Of all the conditions which a woman may face, bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common to occur. It is a type of vaginal infection which is the result of the bacteria within the vagina becoming unbalanced, with an overgrowth of a particular type of bacteria. The condition was once called Gardnerella vaginitis, but it has now become known that there is more than one type of bacteria which live within the vagina, so the name was not technically accurate.
What are the common symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis usually has but two noticeable symptoms, which are vaginal discharge and odor. When a woman detects these symptoms, she should be checked by her physician to rule out other diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, which also have these symptoms as an indicator. Some women may not even exhibit both of these symptoms and still have the condition, that’s why it’s important to see your doctor should you notice a marginal difference in the usual amount of discharge, or a strange odor.
What treatments are available for this condition?
The main course of treatment for bacterial vaginosis is antibiotics. The medications used to treat it are available in both oral and vaginal insertion form. Both forms of antibiotics have been proven effective in clearing the infection; however the pill form does tend to have some side effects which the vaginal gel does not. Either course will clear the condition quite effectively.
After treatment, can I get Bacterial Vaginosis again?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes, you can have it again. As a matter of fact, it is possible for some women to need two courses of back to back antibiotics in order to completely rid themselves of the condition. Even then, it may come back again in the future, and require treatment once again.
Since it can be a recurrent problem, what am I doing to cause it?
Actually, you may not be the cause of the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. It is widely believed that douching, smoking and having multiple sexual partners may dramatically raise your risk factors for the disease, however these factors may be absent and bacterial vaginosis still exist.
Is there any possible health risks associated with Bacterial Vaginosis?
If you are pregnant, then yes there is a risk of both premature labor and premature birth if the condition is not properly treated. The amniotic fluid may also become infected, so it is especially important to let your physician know of any changes in your vaginal discharge.