Gardnerella Vaginalis: Symptoms, Risks & Treatment

Question
I am 51 years old and have two adult children. I have painful sexual relations vaginally and my abdomin hurts after. I was told ten years ago that I had garderella. What is gardenerella? What happens if it goes untreated? My husband was never treated and insisted he didn't have anything wrong. My period lasts about 2 to 3 days and is heavy, but I can spot for 7 to 10 days. My last period started on July 31 and was heavy for three days but now I just bleed when I wipe myself when I go to the bathroom. I will spot daily. Its now august 9th. Sometimes I feel like theres a discharge or drainage. My stomach feels bloated and swollen but was always flat

Answer
Gardnerella is a bacterial infection of the vagina. It used to be called "non-specific vaginitis". If you had gardnerella ten years ago, I doubt that you still have it. It must have been treated ten years ago. It is not gransmitted to your husband. If you have a foul smelling vaginal discharge and itching, you should be cultured for bacterial vaginosis and can be treated if there is evidence of infection. Your problem with bleeding and spotting is more likely due to perimenopausal symptoms and not due to a vaginal infection. Just keep a record of your bleeding. If you continue to have abnormal bleeding, call your gynecologist and, perhaps, get a sampling of your endometrium to rule out "dysfunctional uterine bleeding" (DUB).