There are both "good" and "bad" bacteria living in the vagina. If the delicate balance between them is upset, they may develop an infectious disease called bacterial vaginitis (or BV for short). Patients may not have any symptoms and may not require treatment.
Most of the time, bacterial vaginitis does not cause health problems, but it can also cause other problems, especially if you are already pregnant or trying to conceive.
1. Cause
A bacterium called Lactobacillus keeps the vagina slightly acidic, so bad bacteria don't overgrow. If lactobacilli levels drop, more bad bacteria will enter, and bacterial vaginitis may occur.
Any woman may develop bacterial vaginitis, but the following factors may increase the risk of developing the disease:
Smoking;
Conjugal life;
Vaginal irrigation.
One might think that keeping the perineum clean would stop bacterial vaginitis, however, washing the vagina by flushing would disrupt the natural balance of the flora. Soaps, bubble baths, and vaginal deodorants have similar effects.
A new partner, or more than one partner, makes people more likely to develop bacterial vaginitis. Although the cause is unclear, women with female partners are at high risk of developing bacterial vaginitis.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs, placed in the womb) have been associated with bacterial vaginitis, especially when there is irregular bleeding. However, more research is needed to determine whether IUD is really the cause of bacterial vaginitis.
Many people may have heard that toilets passing through swimming pools or public toilets can lead to vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginitis, but this is not the case.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
2. Symptoms
About half of all bacterial vaginitis do not have any symptoms, but the following symptoms may also occur:
Thin white, grey or green discharge;
Burning sensation when urinating;
The fishy smell becomes stronger after the couple lives.
These symptoms are not the same as those of a yeast infection. Yeast infections usually appear itchy, have a thick white discharge, and have no odor.
3. Diagnosis
At the doctor's appointment, the doctor will ask for symptoms and do a vaginal examination, possibly taking a sample of secretions with a cotton swab and examining it under a microscope. Sampling can also help doctors or laboratories rule out other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), such as gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, because they share some common symptoms.
4. Treatment
If there are no symptoms and there is no pregnancy, treatment may not be needed. Bacterial vaginitis may go away on its own.
When symptomatic, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the infection. It can be taken orally, or it can be a cream or gel applied to the vagina. Most treatments take 5 to 7 days. Even if the symptoms disappear, a complete course of treatment should be completed. If the use is stopped early, the infection may recur.
Since bacterial vaginitis can spread through the lives of couples, it is necessary to avoid all sexual contact until recovery. If the partner is another woman, then she may also need to seek medical attention and receive treatment.
If IUD is used and bacterial vaginitis recurs frequently (recurrent bacterial vaginitis), it may be necessary to consult a doctor to choose another form of birth control.
Even if bacterial vaginitis is treated and disappears, recurrence is common. If there is a recurrence, antibiotics may need to be taken again and for a longer period of time.
5. Other infections
Patients with bacterial vaginitis are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, chlamydia infection, or gonorrhea. If you are already infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), bacterial vaginitis increases the chances of transmitting it to your partner.
If you undergo hysterectomy or other female organ surgery while suffering from bacterial vaginitis, then a bacterial infection is more likely to occur after surgery.
Some causes of bacterial vaginitis may also cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
6. Pregnancy
When undergoing fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), if you have BV bacterial vaginitis, the likelihood of treatment success is low.
Pregnant women with bacterial vaginitis should be treated because they may have preterm birth (before week 37) or low birth weight (less than 2500 g).
7. Prevention
To reduce the risk of developing bacterial vaginitis, only water and even soap are used when washing private areas. Do not flush the vagina. After defecation, it should be wiped from front to back, from vagina to anus.
Limit the number of partners. Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, and have your partner also tested.
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