What is/what causes bacterial vaginosis?
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at
4:09 pm
I went to my obgyn for my annual exam and also for infertility, and my pap showed I have bacterial vaginosis. What exactly is it, and is it serious? He did prescribe antibiotics, I was just curious how common this is and what the cause is, and if there are ways to prevent it from returning. Thanks ladies.
Filed under: Bacterial Vaginosis Causes
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Bacterial vaginosis is vaginal condition that can produce vaginal discharge and results from an overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina. In the past, the condition was called Gardnerella vaginitis, after the bacteria that were thought to cause the condition. However, the newer name, bacterial vaginosis, reflects the fact that there are a number of species of bacteria that naturally live in the vaginal area and may grow to excess. The Gardnerella organism is not the sole culprit causing the symptoms. When these multiple species of bacteria become imbalanced, a woman can have a vaginal discharge with a foul odor.
There are many steps you can take to prevent future vaginal infections. Try some of these before you get your next vaginal infection.
* Always wipe from front to back after voiding to prevent E. coli from the rectum from entering the vagina.
* Douching is never a good idea. Douching may disrupt the fragile balance of natural organisms in the vagina which may lead to bacterial or yeast infection and may also cause the spread of infection up into the reproductive tract where it can do damage.
* Keep the vaginal area clean and dry. Wash before and after sex and thoroughly dry the vaginal area to prevent moisture from creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
* Avoid tight clothing and always wear white cotton panties that help absorb moisture and allow air to circulate.
* Avoid scented or treated toilet paper, personal hygiene products, perfumes, spermicides, and harsh soaps or detergents if the vaginal area is irritated.
* Practice safe sex by always utilizing condoms to prevent STDs or other vaginal infections unless you are in a long-term monogamous relationship.
* Diaphragms cervical caps and medication applicators should be thoroughly cleaned after each use.
Not much is known about how women get BV. Any woman can get BV. But there are certain things that can upset the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina, raising your risk of BV:
•Having a new sex partner or multiple sex partners
•Douching
•Using an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control
•Not using a condom
********************************************************************************************************************
In most cases, BV doesn’t cause any problems. But some problems can arise if BV is untreated.
•Pregnancy problems. BV can cause premature delivery and low birth weight babies (less than five pounds).
•PID. Pelvic inflammatory disease or PID is an infection that can affect a woman’s uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Having BV increases the risk of getting PID after a surgical procedure, such as a hysterectomy or an abortion.
•Higher risk of getting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Having BV can raise your risk of HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Women with HIV who get BV are also more likely to pass HIV to a sexual partner.
But there are steps you can take to lower your risk.
•Help keep your vaginal bacteria balanced. Wash your vagina and anus every day with mild soap. When you go to the bathroom, wipe from your vagina to your anus. Keep the area cool by wearing cotton or cotton-lined underpants. Avoid tight pants and skip the pantyhose in summer.
•Don’t douche. Douching removes some of the normal bacteria in the vagina that protects you from infection. This may raise your risk of BV. It may also make it easier to get BV again after treatment.
•Have regular pelvic exams. Talk with your doctor about how often you need exams, as well as STI tests.
•Finish your medicine. If you have BV, finish all the medicine your doctor gives you to treat it. Even if the symptoms go away, you still need to finish all of the medicine.
Practicing safe sex is also very important.
Here is complete information on BV
http://www.cdc.gov/STD/BV/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm