If you have been experiencing unusual vaginal discharge or uncomfortable vaginal symptoms, you may have a common infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). About 35% of women, usually between 15 and 44 years old, suffer from BV at some point in their lives.
Some people have no symptoms, but if left untreated, BV increases the risk of developing aSexually transmitted infection (STI) and other complications. If you think you might have BV, contact your healthcare provider (HCP) as soon as possible.
What is bacterial vaginosis?
BV is an infection, but it is not an STI.
Your vagina normally has many types of bacteria. So-called “good” bacteria help keep the vagina healthy by controlling harmful bacteria. If the bad bacteria outnumber the good bacteria, the overgrowth and imbalance can cause BV. Women who are not sexually active usually do not get BV, but it is possible.
What puts you at risk for bacterial vaginosis?
Anyone with a vagina can get BV, but certain situations increase that risk:
- Be pregnant. Hormonal changes during this time can encourage bacterial overgrowth.
- Do not use a condom during sexual relations.
- Having multiple sexual partners or a new sexual partner, especially if the partner is a woman
- vaginal douches
- Using an intrauterine device (IUD) as a contraceptive method
- Being black. Black women get BV in double the rate of white womenalthough it is not clear why.
Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.
Not all people with BV have symptoms. The most common symptom is unusual vaginal discharge. Some women describe it as a fishy smell, especially after sex. The color of the discharge can vary from whitish to greenish. Other symptoms include:
- Burning when urinating. This is similar to what you might feel if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI).
- Itching in and around the vagina.
- Pain in and around the vagina.
If you are pregnant, vaginal discharge is not unusual. The discharge during pregnancy is usually thin and whitish and has a mild odor. If you develop thicker, stronger-smelling discharge, contact your doctor.
Keep in mind that fungal infections can cause the same symptoms as BV. If you used an over-the-counter yeast infection treatment to treat your symptoms, but they haven’t gone away, you may have BV.
Read: Vaginal discharge provides clues to your health and fertility >>
How is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
To diagnose BV, your doctor will need to perform a pelvic exam. They will examine your vagina and the area around it. If they think you might have BV, they will take a sample of the discharge and send it to a lab for testing.
Although you cannot transmit BV to a male partner, you can pass it on to a woman couple. Therefore, if you have a sexual relationship with a person with a vagina, it is important to inform that person of your diagnosis.
What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis?
The most common antibiotics used to treat BV are metronidazole and clindamycin. You can take antibiotics in pill form or apply a gel or cream directly to the vagina with an applicator.
It is important to complete the entire prescription, even if symptoms disappear before finishing the medication. Bacteria may still be present and symptoms may return if you stop the medication too soon. There is also a risk of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. Even after completing a course of antibiotics, approximately 10-15% of people needs more treatment. And till 8 out of 10 people You will have a new infection at some point in your life.
What complications can arise from bacterial vaginosis?
Although BV is usually cured with treatment, there are complications to be aware of if the infection is left untreated. These include:
- Pregnancy complications: Untreated BV can cause premature birth and low birth weight of the baby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine BV testing of pregnant women, whether they have symptoms or not. They also suggest that if a baby is born early or underweight, the mother be tested in case she has the infection but has no symptoms.
Read: 11 things that heaviness in the pelvic area could mean >>
How is bacterial vaginosis prevented?
Not all BV infections can be prevented, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
- Don’t douche: the formula can upset the balance of bacteria in your vagina.
- Avoid scented products (soaps, tampons, etc.) because they can cause inflammation.
- Use condoms when having sex.
This resource was created with the support of Hologic.
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