On its own, Bacterial Vaginosis symptoms present a relatively mild health risk, while many patients note unpleasant daily vaginal conditions especially after having sex. However, BV presents significant risk factors by increasing the likelihood of passing or contracting HIV among sexually active women, and BV must be treated in all pregnant women to avoid premature birth (born early) and with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds).

What Are The Symptoms Of BV?

While many women do not report or recognize they have BV, experiencing any of the common symptoms is a good enough reason to get checked out by a doctor. One reason BV goes unreported is that many women adjust to some level of day-to-day vaginal discomfort, or in their sexual lives, and do not see a need to seek medical treatment.

How To Get Rid Of BV?

If you experience any of the common symptoms of BV you should schedule an Online Consultation, especially if you are sexually active. After filling out a short form about your symptoms, a doctor will follow up with treatment that may include BV-Specific Prescription Medication. It’s important to take the full cycle of meds, even if your symptoms go away, to ensure you do not suffer recurrent or chronic BV symptoms. Treatment also reduces the risk for STDs, such as HIV, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. Men do not contract BV and do not need to be treated if a female sexual partner undergoes treatment, however, BV can be transferred between female sexual partners.

Common symptoms of BV include: A strong “fishy” smell, particularly after sex Burning while urinating A thin white or gray vaginal discharge Pain, itching, or burning in the vagina Itching around the outside of the vagina

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Symptoms

What Is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis, or “BV,” is a medical condition that occurs when there’s an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in the vagina. This causes a disturbance in the pH levels of the vagina making the inside less acidic than it normally is. While BV can affect people of any age, it most commonly occurs during reproductive years.

“Some women with BV don’t know they have it because they don't properly identify their symptoms. Due to inflamation, having BV can increase your chance of getting an STD while sexually active.” - Center for Disease Control, CDC.GOV

BV on its own does not present much of a health risk and it can usually be cleared up quickly with medications for BV. It does have the potential to lead to more serious issues if an infection occurs while pregnant, such as increasing the risk of premature births or low birth weight. Additionally, if no BV treatment is sought, the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease can increase, as well as increased risk of contracting an STD, like HIV or Gonorrhea, due to inflammation.

Quick Facts About BV

BV is the most common vaginal infection among sexually active people. While it’s unclear what the exact role your level of sexual activity plays in developing BV, it is typically more common in those who are sexually active than those who are not.

In the United States alone, an estimated 21.2 million people (ages 14–49) currently have BV. Much like cases of STIs, many BV infections are asymptomatic, meaning the people experiencing them report minimal symptoms, or no symptoms at all! This is why it's extra important to check in with a doctor regularly and let them know about any symptoms you may be experiencing, even mild ones.

BV is extremely uncommon among people who’ve never had sex
BV cannot be transmitted by contact with bedding, toilet seats, or swimming pools
Douching can increase the likelihood of BV
People can still be affected by BV (18.8%) even if they have not recently engaged in vaginal, oral, or anal sex
It is also very common among pregnant individuals (25%) and those who have been pregnant (31.7%)
Acquiring BV is often correlated with an increase in number of sexual partners

Symptoms Of BV

The signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are pretty unpleasant and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are several bacterial vaginosis medications that can help. Some of the symptoms of BV include:

Burning during urination
Vaginal itching
Foul-smelling “fishy” vaginal odor
Thin vaginal discharge that can be gray, white, or green in color

Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other types of infections, like yeast infections or STIs. Check in with a doctor if you aren't sure about the root cause of your symptoms before treating for BV.

What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis?

When bacteria levels in the vagina become unbalanced, with an overgrowth of some bacteria and an undergrowth of others, bacterial vaginosis can occur. Any change to the chemistry of your vagina's pH can influence the balance of bacteria levels and lead to a BV infection.

Bacterial vaginosis is not considered an STI. However, having sex with a new partner, or multiple partners, may increase your risk for BV. A sexual partner's genital chemistry can change the balance in your vagina and allow bacteria to grow.

The use of bacterial vaginosis medications can help to restore natural levels. In addition to prescription treatment, researchers have identified certain risk factors that can affect the pH balance of the vagina though. These potential risk factors are:

Recent antibiotic use
IUDs (intrauterine devices) for birth control
Vaginal douching
Multiple or new sex partners: while you can still get BV without having sex, it is more common in sexually active women
Cigarette smoking
Heavy periods
Hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, or menopause
The use of bubble bath

Once a full course of medications for BV has been taken, researchers have determined ways that the pH balance of the vagina can be better maintained to reduce the future risk of BV. Things such as the following can help to keep the bacteria in balance:

Use of boric acid suppositories (they help maintain a healthy pH!)
Use of condoms
Taking showers, instead of baths
Use of the combined oral contraceptive pill

How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnosed?

Bacterial vaginosis can be diagnosed through a simple doctor’s consultation. Even though, BV is not considered dangerous it is best to consult with your doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms. This will allow you to start treating bacterial vaginosis quickly. Your doctor will assess your past health and current symptoms.

What Medications for Bacterial Vaginosis Are Available?

Once the BV has been confirmed, your doctor can prescribe the best BV treatments for your specific needs. Treating bacterial vaginosis is typically done with antibiotics that come in either the form of pills or creams and gels that are inserted into the vagina with an applicator. Some of the most prescribed medications for bacterial vaginosis are Metronidazole, Tinidazole, and Clindamycin. While the antibiotics will work to reduce the levels of the bacteria that caused the imbalance, they may not be able to fully restore pH levels to normal. This can lead to reoccurring cases of BV. To prevent this, it is important to finish the entire course of medication for BV and consider making some longer-term lifestyle changes.

The bad news is that BV is common and something that most women will experience at least once during their lives. The good news is that BV treatments are effective and easily available. In no time at all, the medications for BV will work their magic and the infection will be cleared up, allowing you to get back to normal.

Speak with a wisp doctor today to learn more about the causes and treatments for BV, and ask about our discreet medication delivery.