Bacterial vaginosis

What is bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis occurs because of an overgrowth of one of several bacteria naturally found in your vagina. Usually, if there are too many bacteria, they upset the natural balance of microorganisms and cause bacterial vaginosis.^[1] This causes the normal pH of your vagina to rise, which results in a pale discharge and a strong smell. But this only happens in half of the cases, as 50% of women with bacterial vaginosis don’t get any symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis isn’t sexually transmitted, but it’s linked to sexual activity. It can occur more often in women who have multiple sex partners or a new sex partner.

Who gets bacterial vaginosis?

Anyone with a vagina can develop bacterial vaginosis; pre-pubescent, child-bearing, and post-menopausal women are all at risk. However, you’re more likely to get it if you’re sexually active.

Many bacterial vaginosis cases are caused by the abnormal pH balance of the vagina, which, more often than not, is a result of using too many perfumed products or topical treatments containing plastics and chemicals.

How common is bacterial vaginosis?

Although the prevalence varies from each country, bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal infections in women of reproductive age.^[2] It’s most common in sexually active women, and it can vary in severity. Sometimes it’s symptomless, too, making it difficult to detect.

What causes bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a disturbance to your vagina’s regular bacterial environment. There are lifestyle choices and other factors that can alter the bacteria in the vagina, which include: ^[1]

• being sexually active,
• being sexually active with a new partner,
• having an IUD,
• smoking,
• using perfumed products on or around the vagina, and
• a recent course of antibiotics.

Additionally, some studies have found that a lack of hygiene can also increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis. For example, those who washed their genitals frequently were more than 10% less susceptible to getting bacterial vaginosis.^[1]

What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?

While bacterial vaginosis is symptomless around half the time, the

main symptom is discharge, which ranges in texture, from a thin mucus to a thicker substance, and in color (either white, pink, beige, or grayish). The discharge produces a strong fishlike smell, which usually signals an overgrowth of bacteria.

Additional symptoms include discomfort and pain near the vaginal region or while urinating, painful sexual intercourse, and vaginal itching.

Can I protect myself against bacterial vaginosis?

The best way to prevent developing bacterial vaginosis is to use condoms regularly when you have sex, especially when having sex with new partners. Sexual activity changes the microbiome of the vagina, as you introduce new bacteria from another partner.

Healthy lifestyle habits like avoiding smoking, adopting a balanced diet, and exercising regularly may also reduce your vulnerability.

It might be worth reviewing your method of birth control if you are currently using a copper IUD. Research suggests that the copper IUD puts you at an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, as it changes the microbiome of your vagina and leads to heavier bleeding.^[2]

Can bacterial vaginosis lead to other problems?

Bacterial vaginosis doesn’t directly lead to other health concerns. But it does increase our vulnerability to developing other infections, particularly sexually transmitted ones like chlamydia or other bacterial infections.

All bacterial infections are serious if left untreated, and it’s especially important to treat any found in pregnant women, as such an infection can threaten the pregnancy as well as endanger the mother. Contracting bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy risks premature birth and a low birth weight. Bacterial vaginosis can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which causes problems if you are trying to get pregnant.