What is
bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial
vaginosis (BV) is an infection caused when too much of certain bacteria
change the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina.
Any woman can get bacterial vaginosis. Having bacterial vaginosis can
increase your chance of getting an STD.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial
vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection in women ages 15-44.
How is
bacterial vaginosis spread?
- We
do not know about the cause of BV or how some women get it. BV is linked
to an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria that are normally found
in a woman's vagina.
- We
do know that having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners and
douching can upset the balance of bacteria in the vagina and put women at
increased risk for getting BV.
- However,
we do not know how sex contributes to BV. BV is not considered an STD, but
having BV can increase your chances of getting an STD. BV may also affect
women who have never had sex.
- You
cannot get BV from toilet seats, bedding, or swimming pools.
How can I
avoid getting bacterial vaginosis?
Doctors and
scientists do not completely understand how BV is spread, and there are no
known best ways to prevent it.
The
following basic prevention steps may help lower your risk of developing BV:
- Not
having sex;
- Limiting
your number of sex partners; and
- Not
douching.
STDs & Pregnancy
I’m
pregnant. How does bacterial vaginosis affect my baby?
Pregnant
women can get BV. Pregnant women with BV are more likely to have babies who are
born premature (early) or with low birth weight than women who do not have BV
while pregnant. Low birth weight means having a baby that weighs less than 5.5
pounds at birth.
Treatment is
especially important for pregnant women.
How do I
know if I have bacterial vaginosis?
Many women with
BV do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may notice a thin white
or gray vaginal discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning in the vagina. Some
women have a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex. You may also have
burning when urinating; itching around the outside of the vagina, or both.
Can
bacterial vaginosis be cured?
- BV
will sometimes go away without treatment. But if you have symptoms of BV
you should be checked and treated. It is important that you take all of
the medicine prescribed to you, even if your symptoms go away. Treatment
may also reduce the risk for STDs.
- Male
sex partners of women diagnosed with BV generally do not need to be
treated. However, BV may be transferred between female sex partners.
What happens
if I don't get treated?
BV can cause
some serious health risks, including
- Increasing
your chance of getting HIV if you have sex with someone who is
infected with HIV;
- If
you are HIV positive, increasing your chance of passing HIV to your sex
partner;
- Making
it more likely that you will deliver your baby too early if you have BV
while pregnant;
- Increasing
your chance of getting other STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
These bacteria can sometimes cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
which can make it difficult or impossible for you to have children.
For more details & Consultation
Contact us.
Vivekanantha
Clinic Consultation Champers at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please Call us or Mail
Us.
For
appointment:
SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number - Problem in Single word - date and day -
Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini- 30 - 99xxxxxxx0 – Vaginosis, White discharge,
vellai paduthal, yest infection. Trichomonus vaginalis TV – 21st Oct, Sunday -
Chennai ). You will receive Appointment details through SMS
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