Bacterial vaginosis is a disease that occurs in the vagina and is considered to be a type of vaginal inflammation. The root cause for this disease is the imbalance of bacteria in the vagina - there is usually an overgrowth of bacteria thereby affecting the natural balance of bacterias in the vagina. The change is usually evident when there is a significant increase in anaerobic bacteria present in the vagina - this increase of bacterial presence ranges from 100% to 1000%. Although this disease can occur to a woman of any age, it commonly occurs to women who are in their reproductive years. This disease may go away on its own but is usually treatable with antibiotics and consumption of probiotics can aid in the prevention of re-occurrence.
Although bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection, sexual activities have been studied with the presence of bacterial vaginosis microbiota. They were found below:
Bacterial Vaginosis is diagnosed by getting a swab from inside the vagina. This swab is tested in the laboratory and the diagnosis is confirmed through the following criteria:
Although there is no named root cause of bacterial vaginosis, there are many risk factors identified for bacterial vaginosis, these include the following:
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Get tested for STDsAnybody can have Bacterial Vaginosis if they are not sexually active. However, people who are engaged in below activities are even at higher risk of getting the disease:
Although bacterial vaginosis can go away on its own, if a person acquires it - they have a higher risk of getting sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and even HIV/AIDS.
Additionally, if you have a female partner then it is highly likely that you will transmit the virus to your partner.
For women who are still in their reproductive years, bacterial vaginosis can cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - a disease that increases the risk of fertility.
Lastly, if a woman who has bacterial vaginosis undergoes gynecologic surgery, then they have also an increased risk of getting a post-surgery infection.
Yes. Like most infections, bacterial vaginosis can be cured with the use of antibiotics. The most common antibiotics issued are clindamycin and metronidazole. These medicines can come in the form of tablets, gel or cream.
Yes. Being diagnosed and treated from Bacterial Vaginosis does not guarantee that you won’t be affected again. If you are treated through antibiotics, then there is a high chance that the disease will re-occur again within three months. If this occurs, then your doctor would have to recommend a longer time for the treatment of the disease.
Most women who have affected with bacterial vaginosis do not present any symptoms but some experienced the following symptoms:
Anybody can get bacterial vaginosis, even those who are not sexually active but having a monogamous sexual partner will decrease your chance of getting bacterial vaginosis from being transmitted on to you.
Written by Mark Riegel, MD
Yes. Bacterial vaginosis is easily treated.
Bacterial. Caused by various bacteria.
Antibiotics. Metronidazole or Clindamycin taken for 5 to 7 days.
Upto 2 weeks. One to two weeks can be needed for symptoms to fully disappear.
No. Sex with female partners should be avoided to prevent spread of the infection.
Yes. Doctors are unsure of the precise cause of bacterial vaginosis.
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