Bacterial Vaginosis: What Every Woman Should Know

What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

Bacterial vaginosis, also called BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age. It happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.

What causes BV?

The cause of BV is not understood. Bacterial vaginosis is not caused by a particular organism but by a change in the balance of normal vaginal bacteria or a change in the PH balance.(Vaginal PH is usually between 3.8-4.5). Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the vagina due to the depletion of lactobacillus. The vagina normally contains a lot of good bacteria called lactobacilli and some other bacteria called anaerobes. Too many anaerobes can cause this imbalance. Bacterial vaginosis is most common among sexually active women although this is not always the case. You are more at risk of getting BV if you have multiple sex partners, have an intrauterine device as birth control or if you douche.

What are the signs of BV?

Women with BV may have an abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Some women report a strong fishy odor, especially after sexual intercourse. Irritation and burning when urinating is also common. Some women with BV have no symptoms at all.

How can I find out if I have BV?

There are several test that can be done to establish whether a woman has BV. These include a WET MOUNT TEST where a sample of vaginal discharge is mixed with a salt solution and placed on a microscope slide. The slide is then examined for CLUE CELLS. The presence of clue cells indicates that you have BV.

Another test commonly used is a WHIFF TEST. This involves dropping potassium hydroxide solutions to a sample of vaginal discharge. A fishy odor on a whiff test suggests BV. Also a rise in vaginal PH above 4.5 can often indicate BV. Normal vaginal PH is usually between 3.8-4.5.

* The presence of clue cells, increased PH and a positive whiff test are enough evidence to treat BV.

Is it safe to treat pregnant women who have BV?

All pregnant women with symptoms of BV or who have had a premature delivery or low birth weight baby in the past should be tested for BV and treated if they have it.

SHOULD BV BE TREATED?

YES. Although BV causes no complications in most cases, there can be serious problems if left untreated:

* There is an increased risk of miscarriage during pregnancy or premature delivery (before 37th week)

* There is a risk of developing Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID. This is an infection that can affect a woman's uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, which carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.

* Higher risk of getting other STDs. Having BV can increase the chances of getting other STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.

* It can also cause discomfort during sex which can lead to high anxiety and low self esteem.

HOW CAN I PREVENT BV

BV is not well understood by scientists, and the best ways to prevent it are unknown. What is known is that BV is associated with having a new sex partner or having multiple sex partners.

HERE ARE SOME SOME IDEAS TO HELP YOU LOWER YOUR RISK:

* Don't douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection. This may increase your chances of getting BV. It may also increase the chances of BV coming back after treatment.Most douches also contain hydrogen low concentration (PH) which deviates from the normal level, making you prone to more Bacterial vaginosis.

* Have regular pelvic exams. Talk with your doctor about how often you need them. Many tests for STDs can be done during an exam.

* If you are pregnant and have symptoms of BV or had a premature delivery or low birth weight baby in the past, get tested for BV. Get tested as soon as you think you may be pregnant.

* Avoid using biological washing powder. Washing powder contains harsh chemicals which can irritate your vagina.

* Avoid vaginal deodorants as they can irritate the mucous membranes. They can make your vagina dry and itchy and can cause allergic reaction.

* Intra-uterine device or IUD for short can put you at increased risk of vaginal or uterine infections. If you are prone to repeated attacks of bacterial vaginosis and you have one fitted, try and talk to your Doctor about other methods of contraception.

* Finish your medicine. If you have BV, finish all the medicine that you are given to treat it. Even if you feel better.

How is BV treated?

Most common treatment for BV is with antibiotics, which are medicines prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may give you either metronidazole or clindamycin. Antiobitics does have its place in treating bacterial vaginosis. However for many women they get repeated attacks and end up taking antibiotics over and over again. There is then the risk of developing antiboitic resistance which can be potentially dangerous.

The key to treating BV is to deal with the root cause of your infection and make simple changes to your lifestyle. Encourage healing with a healthy diet, regular exercise, no smoking, daily exposure to the sun, enough sleep and effective stress management. Have regular cervical smears as bacterial vaginosis can encourage abnormal cervix cells.

Fishy Vaginal Odor | Bacterial Vaginosis

Vaginal odor is usually caused from inflammation of the vaginal area. This is almost always a result of infection in or around the vagina. The most common infection that causes this fishy vaginal odor is bacterial vaginosis.

What is bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is an abnormal vaginal condition that is most often recognized by a fishy vaginal discharge. This is a result from an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina. You may have heard of Gardnerella vaginitis. This is what this condition used to be called. It was named after the bacteria that was thought to cause the condition.

New research found that there are several different species of bacteria that live naturally in the vaginal area. Gardnerella is not the only bacteria causing all the odor. The name of this condition has been changed to bacteria vaginosis to reflect these new findings. When all the different species of bacteria become imbalanced, you will notice a vaginal discharge that is associated with a fishy odor.

Bacterial vaginosis is not a STD. It is not passed by sex. It is very embarrassing and disturbing but it is not dangerous. If you notice an unusual discharge, you should have it checked so you can rule out chlamydia and gonorrhea which are serious infections.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?

The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are a foul, fishy odor and a grayish white discharge. The amount of the discharge varies so there is no amount that is considered "normal". There are no other symptoms. If you have a vaginal discharge that is abnormal for you, it is a good idea to see a health practitioner to rule out all other conditions. Some women with bacterial vaginosis will experience no symptoms at all.

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Current research has determined it is an imbalance of natural vaginal bacteria that causes bacterial vaginosis. The problem is it is not possible to determine which bacteria is out of balance. Consequently, locating the offending bacteria and eradicating it is not a solution.

How is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?

Generally, your doctor will perform a pelvic exam to rule out other, more serious, problems. A sample of the discharge will be collected to examine under a microscope. Bacterial vaginosis can be distinguished from other common problems, such as yeast, with this microscopic exam.

There is a particular test your doctor can perform called a "whiff test". A drop of potassium hydroxide testing solution is added to the discharge. The result is usually a strong fishy odor.

How do you treat bacterial vaginosis?

The most common treatment for bacterial vaginosis is antibiotics. Usually, one course of treatment is successful. A small percentage of women will experience recurrent symptoms within a month. Consequently, a second course of antibiotics will be prescribed.

As women, we know that taking antibiotics to cure this problem will almost absolutely cause another problem, yeast infection. This is why more and more women are seeking natural, herbal remedies for this problem. With the antibiotics, you are trading one problem for another, more difficult, problem.

Are there complications of bacterial vaginosis?

Once bacterial vaginosis is treated, the problem is usually over. No special follow-up is necessary if the symptoms disappear. The infection is not transmitted sexually so sexual partners need not be treated.

If you are pregnant, bacterial vaginosis can cause premature labor, premature birth, infection of the amniotic fluid, and infection of the uterus. You doctor will probably test for bacterial vaginosis early in your pregnancy. Any unusual discharge during pregnancy should be reported immediately to your doctor or mid-wife.

Is there a safe, natural remedy for bacterial vaginosis?

Enzara, a product manufactured by Selmedica Healthcare, is a great natural remedy for bacterial vaginosis. It eliminates the need for antibiotics so you can treat your problem without getting another problem.

Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment

If you are amongst the people that suffer from bacterial vaginosis then you may wonder what it will take to take away the itching or the unbearable burning sensation. Maybe you have tried every possible bacterial vaginosis treatment available on the market and nothing worked, but trusts me there is other venture you might consider.

Although you think you might have tried everything (prescription and medication rounds) there are many other options available. Have you ever though about Natural bacterial vaginosis treatment?

But before you go that way you might want to consult your doctor just to make sure you are effectively suffering from bacterial vaginosis and not something else.

Other thing you might want to be informed about is if you intend on using herbal or natural remedy and are already taking medication. Just make sure one does not react adversely with the other.

This particular treatment is very popular and has been proven to work. Many women use it to get rid of their yeast infection. In fact you may already have heard it, this home remedy utilizes the aid of unsweetened yogurt.

There are two simple methods for this bacterial vaginosis treatment to be effective:

Method 1:

This method requires you to paint the walls of the vagina with the yogurt. This method can get fairly messy of course so we recommend you to wear a pad while the yogurt is applied to avoid spillage.

Method 2:

This second method is less messy and requires you to use a tampon. You just need to slightly coat the tampon in the yogurt and insert it into the vagina. Just make sure you replace it every few hours.

Another home remedy you can use as a bacterial vaginosis treatment is garlic. Note this treatment is not for the faint nosed. Garlic is known as a basic wonder-herb, it can do just about anything you need. Of course this treatment is not for everybody if you can’t smell garlic then just don’t use it But many swear by this method. It is a great bacterial vaginosis treatment.

One of the methods you can with use garlic involves peeling it first; you then wrap the garlic clove in a piece of gauze then tying it off with regular dental floss. Then you need to insert it into your vagina. Just make sure to leave a length of the dental floss dangling to be able to pull it out. Repeat every few hours until the infection gets better.

Of course these Natural treatments may not be for you in that case you should turn to other alternative Natural remedies. There are various treatments available from gamut to apple cider vinegar bath to garlic suppositories and yogurt coated tampons.

Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection of American women. Also known as Gardnerella-associated Vaginitis or just Vaginitis, the condition results from an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.

If you have Bacterial Vaginosis, you might notice signs like discharge, odor, itching, burning or pain. Women suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis often notice a strong fishy or unpleasant musky odor particularly after sexual intercourse. Additionally, you may notice more discharge than normal, and the discharge can be thin and of a white or gray color. Many women with the infection feel itching or irritation. However, some women don't have any signs of Bacterial Vaginosis at all. In fact, experts say that more than 50 percent of women with Bacterial Vaginosis have no symptoms at all.

Though Bacterial Vaginosis is listed as a sexually transmitted disease by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease 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 are currently with a new sex partner are more likely to develop the infection.

To understand how Bacterial Vaginosis might occur, one needs to understand how the natural flora function in the vagina. 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 of power 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.

Diagnosis is made by your doctor by both physical exam and laboratory test. On the physical exam, the doctor can observe the irritation and discharge as well as smell the odor. The laboratory test will determine the presence of the bad bacteria, Gardnerella, and the lack of lactobacilli, the good bacteria.

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