Signs of Bacterial Vaginosis

By Kristi Patrice Carter

Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common cause of discharge and vaginal infection of American women. It is also known as Vaginitis. Bacterial Vaginosis results from an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. 

Women suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis often notice a strong fishy or unpleasant musky odor particularly after sexual intercourse.

Bacterial Vaginosis is considered a mild infection and the actual cause of the disease is not known. Though you can’t catch it from someone, women who have not had sex are rarely affected by Bacterial Vaginosis. However, women with multiple sex partners or who are currently with a new sex partner are more likely to develop the infection.

To understand how Bacterial Vaginosis might occur, you need to understand how the vagina’s natural flora functions. In the vagina, there is a greater balance of what’s considered to be good bacteria. These bacteria are of the same type that you might eat in yogurt—lactobacilli. Also present are the bad bacteria, but the good bacteria keep them in balance. When Bacterial Vaginosis occurs, the balance shifts toward the bad bacteria as they overtake the natural good bacteria flora.

If you think you have Bacterial Vaginosis, you must seek treatment from your doctor. If the infection is left untreated, it can spread up into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause a more serious infection. For pregnant women, treatment is especially important because the infection can travel up into the uterus and cause premature delivery or low birth weight in babies.

Diagnosis is made by your doctor by both physical exam and laboratory test.

Treatment includes an antibiotic regimen taken either orally or vaginally and may include Clindamycin or Metronidazole.

Because the cause of Bacterial Vaginosis is not known, the best methods of prevention are unknown as well. However, certain types of behaviors seem to increase the risk of developing Bacterial Vaginosis. Bacterial Vaginosis is rarely seen in women who have not had sex and is more common in women who are sexually active. In fact, greater risk comes when women are sexually active with multiple partners or with a new sex partner. Other risks for developing Bacterial Vaginosis are associated with douching or using an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception. You cannot get Bacterial Vaginosis from toilet seats, bed sheets or other items. When treating or preventing Bacterial Vaginosis, experts recommend limiting the number of sex partners, being abstinent, limiting sexual relations to one non-infected partner, regularly using condoms and not douching.