Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial Vaginosis is an infection of the vagina caused by a bacteria called Gardnerella Vaginalis. It is characterized by vaginal inflammation with fishy odorous discharge.
Bacterial Vaginosis(BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age, and it is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning.
The cause of BV is not fully understood. BV is associated with an imbalance in the bacteria that are normally found in a woman’s vagina. The vagina normally contains mostly “good” bacteria, and fewer “harmful” bacteria. BV develops when there is a change in the environment of the vagina that causes an increase in harmful bacteria (like Gardnerella).
Not much is known about how women get BV. Women who have never had sexual intercourse are rarely affected. It is not clear what role sexual activity plays in the development of BV, and there are many unanswered questions about the role that harmful bacteria play in causing BV. Women do not get BV from toilet seats, bedding, swimming pools, or from touching objects around them.
Predisposing Factors
Any woman can get BV. Some activities or behaviors can upset the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina and put women at increased risk:
- Having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners
- Douching
- Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception.
- Although BV will sometimes clear up without treatment, all women with symptoms of BV should be treated to avoid complications.
Treatment
BV is treatable with antimicrobial medicines prescribed by a health care provider. Two different medicines are recommended as treatment for BV: metronidazole or clindamycin. BV can recur after treatment. One should abstain from intercourse or use condoms until all therapy is completed.
Preventive Steps
Some basic prevention steps can help reduce the risk of upsetting the natural balance in the vagina and developing BV:
- Rinse soap from your vaginal area after a bath or shower to prevent irritation. Avoid other irritants such as scented tampons or pads.
- Don’t use douches. The vagina does not require cleansing other than normal bathing. Repetitive douching disrupts the normal organisms that live in the vagina and can actually increase the risk of vaginal infection. And douching most definitely will not clear up a vaginal infection.
- Avoid local irritants such as bubble baths, harsh soaps, feminine hygiene sprays, douches, and deodorant tampons.
- Wear cotton underwear and pantyhose with a cotton crotch. Don’t wear underwear to bed.
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet to avoid spreading bacteria to your vagina.
- Use all of the medicine prescribed for treatment of BV, even if the signs and symptoms go away.
What exactly can be causing my pH balance to make my vagina so smelly constantly?
As mentioned above, too much use of soaps and douches can be a cause.
Other causes include repeated antibiotic courses for other diseases like throat infection etc., use of IUD, improper washing of genitalia especially after defecation.
An ideal pH may be regained by maintaining proper hygiene. Read more on caring and cleaning the vagina. Consuming food like home made curd or yogurt aids in quick regaining of the required pH.
I am under 16 and a virgin. I think I have a vaginal infection and I don’t think it’s a yeast infection. I have been experiencing abnormal discharge and a fishy vaginal smell.
I also have large outer labia that none of my family knows about. Is this the cause of my infection and how do I treat it?
If I went to the doctors would they need to examine my vagina because I would not let them do that as my outer labia really embarrass me and I wouldn’t be able to cope with it. Please help.
Sounds like an infection. A fishy smell is typical of a bacterial infection of the vagina called bacterial vaginosis. You may read about it in detail above.
Do you have any other sign of infection like fever, redness or swelling lower down or itching etc. Sometimes, it’s just a normal vaginal secretion. The appearance of the vaginal discharge changes slightly as you grow up. From absolutely bland and odorless, your secretion would change to become a bit smelly, more lubricating as you grow. Young girls are sometimes not able to differentiate the normal secretion from those that are infected.
Read here to make the differentiation of vaginal secretions.
If you feel you have an infection, it would be better to visit a doctor. Yes, he will examine you, but this is essential to make a diagnosis. Genital organs may differ from a girl to girl, these variations are alright, there is nothing amusing about it. Doctors understand this.
For infections, you may require antibiotic treatment. It would be helpful to read about cleaning your vagina.
Hi! I would like to know if virgins can use vaginal ovules?
It would be better if you can use medicated creams instead. What are your symptoms?
I think I have Bacterial vaginosis. I have a strong malodorous vaginal discharge and I have had it for many years. The problem is that I don’t know how to swallow pills, so I always have to break the pills in many parts, but I have read that metronidazole must not be broken. 5 years ago I went to a gynecologist but she didn’t told me what I had, she only put me a vaginal ovule that hurt a lot while she was putting it, and since then I always had this worry if she made a mistake and what if virgins can’t use vaginal ovules? That time the malodorous discharge stopped for a few weeks but then it returned again.
See, it’s not good to have an infection linger on for a long time. This would make the infection chronic, it may ascend up your reproductive tract.
Plan getting the infection treated as early as possible. You need to go to a gyne to confirm the diagnosis.
Though not preferred, vaginal ovules may be used. These are very effective in treating such infections. You may go for it, if required.
Not treating the infection would harm you in a long run. Read above in details about bacterial vaginosis.
It must be Bacterial vaginosis since yeasts aren’t supposed to have bad odor, and it can’t be none of the STDs since I’m a virgin. The only symptom I have is the strong malodorous vaginal discharge. Wished there was something else to cure it with less side effect than metronidazole, which I read could even cause cancer :/
You may use clindamycin this time. Talk to your doctor about this.
I think I have vaginal pimple, really inside vagina, in inner part of it, in hole I mean, can I put inside the ointment; is it safe? What cream can I use inside my vagina for pimple not spread out. Help. Thank you.
If it’s a pimple, mupirocin may be used. You may apply it on the pimple inside the vaginal canal.
I was diagnosed with Trichomoniasis, BV and PID in January 2021. I cheated on my husband, July 2020. II didn’t have any symptoms till middle November 2020. I had an odor, discharge and a horrible rash. My husband got tested but tested negative. I was almost sure he had cheated on me because what I did was 6 months earlier. Ive asked everyone and cannot get the same answer twice. Everyone is convinced I cheated after July but I didnt. Please explain to me what else it could have been.
1.) It is from July?
2.) He transferred it to me and test was wrong?
3.) BV PID caused Trichomoniasis since they are all 3 grouped together?
4.) ?????
Situation remains unclear. However, clinically, PID doesn’t give Trichomoniasis, while the reverse is common.