What Is Bacterial Vaginosis? Everything You Need to Know About Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis
Some women with bacterial vaginosis don’t have any symptoms. Others have symptoms that may include:
- A thin white, dull gray, or greenishvaginal discharge
- A strong, foul (often fishy)odor, especially after sex
- Vaginal itchingor irritation
- A burning sensation during urination
Causes and Risk Factors of Bacterial Vaginosis
BV当有一个不平衡between good (healthy) and bad (disease-causing) bacteria in the vagina.
How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnosed?
Prognosis for Bacterial Vaginosis
Duration of Bacterial Vaginosis
Treatment and Medication Options for Bacterial Vaginosis
Women with symptoms of BV should be treated for the infection, not only to relieve symptoms but also to prevent complications.
Medication Options
Recommended medication treatment options include:
- Metronidazole, 500 milligrams (mg), orally twice a day for seven days, or
- Metronidazole gel, 0.75 percent, one full applicator inserted vaginally, once a day for five days, or
- Clindamycincream, 2 percent, one full applicator inserted vaginally at bedtime for seven days.
Other medical treatments include:
- Tinidazole, 2 grams (g), orally once a day for two days, or
- Tinidazole, 1 g, orally once a day for five days, or
- 克林霉素300毫克,一天两次口头7days, or
- Clindamycin ovules, 100 mg, inserted vaginally at bedtime for three days
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Prevention of Bacterial Vaginosis
Research and Statistics: How Many People Have Bacterial Vaginosis?
Racial Disparity in Bacterial Vaginosis
Related Conditions and Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis
If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can increase a woman’s risk of developing other medical conditions, including:
- Sexually transmitted diseasesHaving BV makes a woman more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
- Pelvic inflammatory diseaseBV can sometimes lead toPID, an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries that can impairfertility.
- Preterm birthDuring pregnancy, bacterial vaginosis is linked to premature deliveries and low birth weight babies.
Resources We Love
To learn more about BV, check out the following websites.
A reliable source of information about reproductive andsexual healthand healthcare, Planned Parenthood provides vital facts about women’s health and wellness, sexually transmitted infections,birth control, pregnancy, and more.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
ACOG is a go-to source for research-supported information about women’s reproductive health issues, including fertility, conception, pregnancy, and best practices for each of these issues.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
- Bacterial Vaginosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Persons to Prevent Preterm Delivery: Screening.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. April 7, 2020.
- What Is Bacterial Vaginosis?Planned Parenthood.
- Ramjet E, Raghubanshi B, Maskey S, et al.International Journal of Microbiology. March 2018.
- Brookheart R, Lewis W, Peipert J, et al.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. January 2019.
- Mehta SD, et al.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.August 4, 2020.
- Bacterial Vaginosis.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.
- Bilardi JE, Walker S, Temple-Smith M, et al.PloS One. September 2013.
- Bacterial Vaginosis.National Health Service UK.
- Bacterial Vaginosis.CDC 2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines.
- Bradshaw C, Morton A, Hocking J, et al.Journal of Infectious Diseases. June 2006.
- Faught B, Reyes S.Journal of Women’s Health. September 2019.
- Koumans EH, Sternberg M, Bruce C, et al.Sexually Transmitted Diseases.November 2007.
- Fettweis J, Brooks J, Serrano M, et al.Microbiology. October 2014.
- Bacterial Vaginosis Statistics.CDC.
- Ness RB, Hillier S, Ritcher S, et al.Journal of the National Medical Association.April 2003.
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