In a small amount of erythrocytes in a smear on the flora, they indicate the normal state of the female body. An excess of normal levels of erythrocytes contained in vaginal discharge is considered a sign of some hormonal disorders in the female body and inflammatory processes, which can externally be expressed in the form of unpleasant, and in some cases dangerous diseases. In this article, you can find out why erythrocytes are determined in a smear for flora, what are the normal indicators, and also what deviations from acceptable values will indicate.
Why do doctors take swabs?
Flora smears are a diagnostic method - the study under a microscope of biomaterial collected from the surfaces of the vaginal mucosa in a woman. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the analysis of erythrocytes in a smear for flora is done by everyone: andwomen and men. Representatives of the stronger sex are given a smear to detect any urological disease. Materials for research in men are taken directly from the urethra. In women, a swab can be taken from the urethra, as well as the vagina.
The study of microflora, as well as the cytological composition of the collected biomaterial obtained by scraping or mucosal imprint, allows diagnosing various infectious diseases, including venereal and hormonal diseases. These same tests help detect cancer, underlying and precancerous conditions. A smear is taken both for therapeutic purposes and for prophylactic purposes. During the course of therapy for any disease of the genitourinary system, a swab is usually taken before and after treatment.
Taking a smear is a completely painless procedure that helps to correctly assess the state of the reproductive system in a woman's body. Biomaterials are applied to a glass slide, after which a thin smear is made, which is a micropreparation suitable for subsequent examination under a microscope.
Materials for research are selected with a glass pipette or a sharp spoon, and then applied to the edge of a special glass slide and smeared with the edge of the coverslip. Smears are slightly dried in air or on a burner flame, then stained.
There are only two methods for staining vaginal swabs. Monochrome is used in cytological analysis, as for polychrome, it is used for cytological andhormonal research. After all the manipulations carried out, the micropreparation will be ready for examination under a microscope.
Violation of the smear preparation technique can lead to an unreliable result, but this situation is extremely rare in practice, since vaginal smears are a standard test that does not require any special advanced qualifications from a he alth worker.
Preparation for biomaterial sampling
Women should come to the smear collection prepared. In order for the analysis to be the most reliable, it is necessary to refrain from sexual contact for two days, do not douche, and do not carry out therapy with vaginal suppositories, creams and ointments. It is also recommended to urinate no earlier than three hours before going to the gynecological office. It is advisable to take this analysis on the 5th day of the cycle, when the woman's period ends.
To determine the erythrocytes in a smear for flora, a man must also prepare before taking the material: do not have sex a couple of days before visiting the doctor, do not smoke or drink alcohol a few hours before the test.
RBC norm
How many of these bodies should be present in the biomaterial? Normally, erythrocytes in a smear for flora should be absent. However, a small amount of them is not terrible for the body and he alth.
What number of red blood cells in a smear for flora in women is considered the norm, we found out. Normal is also considered to be available in the field of viewlaboratory doctor, who looks into the eyepiece of a microscope, several bodies. An increased number of red blood cells in women in a smear on the flora indicates an inflammatory process on the cervix. This sign is not direct, but indirect.
A swab from a woman's cervix should be taken with a special brush with silicone bristles. With a strong inflammatory process, the neck of the tissue becomes so vulnerable that the elastic bristles of the brush scratch it to blood, and a huge amount of red blood cells penetrate into the smear.
What are red blood cells?
Normally, erythrocytes in a smear for flora should be absent, or there should be no more than 3 in the field of view. But what is it? The erythrocyte is a non-epithelial element of the vaginal smear. The norm for erythrocytes in a flora smear is not to be located in mucus, but directly in the blood, where these bodies carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissue, and also transport carbon dioxide in the opposite direction. Red blood cells are the most numerous cells in the human body. Statistics show that every 4th cell in our body is an erythrocyte.
In the bone marrow, more than two million red blood cells are formed every second, which are part of the blood and perform their important functions. Red blood cells in human blood are extremely small cells, shaped like discs, slightly concave on both sides.
This shape and this size allow these red blood cells to move freely along the smallest capillary and at the same time have a fairly extensivesurface area, thus enabling gas exchange.
Cells entering the smear
On the mucous membrane of the cervix or vagina, red blood cells can only get together with blood. These bodies do not leave the bloodstream on their own. Most often, an increase in the number of these cells occurs when biomaterial is taken to determine erythrocytes in a smear for flora. A large number is due to the fact that the analysis is taken with a shaggy brush, which by chance can slightly scratch the cervix.
This way some blood will get into the material. In these cases, a large number of red blood cells in a smear for flora is not a pathology, but an absolute norm.
Blood can also enter directly into the vagina, not only due to trauma. Erythrocytes in a smear for flora can be increased for natural reasons, for example, during menstruation. These bodies found in the smear at this time are a natural phenomenon, even if they are there in large numbers. Single red blood cells in a smear may appear on certain days of a woman's menstrual cycle:
- during ovulation (usually day 13-15 of the menstrual cycle);
- on the 28th day (just before the start of menstruation).
As mentioned earlier, erythrocytes in a flora smear are absent in the norm, but a large number of them in the material taken directly from the cervical canal indicates the development of cervical erosion or an inflammatory process in this area of the vagina. The reason for the appearance of erythrocytes may beintrauterine contraceptives and hormonal disorders accompanied by blood smearing.
Erythrocytes in biomaterial for cytology
In some cases, erythrocytes in a smear in women can be found in the biomaterial for cytology. This happens due to the fact that the specialist took the smear material roughly and accidentally destroyed the vessels that pass through the delicate tissue of the cervix.
In this case, after taking a smear for several hours, a woman may experience a slight discharge with a small admixture of blood. Of course, under these circumstances there will be a large number of red blood cells in the smear.
In this situation, the presence of blood cells will not be a pathology. The doctor who took the material for the study, mark in the form accompanying the micropreparation, the real reason for the presence of red elements - erythrocytes in the smear, which should normally be absent. The reasons for the appearance of these bodies can be different, ranging from the area of biomaterial sampling to circumstances independent of the patient's state of he alth.
Burns in a urethral swab
Erythrocytes, which were found in a smear from the urethra, may be symptoms of a tumor, stones in the urinary tract. In the urine, blood will never be the norm. This condition indicates acute inflammation, including inflammation of a bacterial nature. The most common reason for the appearance of bodies in a smear from the urethra is traumatic urethritis. The cause of such a pathology is often the conduct of a certain medicalprocedure associated with the mechanical entry of blood into the urethra.
For men
A smear from the urethra in men on the flora is carried out with a special probe, which is inserted into the canal to a depth of about a few centimeters. This procedure is quite painful, unpleasant and may be accompanied by the formation of a mechanical injury on the wall of the urethra.
Women
Smear in women from the urethra is usually taken in combination with biomaterial from the cervix, as well as from the vagina. This analysis is needed to diagnose infectious diseases of the genitourinary tract, discomfort in the urethra and frequent urination. In addition, swabs from the urethra of the fair sex can be prescribed as an additional examination for crops. To take such a smear, the doctor inserts a special applicator 2-4 centimeters into the urethra, and then gently rotates it to collect more epithelium.
The disease infectious urethritis is caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. The main of its signs will be the appearance of discharge with blood from the urethra. The volume of these secretions increases significantly in the morning.
All of the listed diseases will necessarily be accompanied by the formation of red blood cells in the smear.
About flora smear
The normal microflora of the female vagina is quite diverse, it contains a large number of different bacteria. In representatives of the weaker half of mankind of reproductive age, the main microorganisms are lactobacilli, but apart from themalso find ureaplasma (in 80% of patients), gardnerella (in 45% of patients), candida (in 30% of patients) and mycoplasmas (in 15% of patients) - these are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, with a decrease in the immune system that can multiply rapidly, and also lead to inflammation. They require the appointment of adequate treatment. In the absence of any clinical manifestation, such as a pathological discharge with an unpleasant odor or itching in the perineal area, the definition of these microorganisms as a pathology should not be interpreted.
Chlamydia, as well as viruses, can be found in patients who do not present any complaints, but these agents are not considered part of the natural microflora, and their presence indicates a latent infection.
The microflora in the vagina is dynamic, it can change on different days of the cycle. There are periods when the lactobacilli flora dominates and those days in which gardnerella prevails. A significant disturbance in the microflora of the balance of microorganisms, which is accompanied by clinical symptoms, is the basis of such conditions, for example, bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis. Such conditions can often recur, including even the slightest changes in the patient's state of he alth or while taking antibiotics. Especially women who have a family predisposition suffer from this.
The flora smear (also called "general smear") is the first and important step in assessing the infectious and inflammatory process,localized in the urogenital region. Such a smear allows you to quickly identify one of the following conditions:
- Norm.
- Violations of the microflora of the vagina, where bacterial vaginosis should be attributed.
- Infection caused by fungi of the genus Candida, such as thrush.
- Sexually transmitted infections, in particular gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.
- Non-specific, or bacterial, vulvovaginitis. In this case, leukocytes are present in a large amount in the smear. If a huge number of leukocytes is detected and there is a clinic of the inflammatory process, it is possible to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics that destroy up to 90% of bacteria. In the absence of a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to carry out bacteriological culture, since it is impossible to microscopically determine the specific type of microorganism that caused inflammation. Bakposev is usually accompanied by the detection of sensitivity to antibiotics, so you can choose the best drug, as well as achieve the desired effect of therapy.
Flora smear not able to detect:
- Intracellular and latent infections (chlamydia, mycoplasma, herpes, HPV, ureaplasma, HIV). To determine them, the DNA of the agent must be determined by PCR.
- Pregnancy in a woman.
- Precancerous and tumor pathology. A cytology smear is made, the essence of which is to determine the qualitative change in the epithelium using special stains.
Conclusion
Now you know that the content of red blood cells in a smear is not the norm, but some kind of deviation or symptom of a disease. The reason for the appearance of red cells on the surface of the vaginal mucosa can be physiological and pathological. In the latter case, the patient must undergo a course of anti-inflammatory therapy.
