Bacterial infections are common. Most bacterial infections are contagious as the bacterium can spread from person to person. Did you know tuberculosis is a bacterial infection but is not easily contagious? Many know tuberculosis spreads through the air and affects the lungs. Are you aware of genital tuberculosis? Read on to know.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When this bacterium enters your reproductive system, it can cause genital tuberculosis. Genital TB can affect the reproductive organs and, in many cases, present with no symptoms. Genital tuberculosis is an extrapulmonary TB – meaning a TB outside the lungs.
Female genital tuberculosis is not a very common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. It is both under-recognised and under-reported. Since it does not have very obvious symptoms, it is often diagnosed late. It is also difficult to isolate the bacteria and the area of infection, which further delays the diagnosis.
When the tuberculosis bacterium enters the female reproductive system, it can affect the following areas:
● Fallopian tubes
● Uterus
● Ovaries
● Uterus
● Cervix
● Vulva
● Vagina
In most cases, it affects the fallopian tube. The next common area of infection is the uterine endometrium, followed by the ovaries. Genital TB rarely affects the vulva and vagina. In most cases where the vulva and vagina are affected, it could be due to an extension of the infection from the endometrium or the cervix and rarely due to coming in contact with infected semen.
Genital TB in women generally does not present any obvious symptoms. Since one of its biggest impacts is on fertility, if a woman is unable to conceive, the doctor can check for genital TB. She may also experience the following:
● Pelvic pain
● Issues with menstruation – irregular periods, no periods, heavy or long periods, or heavy bleeding
● Unusual vaginal discharge and pain dyspareunia
Diagnosing genitial TB in women is very complicated. A woman's infertility could be a combination of factors. If a woman has chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic vaginal discharge, unexplained infertility, or is not responding to regular fertility treatment before the infection, diagnosis can become very difficult.
Doctors will use a combination of methods to diagnose genital TB in women. They will take note of her health history, do a physical examination to see if TB has affected other areas of her body, and also perform a gynaecological exam.
Female genital tuberculosis can be sexually transmitted from one person to another. In most cases, it spreads from the lungs or other organs to the genital area. High-risk factors for female genital tuberculosis are:
● Poverty
● Overcrowding or too many people living in a small space
● Lack of proper healthcare facilities
● Drug abuse
● Kidney issues
● Diabetes
● HIV infection
Female genital TB can cause primary or secondary infertility in the following ways:
1. The infection can block one or both fallopian tubes and cause ciliary damage, adhesions, or mass formation in the tubes, which can affect fertilisation and embryo implantation.
2. It can cause endocrine dysfunction, ovarian dysfunction ,chronic anovulation, decrease the production of progesterone, or reduce the quality of the embryo.
3. It can cause defective endometrial receptivity, which can interfere with the body’s response to endometrial markers. This, in turn, can lead to implantation failure of a fertilised ovum. This can also cause IVF to fail repeatedly.
4. Chronic Pelvic pain will compromise quality of life
5. Increases the ectopic pregnancy
6. Sexual Dysfunction
Health issues like fever ,night sweats , weight loss ,loss of appetite
The treatment for genital TB in women is very similar to treating pulmonary TB. Doctors prescribe a combination of antibiotics for 6 – 9 months. Ensure you complete the full course of antibiotics to effectively get rid of the bacteria from your body. Remember, the TB bacterium is harder to eliminate than most other bacteria.
In rare cases, if the infection leads to a collection of pus in some area, your doctor might suggest surgically removing it.
Yes, you can. Since it is a communicable disease caused by a bacterium, you can prevent female genital tuberculosis in the following ways:
● Follow good hygiene. It is the first step in preventing bacteria from entering or infecting any body part.
● Abstain from sexual relations and close contact with any person diagnosed with genital TB.
● If you are travelling to a country with a high TB rate, get checked after returning from that country. Check with a doctor and learn the dos and don'ts, and make a note of the medicines you can use.
● Always practice safe sex.
Female genital tuberculosis is a type of tuberculosis that affects the female reproductive organs. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, do not hesitate to consult a doctor and get checked for TB. Even if you are living in a country with a very low rate of TB, it is always safer to get a proper test to rule out possibilities.
1. What are the symptoms of tuberculosis in a woman?
● Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs and the respiratory system. Some common symptoms of tuberculosis in women are bad cough for 3 weeks , pain in the chest, loss of appetite, coughing up blood, fatigue, weight loss, fever, or chills.
2. How do you confirm genital TB?
● The most effective way to confirm genital TB is through a proper medical test. A urine test, urine culture test, and a regular blood test can help identify the bacterium if present. Follow up with a doctor and let them review the tests and confirm.
3. What is the most common presentation of genital TB?
● One of the most common symptoms of genital TB is pain in the pelvis or abdomen area. Tuberculosis can spread easily and affect other organs, too.
4. Is genital TB life-threatening?
● No, it is not life-threatening, and medications can help clear the infection. However, if left unattended for too long, it can affect one's fertility in multiple ways.
5. What are test one should do ?
USG, HSG, MRI ,Skin test , endometrial biopsy, mantoux test
