Since BV causes an overgrowth of the bacteria in the vagina and natural hormonal changes and the high pH due to periods can trigger the infection. But as soon as your periods are resolved, the symptoms of BV do calm down and can even go away completely, making you get rid of this vaginal infection for good.
How to tell if you have BV?
Symptoms commonly include a thick, white vaginal discharge, or itching. It’s not associated with an odor. Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether you have BV or a yeast infection based on symptoms alone. If you’re not sure, make an appointment with your doctor.
What age do women get BV?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BV is the most common vaginal infection in women between the ages of 15 and 44.
What is the difference between BV and yeast infection?
An overgrowth causes BV, most commonly of Gardnerella vaginalis — just one kind of bacteria normally found in the vagina. An overabundance of yeast species causes a yeast infection.
Can BV clear up on its own?
BV can clear up on its own. However, if you’re experiencing any symptoms, contact your doctor to get tested and treated. This is especially true if you’re pregnant . Having BV can increase your risk of having a preterm birth.
Is there a gel for BV?
In the United Kingdom, there are some non-prescription gels and creams available over-the-counter (OTC) to treat BV. There’s medication in the form of an oral pill, a gel, or a suppository to be placed in the vagina.
Does BV cause health problems?
Aside from having some uncomfortable symptoms, BV doesn’t usually cause any serious health problems for most healthy people.
Can BV come back?
Some people are more prone to getting BV, which is likely related to their body chemistry and vaginal environment. BV may clear up and come back, or it could be that it never completely cleared in the first place.
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is an infection of the vagina. Normally, your vagina is in a state of natural balance between “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria. When your vagina’s natural pH (acidity level) is increased, this can cause an increase in growth of “bad” bacteria (most commonly Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria). When the “bad” bacteria outnumber the “good” lactobacilli bacteria, infection can occur. This infection is called bacterial vaginosis.
What is the best way to prevent bacterial vaginosis?
Probiotics, live bacteria that can be found in food and supplements , may be a helpful home remedy both to treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis. The “good” lactobacilli bacteria in probiotics can help prevent an overgrowth of “bad” infection-causing bacteria. Studies show that eating food with probiotics, like yogurt, ...
What is the most common vaginal infection?
Many women have experienced or will experience a vaginal infection. The most common of these vaginal infections is bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV. Nearly 30% of women in the U.S. will experience bacterial vaginosis at some point in their lifetime.
What journal is the evaluation of vaginal pH for detection of bacterial vaginosis?
Indian Journal of Medical Research: Evaluation of vaginal pH for detection of bacterial vaginosis."
What journal is the etiology of bacterial virgonosis?
Journal of Applied Microbiology: "The Etiology of Bacterial Vaginosis."
How many methods of diagnosis are there for bacterial vaginosis?
There are four methods your doctor can use to diagnose bacterial vaginosis.
Is bacterial vaginosis more common in women?
However, bacterial vaginosis is more common in some women than others. Women who are sexually active or have multiple partners, women who douche, and women of African ethnicity are more likely to get bacterial vaginosis. However, women who do not fit these characteristics may still experience a case of BV.
How long does it take for BV to recur?
Bacterial vaginosis is considered “recurrent” if it has occurred more than four months in a row following your period. When it comes to prevention, preliminary research shows that your preferred method of dealing with menstrual blood may affect your recurrence of BV.
Does BV affect your period?
To summarize, it is possible for BV to affect your period, but not in the most obvious ways. For example, BV will not affect the hormonal fluctuations or timing around when you get your period, so it’s not going to change your cycle. That being said, BV can be asymptomatic or show up in unexpected ways (such as with spotting or occasional blood), which may make you think that BV is affecting your period. If you’re concerned, it’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor.
Can you use pads on your period?
What if you begin treatment for BV while on your period? Most doctors recommend wearing pads instead of tampons during treatment to ensure that the tampon doesn’t soak up the medicine. And if you develop recurrent BV, it might be a good idea to rethink your period hygiene. Preliminary research shows that using pads or menstrual cups can prevent BV as they don’t affect the overall bacterial balance the way tampons do. There is also some research suggesting that IUDs, a common form of birth control, may alter the vaginal microbiome, making you more susceptible to BV.
Is bacterial vaginosis a PID?
Also keep in mind that when bacterial vaginosis is left untreated, more serious conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can arise. It’s important to pay attention to your monthly hormonal cycle to understand what is normal for you and to track any changes that may be occurring.
Can bacterial vaginosis go away on its own?
Bacterial vaginosis can be a nuisance, but in general, it is often easily treatable and can occasionally go away on its own .
Can BV cause spotting?
So your period might raise your risk for BV, but what about the other way around? Can having BV affect your period? While it is possible for bacterial vaginosis to cause a small amount of bleeding or spotting, there doesn’t seem to be any clear evidence suggesting that BV can affect your period. In other words, the hormonal changes around your period might bring upon BV, but there doesn’t seem to be a link to that being the other way around.
Can BV Disrupt Your Cycle?
This may make you think that you’re getting your period, when you’re really dealing with a vaginal infection. And although BV cannot give you irregular cycles on its own, the infection may disrupt the overall bacterial balance in your vagina .
How long does it take for BV to go away?
BV will often go away on its own within a few days, but it also tends to come back. If you take antibiotics to treat BV, the symptoms may disappear within a day or two, but it’s important to take the full course of pills, which is usually seven days.
What to do if you have had BV in the past?
If you have had BV in the past, be sure to inform your healthcare provider so they can assess any future risk.
What is the difference between a yeast infection and a bacterial vaginosis?
The primary difference in symptoms between bacterial vaginosis and a yeast infection is in the discharge. In BV, the discharge is thin; in a yeast infection, it is thick. BV tends to have a fishy odor, and a yeast infection does not. Another difference is that BV does not typically cause as much pain while urinating as a yeast infection.
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
Other risk factors include being pregnant, using an IUD, douching, and obtaining new or multiple sexual partners. 2
What to do if BV recurs?
If your BV recurs, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Can bacterial vaginosis cause other health problems?
Generally, bacterial vaginosis doesn’t cause other health problems. However, if you don’t treat it, you are more likely to get a sexually transmitted infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, or have complications during pregnancy.
Is BV contagious?
Bacterial vaginosis is not contagious. However, if you have BV, you are more susceptible to getting other sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis, which can be passed on to others.
