Doctors' Answers to "Frequently Asked Questions" - Gardnerella


These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

Gardnerella [posted 7/23/98]
Question: What is Gardenella? My wife says it is a STD, and she has it, but neither of us has been unfaithful? Her OB/GYN doctors told her she had it today and both of us are baffled.

Answer: Gardnerella is a common cause of vaginitis. However, it is not clear that it is sexually transmitted. It is associated with sexual transmitted disease risk factors, but no single organism has been identified. Also, treatment of male partners does not change the risk of reoccurrence in women - true of the other STDs. It may be sexually transmitted, but there is some thought that it is vertically transmitted from mother to daughter at birth. Don't get too paranoid about this one. It's very common and little known of the cause.

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Last modified July 23, 1998