{"id":1512,"date":"2023-01-02T12:56:58","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T12:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/?p=1512"},"modified":"2023-02-06T13:05:23","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:05:23","slug":"bacterial-vaginosis-bv-the-most-common-symptoms-and-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/bacterial-vaginosis-bv-the-most-common-symptoms-and-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) &#8211; The Most Common Symptoms and Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BV or bacterial vaginosis can be best defined as a vaginal infection that&#8217;s caused by different bacteria. BV is the leading cause when it comes to abnormal vaginal discharge that may occur in women who haven&#8217;t reached menopause yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BV will typically cause a &#8220;fishy&#8221; smell in the vagina and may also trigger irritation. Still, several women experience no symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If left untreated, vaginal vaginosis may lead to poor gynecologic and obstetrics outcomes. Women with untreated BV might have a higher chance of preterm deliveries and be more susceptible to STIs, especially HIV. Also, they may develop infections after gynecologic procedures, such as a hysterectomy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As such, if you suspect you&#8217;re having BV, schedule an <\/span><a href=\"\/carreras-medical-center\/womens-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">appointment at Carreras Medical Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. But first, read this article to learn more about the condition and explore possible options regarding bacterial vaginosis treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>About Bacterial Vaginosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1514\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis.jpg\" alt=\"Doctor and Patient Discussing Something While Sitting at the Table\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/About-Bacterial-Vaginosis.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned above, BV is an infection caused by bacteria. It is the most common vaginal issue for females between the ages of 15 and 44. As a matter of fact, experts estimate that at least one in three women in the US will have bacterial vaginosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Basically, any woman can get a vaginal infection caused by bacteria, even those who are sexually inactive (even though that&#8217;s rare). In most cases, people with BV are sexually active. Generally, the risks of developing bacterial vaginosis increase if you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Are pregnant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have unprotected sex<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use IUDs (intrauterine devices)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have a new sex partner<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have several sex partners<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have a female sex partner<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use douches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Causes and Symptoms of BV\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, a healthy vagina will be home to several bacteria types, just like the digestive system. BV usually occurs when there&#8217;s no balance between these bacteria, and some of them grow faster than others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, it doesn&#8217;t spread from one person to another, but regular sexual activity can raise the chances of getting this vaginal infection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So, it isn&#8217;t sexually transmitted but linked to sexual activity. The scientific community thinks sex might be able to change the vaginal environment, making bacterial overgrowth more possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As far as symptoms are concerned, the majority of patients (around 84%) have no evident sign of bacterial vaginosis. Those who do have apparent symptoms usually experience the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Grey, greenish, or off-white vaginal discharge<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A specific &#8220;fishy&#8221; smell due to abnormal vaginal discharge, which is typically the most intense during sex or after a period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Itchiness or soreness on a rare occasion\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are pretty similar to other vaginal infections. It&#8217;s crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to see whether you have BV or another infection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Yeast Infection vs. Bacterial Vaginosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Both of these conditions are vaginal infections that cause abnormal vaginal discharge, but there are a few differences between them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The abnormal discharge in the case of BV will always have a &#8220;fishy&#8221; smell, while the fluids during yeast infections will look more like cottage cheese and typically won&#8217;t have a strong odor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, yeast infections tend to cause irritation and itchiness, which is rarely the case with BV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastly, yeast infections can be simply addressed with OTC medications, while BV will require a prescription for antibiotics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During the exam, your doctor may take a fluid sample from your vagina to examine it under a microscope. They might test it in the office or send it to a laboratory for further analysis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, in around one-third of all cases, the vaginal infection may resolve on its own without any medical health. Still, it&#8217;s highly advised that women who have the infection seek medical help. This is because untreated cases may lead to other complications, can affect pregnancy, and may make patients prone to STIs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bacterial vaginosis treatment will typically include antibiotics like clindamycin and metronidazole, which either come as topical creams or vaginal suppositories. In other cases, they may come in pill form and should be taken orally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, there are no over-the-counter options that may treat bacterial vaginosis. The best thing patients can do at home is to avoid using products and douches meant for yeast infections, as it will worsen the condition. Remember, seek the help of your healthcare provider for treatment if you have BV.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can You Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, because the scientific community still doesn&#8217;t fully understand this vaginal infection, there&#8217;s no surefire way of avoiding it. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risks of the infection, or at least the recurrent bacterial vaginosis, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Avoiding douches.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Douching can change the vaginal bacteria&#8217;s natural balance. So, instead of using douches, it&#8217;s recommended to practice healthy vulvar and vaginal care.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Not having vaginal contact with things that may have touched your anus previously. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sex toys and toilet paper can potentially transfer the bacteria found in feces to the vagina. To prevent this, ensure that you properly clean all of your sex toys after each use.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Not having several sex partners.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> According to research, women are more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis if they have sex with multiple partners regularly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Using dental dams and latex condoms.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Research suggests that sexual activity can be linked to BV, even though it&#8217;s unclear why.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Wearing cotton-lined or cotton underwear.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Bacteria love moist environments, but cotton can help with wicking away moisture.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Long Does BV Last?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After establishing a proper diagnosis, one round of antibiotics taken for around seven days is enough to eliminate this vaginal infection. Still, people may need another round of antibiotics in about 10% to 15% of cases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, around 80% of women may get the infection again, which means that women should constantly take care of their vaginal health to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>BV and Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1515\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful Female Doctor With Eyeglasses Talking With a Patient.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-200x134.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/02\/BV-and-Pregnancy.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bacterial vaginosis is known to trigger complications during pregnancy, such as early delivery or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/data\/nutrition\/nlis\/info\/low-birth-weight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">low birth weight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in babies. In these cases, you should start your treatment for the condition, whether you have symptoms or not. If you are experiencing the infection while pregnant, your healthcare provider will prescribe medications that are safe to use during this time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>BV and Your Partner<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, male partners don&#8217;t need treatment if they have bacterial vaginosis. On the other hand, if you have a female partner, it&#8217;s highly susceptible that she may also have BV. Because of this, it&#8217;s imperative that she schedules an appointment with her healthcare provider to get treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Compassionate and Expert Care<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While BV is a mild infection, it can lead to more severe conditions and complications if left untreated. Because of this, women should seek the help of their healthcare provider if they are experiencing any telltale signs. Luckily, a simple course of antibiotics is all it takes most of the time to eliminate the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As such, if you are looking for a caring and understanding <\/span><a href=\"\/carreras-medical-center\/womens-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">gynecologist in Hialeah, FL<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, feel free to reach out to our practice and schedule an appointment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BV or bacterial vaginosis can be best defined as a vaginal infection that&#8217;s caused by different bacteria. BV is the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[243],"tags":[496,492,493,494,495],"class_list":["post-1512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","tag-abnormal-vaginal-discharge","tag-bacterial-vaginosis","tag-bacterial-vaginosis-treatment","tag-recurrent-bacterial-vaginosis","tag-vaginal-infection"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1512","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1512"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1512\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/carreras-medical-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}