It’s not often that you get this, but if you do, bacterial vaginosis will likely give you an uncomfortable time. Bacterial vaginosis or BV is a form of infection that affects the vagina. When bacteria that are naturally found in the vagina proliferate excessively, it disturbs the natural balance of the female reproductive area.
BV is usually an uncomfortable disease but it does not pose any serious health risks. The exception, however, is if you are pregnant or are trying to conceive a child. Bacterial vaginosis can cause health issues if you are carrying a child. In Canada, BV happens to 10 – 30% of pregnant women. A woman with BV while pregnant is prone to preterm labor, early rupture of membranes, preterm birth, chorioamnionitis, endometritis after caesarian delivery.
What are the signs that you have bacterial vaginosis?
This condition is prevalent among females between the ages of 15 and 44 years. It is possible to have bacterial vaginosis without any symptom, but women usually experience the following when infected with the disease:
- Unusual vaginal discharge. This can be one of the first symptoms that you will notice. Take note of any thin whitish or gray discharge.
- Vaginal discomfort. You may experience itching, pain, burning sensation, or a combination of these in your vaginal area.
- Uncomfortable urination. Pain or burning sensation while urinating is also one of the signs of bacterial vaginosis.
- Unusual odor. Smelling something off? Women suffering from BV usually report a strong fish-like smell from their vagina which is prominent after sexual intercourse.
- External itching. It is also possible that you will feel severe itching outside your vagina.
If you are confusing this with a yeast infection, just remember that the difference is in the vaginal discharge. If you have a yeast infection, your discharge is usually thick, whitish, and does not smell at all.
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
The vagina is home to different organisms and that is just normal! Both the good bacteria and bad bacteria are present in your reproductive area. A lactobacillus strain is present in women’s reproductive area and these good bacteria make the vagina acidic to curb the growth of harmful bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis happens when the bad bacteria grow more than the good bacteria or when the good bacteria population drops from the normal level. This disrupts the normal balance and causes BV.
Just to be clear, BV is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease, but the frequency may increase your chance of catching the infection.
What are the risk factors?
Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis include:
- Having sexual intercourse with different partners or frequently having sex. Your chance of having the infection is higher if you engage in oral sex or vaginal plus anal sex. Doctors, however, do not understand how high sexual activity could warrant the infection, but statistics show that most sexually active women get this. Women who have female partners are also more prone to BV than those with male partners.
- Insufficient production of lactobacillus bacteria strain. Sometimes, your body does not produce enough lactobacillus bacteria or there are normal activities that can reduce the number of good bacteria. Menstruation can bring down the population of good bacteria. So can the introduction of semen during intercourse.
- Douching. Douching is a process of cleaning or irrigating the vagina with a mixture of liquids like water, baking soda, vinegar, iodine, or pre-packed over-the-counter mixes. This method messes up the natural bacterial composition and pH of the vagina, which makes you more susceptible to bacterial vaginosis. The vagina can naturally clean itself, so any rinsing process is unnecessary.
- Using strong soaps, vaginal washes or deodorants, and bubble baths. Chemicals used in scented soaps, bubble baths, and vaginal washes or deodorants can kill off the good bacteria and change the pH of your vagina.
- Birth control devices. An intrauterine device or intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) inserted inside your uterus may cause bacterial vaginosis. The risks increase if you experience irregular bleeding. However, the reason why it causes BV needs to further study and confirmation.
When should you call a doctor for bacterial vaginosis?
If you are experiencing bacterial vaginosis, you should consult a physician. If you want to opt for an online check-up, this is possible through the help of a walk in clinic Guelph. Booking an online consultation is a viable alternative if you cannot visit your local doctor or clinic.
If you are still hesitant to go to a doctor but you are experiencing these additional symptoms, you need to get help immediately:
- Having a new discharge with a strong smell
- Experiencing chills or fever
- Persisting symptoms even after home remedies or over the counter medication
- Having symptoms of other STIs
If it is about your reproductive well-being, do not think twice about seeking medical help to avoid further complications.