Usually, the body is able to maintain the ideal balance.
But if the balance is disrupted, certain types of bacteria can overgrow and cause symptoms.
BV is readily treated and usually doesn’t cause any other health problems.
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This article looks at the symptoms, causes, and risk factors of bacterial vaginosis.
It also explains how BV is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
Recap
Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include a vaginal discharge with a fishy smell.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Itching, redness, swelling, burning with urination, and bleeding with intercourse are also common.
This allows “bad” bacteria to grow excessively.
Sex can instigate BV by introducing new or excessive amounts of bacteria into the vagina.
Smoking, douching, and IUDs can also increase the risk.
Additional tests may be performed to rule out other possible causes, such as ayeast infectionorgenital herpes.
The first-line options are Flagyl (metronidazole) andclindamycin.
Both are highly effective in treating BV and have relatively mild side effects.
In addition to antibiotics, several supportive remedies may help.
During treatment, wear looser pants or skirts to reduce vaginal moisture and heat that can promote bacterial growth.
The first-line antibiotics used to treat bacterial vaginosis include oral metronidazole (a.k.a.
Flagyl), topical metronidazole, and topical clindamycin.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
These include safer sex practices and practicing good vaginal hygiene.
You may be advised to avoid IUDs if you have recurrent BV.
Sex can lead to BV by introducing new bacteria into the body.
Risk factors include condomless sex, multiple sex partners, smoking, douching, and IUDs.
BV is treated with oral or topical antibiotics, most commonly metronidazole and clindamycin.
People with recurrent or severe BV may be advised to avoid IUDs.
A Word From Verywell
Even with the best prevention efforts, bacterial vaginosis can occur.
Try not to stress it does.
Instead, seek treatment and make every effort to avoid worsening the condition.
If prescribed antibiotics, do not stop early even if the symptoms disappear.
If you do, antibiotic resistance can occur, making the infection harder to treat if it returns.
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