Lactobacilli come in many species, and are also found in your digestive and urinary systems as well as in yogurt, which is why you may recognize the word.
These and other bacteria produce hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid as productsof their digestion, which help to maintain the low pH of a healthy vagina ie.
The digestion processes of the new bacterial community create different byproducts and environmental changes, which can lead to symptoms from a fishy or unpleasant odor to itching, discomfort and inflammation 6.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause of abnormal discharge and odor in people who seek care. In many cases, the most significant impacts of symptomatic BV are emotional and social.
This is especially true for people whose BV is recurrent having it multiple times, despite treatment. Recurrent symptoms, without an understanding of the reason, can be frustrating and make someone feel out of control. BV happens when the normal balance of bacteria is replaced by high numbers of anaerobic bacteria. In the US, BV is the most common cause of abnormal discharge and odor in people who seek care. The prevalence of BV varies widely amongst demographics, and is tied to sociodemographic characteristics including race, ethnicity, education and income 9, The exact causes of bacterial vaginosis are still unclear.
Vaginal homeostasis can be disrupted by both internal factors ex. Prolonged or irregular uterine bleeding may also be a contributor. People who have prolonged bleeding as a side effect of a new IUD, for example, may be more likely to have BV, but more research is needed Recurrent BV may pop up around the time of menstruation for the same reason Sexual activity is also associated with a higher risk of BV.
Specific risk factors may include new or multiple sex partners, a lack of condom use, vaginal intercourse and receiving anal sex before vaginal intercourse without a new protective barrier 13— Recurrent episodes of BV may tend to appear around the time of menstruation. There is, however, one single-day treatment secnidazole that appears to be as effective as standard therapy, says Dean. Secnidazole , however, is much more expensive than other treatments.
Dean recommends talking to your doctor or nurse about the best course of treatment for you. I was 23 and about to go on a weekend trip with my new boyfriend. I had never heard of BV, and by the fifth day of itching, burning, and discharge, I misdiagnosed myself with a yeast infection.
I applied it before I went to bed, and the next morning, I woke up in some of the worst pain of my life. It was like being stung by 1, wasps. My vagina spent the weekend expelling the Monistat and ruining five pairs of cotton panties.
I spent the weekend running to the bathroom every hour to apply Vagisil — it barely helped. When I got back to the city, I visited a doctor and told her about my nightmarish weekend.
She told me that most of her patients have similar stories about confusing their bacterial vaginosis for a yeast infection — and erroneously using Monistat.
This is why it's so important to see a doctor at the first sign of trouble down there. Monistat only worsened the problem, and I would have been on the road to recovery sooner had I seen a doctor right away.
My doctor put me on antibiotics, and after two days, the smell and itch faded. After four days, most of the symptoms were gone. My vagina was healthy and happy again! Before I knew it, my BV was back with a vengeance.
In fact, after the initial incident, I got BV after my period every single month for 19 months. Medically, BV is considered recurrent when someone gets it four times in one year.
Dean weighed in on why BV can recur: "BV may come back because you were inadequately treated, or re-exposed to whatever factors led to the bacteria imbalance in your vagina before, or because for unknown reasons you are prone to bacteria imbalance. After taking antibiotics every month for almost a year, I tried changing my birth control to see if hormones were the cause.
I still got BV. I tried abstaining from sexual intercourse, and I still got BV. I even tried douching with apple cider vinegar. To reduce your risk, you should: Use condoms.
Condoms can help prevent the spread of bacterial vaginosis. Keep sex toys clean. Do not share sex toys with other people.
Always clean them after use. Limit your number of sexual partners. Monogamy having sex with only one partner is the one of the best ways to prevent bacterial vaginosis. Do not douche. This can cause an imbalance in vaginal bacteria. See your doctor. If you feel you have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, tell your doctor. Bacterial vaginosis treatment. Living with bacterial vaginosis. Questions to ask your doctor. What is the likely cause of my bacterial vaginosis?
Do I need any tests, such as for sexually transmitted infections? What do my test results mean? What treatment option do you recommend?
Will I need medicine? How do I take it? When can I expect relief from my symptoms? Is it safe for me to have sex? Last Updated: March 10, This article was contributed by: familydoctor.
Tags: antibiotics , female , Genital Problem , vaginitis , women's health. Related Articles. Visit our interactive symptom checker Visit our interactive symptom checker Get Started.
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