVD causes should be complex due to the not fully understood mechanisms of regulation of vaginal biocenosis and changes in the virulence of opportunistic and pathogenic flora, leading to an increase in the frequency of mixed forms of vaginosis and their atypical course. The tasks of laboratory tests in AVD are determination of the sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, Mycoplasma genitalium) more often as a concomitant asymptomatic infection in combination with BV or another cause of AVD; confirmation of the suspected cause of AVD (BV, trichomoniasis, AV, VVC); differential diagnosis with more rare microbial causes (cytolytic vaginosis) and non-microbial causes.
Vaginal pH and microscopy of vaginal discharge with an assessment according to the diagnostic criteria for dysbiosis are first line of available diagnostic tests of BV, AV and VVC. They make it possible to differentiate typical AVD causes from non-microbial AVD causes and rare causes of microbial AVD. Additionally, complex modern molecular methods for assessing the vaginal biocenosis can be used.
Cultural methods play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent/complicated VVC and AV. PCR for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and Mycoplasma genitalium is a mandatory component of a comprehensive test in patients with suspected BV, AV or mixed dysbiosis. Patients diagnosed with BV or trichomoniasis has to be tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Author Biographies

O.A. Burka, Bogomolets National Medical University; “DILA” Medical Laboratory, Kyiv

PhD, associate professor at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department No. 1;
Scientific consultant

A.V. Shumytskyi, “DILA” Medical Laboratory, Kyiv

Scientific consultant

L.M. Semeniuk, Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Endocrine Surgery, Transplantation of Endocrine Organs and Tissues of the MoH of Ukraine, Kyiv

MD, assosiate professor, head of the Department of reproductive medicine and surgery

O.D. Koltok, Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise “Maternity Hospital No. 3”, Mykolaiv

Obstetrician-gynecologist

V.Y. Dobosh, Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise “Uzhhorod City Polyclinic” of Uzhhorod City Council, Uzhhorod

Obstetrician-gynecologist

H.O. Islamova, SI “O.M. Lukyanova IPOG of the NAMS of Ukraine”; SSI “CIMT of the NAS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

PhD, researcher, Department of Endocrine Gynecology

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Published

2021-11-25

How to Cite

Burka, O., Shumytskyi, A., Semeniuk, L., Koltok, O., Dobosh, V., & Islamova, H. (2021). Practical approaches to examination of women with abnormal vaginal discharge: a review of evidence-based recommendations 2021: Literature review. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (61), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2021.61.57-65

Issue

No. 61 (2021)

Section

Gynecology

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Copyright (c) 2021 О.А. Бурка, А.В. Шумицький, Л.М. Семенюк, О.Д. Колток, В.Є. Добош, Г.О. Ісламова

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