Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal infection that is not a sexually transmitted disease. It is caused by an overgrowth in the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina after the normal, ecological balance of the vagina has been disrupted.
The disruption of the PH can allow the dominant bacteria to multiply. There is a higher likelihood of you getting BV if you are in one of these groups:
• Using antibiotics
• Vaginal douching – this washes away protective acid mucus in the vagina, leaving bacteria free to multiply
• Having multiple sex partners (although it is not sexually transmitted and can be contracted in women who have never had sex)
• Women who have a female sex partner
• Being anemic or sub-clinically anemic during pregnancy
Symptoms
Many women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) don’t have any symptoms. Others produce an excess of vaginal discharge, grayish or off-white in color that has a foul odor that smells like fish.
Diagnosis
Some cases of BV are discovered accidently when they have a swab for another reason. It can also be diagnosed simply by telling your doctor your symptoms (if you are in a steady relationship with just one person he may be happy to diagnose based on symptoms).
He can also confirm this by taking a swab (BV can be seen under the microscope) and testing the PH of your vagina, which is higher in women with BV. If you are in a relationship with more than one person, the swabs will be needed to rule out any sexually transmitted diseases.
Treatment
You may not need treatment if your symptoms are mild as many cases of BV do get better without treatment. However, based on your symptoms a doctor will decide whether you need antibiotics especially if you or your partner are bothered by the odor. If you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection, you should seek medical advice.
If you are pregnant, you should also have treatment because although normally harmless, BV can cause miscarriage or trigger premature birth and it can also increase your risk of getting a uterine infection after the birth.
If you are going to have surgery on the uterus or vagina and you have untreated BV, you are also at increased risk of developing a post-operative uterine infection so the doctor will give you antibiotics to take prior to the surgery.
Women with untreated BV are also thought to be more at risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease.
Antibiotics can be given in the form of tablets, vaginal gel or vaginal cream. You might also want to try a vaginal PH product to normalize your vaginal environment to help prevent future infections.
Sources:
Bacterial Vaginosis, Emedicine Health. Web. 13 March 2012. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bacterial_vaginosis/article_em.htm
Bacterial Vaginosis, Patient UK. Web. 13 March 2012. http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm
Subclinical iron deficiency is a strong predictor of bacterial vaginosis in early pregnancy, BMC Infectious Diseases 2005, 5:55
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/
She is author of the book, "Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation", and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting.
Reviewed March 13, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment1 Comments
getting herpes ,you may be afraid that you will frighten a possible partner away whenever you tell them you've herpes.
March 13, 2012 - 10:11pmbut having herpes is not the end of the world ,i found many good friends on the herpesmate.com. it is a warm-hearted community.
This Comment