Bacterial vaginosis is basically one of the common but sometimes complicated health conditions which is directly related to women. This bacterial disease affects millions of women all over the globe. Although it is considered as the universal health issue that most women face, the main issue is the misinformation about bacterial vaginosis commonly known as BV. In this very important woman-related disease, we will discuss what bacterial vaginosis actually is, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
What is Bacterial Vaginosis?
Bacterial Vaginosis is an infection in the vagina which is created due to the inequality of the natural bacteria which are present in the vagina. Now try to understand the situation very carefully. Medical study shows that there is a mixture of good and bad bacterias which are found in vagina. The purpose of good bacteria is to keep a check on bad bacteria. When due to some abnormalities this balance between good and bad bacteria happens and the situation results in bacterial vaginosis. It is because, due to the imbalance between good and bad bacteria, the bad bacteria actually start to multiply, which results in infection in the vagina.
Causes
Similar to some of the other chronic diseases here in the case of bacterial vaginosis the exact causes are not known. But there are several factors that actually increase the risk of BV. Let’s find out.
Multiple Sex Partners
It is mostly found that the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina actually disturbs when you have sex between multiple partners or a new one.
Douching
Research shows that douching is another reason to disturb the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina.
Smoking
Everyone knows the side effects of smoking. Same is the case with bacterial vaginosis. Smoking can increase the chances of natural imbalance of bacteria in the vagina.
Lack Of Lactobacilli Bacteria
Remember the good or useful bacteria that are found in vagina are Lactobacilli Bacteria. It is a fact that these types of bacterias actually are found in lesser quantities in some of the women. So this situation makes a suitable atmosphere to increase the chances of bacterial vaginosis.
Symptoms
There are various symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Most of the women don’t even know about them. So let’s know what the common symptoms in case of BV are.
Unusual Vaginal Discharge
Unusual vaginal discharge is one of the symptoms in case of bacterial vaginosis. This vaginal discharge comes in a thin and grayish white color.
Fishy Odor
Sometimes after intercourse if you experience a fishy smell then this sign can indicate the possible reason towards bacterial vaginosis.
Vaginal Itching
Some women after intercourse feel some itching and irritation in their vaginal part. If you observe this type of situation then must consult with your health care provider for comprehensive guidance.
Burning Sensation
The feeling of burning during urination is also another symptom in case of bacterial Vaginosis.
The important thing that you have to note at this time is that these types of symptoms can also appear in other vaginal infections including sexually transmitted infection or yeast infections. So it is really important to check out and analyze for a proper diagnosis.
Diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis
If any woman finds some of the above mentioned symptoms then just go to your healthcare provider and discuss the symptoms. It is really important for effective and comprehensive diagnosis towards better treatment. Here in the following we are going to give you some important diagnostic steps that can be taken in this whole picture.
Medical History
Knowing about medical history is crucial in case of diagnosing bacterial vaginosis BV. Your physician will actually ask some questions related to your symptoms and importantly sexual activities.
Physical Examination
In order to check any possible sign of BV sometimes a pelvic examination is performed.
Laboratory Tests
The last but not the least important diagnosing step is the laboratory test. In this way vaginal discharge has been taken as a sample to check out the presence of bacteria and pH level under a microscope.
Treatment Options For Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis in most of the cases treated with the use of antibiotics. It is important to go for antibiotics by checking out conditions and symptoms of the affected person. Here in the following we are going to describe some of the important and common treatment options in case of BV.
Oral Antibiotics
You can go for oral antibiotics in order to treat BV. Some of the common oral antibiotics that are used in this case are metronidazole commonly known as Flagyl and Clindamycin (Cleocin).
Topical Antibiotics
Topical antibiotics are those antibiotics that are newly formed and are considered to be effective especially in case of bacterial vaginosis. Some of the important ones are metronidazole gel and Clindamycin cream. You can use the topical antibiotics in an easy way. Just simply apply some amount directly to the vagina.
Probiotics
As we have deeply discussed, bacterial vaginosis is one of the reasons for bacteria in the vagina. Probiotics can be useful to correct this natural bacterial imbalance. If you are thinking of using probiotics then first consult with your doctor.
Home Remedies And Lifestyle Changes
You can take antibiotics as these are the primary treatment options in treating bacterial vaginosis. But with the help of home remedies and modification in your lifestyle you can get maximum results towards the reduction of the BV symptoms. Some important points in this context are as follows.
Probiotics Rich Foods
The important thing is to improve and increase good bacterias in the vagina. So it is better to consume foods that are rich in probiotics. There are certain foods that should be taken like yogurt or supplements.
Avoid Douching
It is very important to avoid douching in order to prevent the natural imbalance of bacteria in the vagina. Do you know what douching actually means? The meaning of douching is to flush the vagina with liquid solution for cleansing and balancing the natural PHP.
Good Hygienic Practices
With the help of implementing healthy hygienic practices you can also minimize the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis to a greater extent. Try to wash the genital area with soap and water on a regular basis.
Safe Sex Practices
You can minimize the risk of BV by using condoms and also try to reduce the number of partners during sex.
Prevention Of Bacterial Vaginosis
Nobody can deny the fact that prevention is always better than cure. Same is the case with bacterial vaginosis. There are some tips in the following that we are going to give you in order to prevent BV in an effective way.
Maintain Vaginal pH Balance
The important thing here is to maintain the pH balance of the BV. For this purpose, try to avoid those products that are not suitable in this case. So don’t use scented soaps and avoid douches.
Practice Safe Sex
Try to make sure that you are having safe sex. In this case the use of condoms can reduce the risk of the imbalance of bacteria in the vagina.
Healthy Lifestyle
In order to improve your vaginal health, live a healthy life. Eat a balanced diet full of nutrients and vitamins. Taking regular exercise and stopping smoking can actually not only reduce symptoms of bacterial vaginosis but also helps you in overall health.
Regular Check Ups
If you want to treat this bacterial vaginal infection at its early stage then must follow the above mentioned instructions. Go for regular checkups in order to get professional guidance about BV.
Complications
Try to understand that bacterial vaginosis is not as dangerous as you think. But if it is not treated in time and remains untreated then it can lead to serious complications on your overall health. Some of the complications in that case are as follows.
Pregnancy Issues
If there is a pregnant woman who is facing bacterial vaginosis if not treated in time then it can create serious complications during pregnancy especially it increases the chances of premature birth having low birth weight.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Medical research shows that in most of the cases women can experience infection in their reproductive organs. There are a lot of chances of this condition when bacterial vaginosis is not treated in time and remains untreated.
Increase The Risk Of STIs
If bacterial vaginosis is not treated effectively then the chances of getting sexually transmitted infection are increased.
Misconception About Bacterial Vaginosis
There are actually a lot of misconceptions about bacterial vaginosis. Some of the common misunderstandings are as follows.
✓Some women think that bacterial vaginosis happens only in those women who are sexually active. This is actually not true. BV can appear in any woman without sexual activities.
✓Most women think that bacterial vaginosis will eliminate itself. Just try to understand that it can be resolved in some minor cases but it is very important not to wait for its elimination itself. Just go to your doctor immediately and get a professional treatment in time in order to prevent some possible other serious health issues.
✓Some women have the misconception that BV is caused by poor hygiene. Somehow we can say that it can be the reason but mostly bacterial vaginosis comes into existence due to the imbalance of natural bacterias in the vagina.
When to Consult A Doctor?
Although it is better to consult with your doctor when you observe symptoms, as we have talked about in a detailed way at the beginning of the article. There are some alarming symptoms that demand to go to your healthcare provider in an urgent way. Let’s talk about the symptoms.
- Despite the fact that you have gone for treatment options and symptoms still not eliminating and even becoming severe, this situation demands you to visit your doctor urgently.
- Sometimes different types of treatment are needed when bacterial vaginosis starts to repeat in episodes.
- During pregnancy it is better to consult with your doctor to check out any possibility of bacterial vaginosis.
Conclusion
Bacterial Vaginosis is a common bacterial infection in the vagina which not treated in time can result in serious complications. It is really crucial to know what bacterial vaginosis actually is, what are its symptoms and treatment options. This is because without knowing symptoms you cannot decide what to do next. Try to take preventive measures in order to reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis.
You can avoid and reduce symptoms of BV when you maintain good vaginal health practices. It is also observed that most of the women effectively manage bacterial vaginosis with the help of home remedies and modification in Lifestyle. But it is better to consult with your doctor and discuss your issues and ask questions related to your medical condition. In this way you can get a comprehensive treatment plan that actually will work.