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What is bacterial vaginosis? — Bacterial vaginosis is an infection in the vagina that can cause bad-smelling vaginal discharge. "Vaginal discharge" is the term doctors and nurses use to describe any fluid that comes out of the vagina (figure 1). Some amount of vaginal discharge is normal. But people with bacterial vaginosis can have a lot of vaginal discharge, or vaginal discharge that smells bad.
Bacterial vaginosis is caused by certain bacteria (germs). The vagina normally has different types of bacteria in it. But when the amounts or the types of bacteria change, an infection can happen.
Bacterial vaginosis usually affects people who are, or have been, sexually active. Your risk of getting it increases if you have a new sex partner or more than 1 partner. This is true whether your partners are male or female.
If you have bacterial vaginosis, you have a higher chance of catching other infections that are spread through sex. You can lower this risk by using condoms when you have sex.
What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis? — Some people with bacterial vaginosis have no symptoms. When symptoms do happen, they often include a "fishy-smelling" vaginal discharge. The discharge is watery and off-white or gray. The smell might be more noticeable:
●During your period
●After sex with a male partner – This happens when semen (the fluid that is released during sex) mixes with your vaginal fluids.
You might also notice a burning feeling in your vagina.
Is there a test for bacterial vaginosis? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will do an exam. They will also take a sample of your vaginal discharge, and do lab tests to look for an infection.
How is bacterial vaginosis treated? — Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics. The medicines most often used are:
Some are pills that you swallow, and some are a gel or cream that you put inside your vagina. Some people have fewer side effects when they use the gel or cream treatment. Other people prefer not to put medicine in the vagina. You and your doctor or nurse will decide which medicine and which form is right for you.
It is important that you take all of the medicine your doctor or nurse prescribes, even if your symptoms go away after a few doses. Taking all of your medicine can help prevent the symptoms from coming back.
Do my sex partners need to be treated if I have bacterial vaginosis? — It depends. If your sex partner does not have a vagina, they do not need to be treated if you have bacterial vaginosis. But if your partner does have a vagina, you should tell them about your bacterial vaginosis. That way they can be treated if they also start to have symptoms.
What happens if my symptoms come back? — Once you have had bacterial vaginosis, it can come back, even if you are not having sex. If your symptoms come back, let your doctor or nurse know. You should be checked again and might need treatment with more medicine.
Some people get bacterial vaginosis over and over again. If this happens to you, your doctor might suggest taking medicine for several months, or adding another medicine for a few weeks. This might help to prevent future infections.
What if I am pregnant and have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis? — If you are pregnant and have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, tell your doctor or nurse. They will check for this infection and others. If you have bacterial vaginosis and are pregnant, the infection is treated with pills.
Can bacterial vaginosis be prevented? — Sometimes. You can help lower the risk of bacterial vaginosis by using condoms when you have sex.
You can also avoid things that increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis. For example:
●Avoid douching (putting liquid inside your vagina to rinse it out)
●Do not smoke, or try to quit if you already smoke
●Avoid sharing sex toys, and clean toys between uses
Patient education: Vaginal discharge (The Basics)
Patient education: Chlamydia and gonorrhea (The Basics)
Patient education: HIV/AIDS (The Basics)
Patient education: Vulvovaginal yeast infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Bacterial vaginosis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaginal discharge in adult women (Beyond the Basics)
