Bacterial vaginosis is an infection caused by the overgrowth of some strains of naturally occurring vaginal bacteria. Untreated bacterial vaginosis can increase your risk of giving birth prematurely, and you can also develop pelvic inflammatory disease, which affects the uterus and can lead to fertility problems. Here's an overview of the causes, symptoms, diagnoses and treatment approaches for this condition.

Causes And Symptoms

It's not always clear why some women develop bacterial vaginosis, but there are risk factors that can upset the balance of good and bad bacteria in your vagina. Cleaning the inside of your vagina can kill off good bacteria and allow bad bacteria to thrive. Additionally, having multiple sexual partners can alter vaginal microbiota.

Initially, you may not notice any symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, but common symptoms include localised itching, discoloured discharge and a burning sensation when urinating. It's possible to think you have a yeast infection and treat your symptoms with over-the-counter antifungal medication, but your symptoms will not improve if you have bacterial vaginosis.

Diagnosis And Treatment

Your doctor will diagnose bacterial vaginosis by taking details of your symptoms and carrying out an internal examination to check for inflammation of your pelvic organs. A sample of your vaginal discharge may be taken and analysed for the presence of anaerobic bacteria, or your doctor may use a pH test strip to check if your vaginal discharge is acidic, which is a sign of a bacterial infection. After diagnosis, you should inform any female sexual partners you have had, as bacterial vaginosis can spread between women who've had intimate contact. Male sexual partners do not need to be treated.

Treatment for bacterial vaginosis entails taking a course of oral antibiotics and using a topical antibiotic. Your symptoms should have resolved by the end of the treatment course, but bacterial vaginosis can recur soon after treatment, so you may need another course of antibiotics. Your doctor may also suggest you boost your good bacteria levels by taking a probiotic or by eating fermented foods containing lactobacilli, which is a strain of good bacteria commonly found in the vagina.

As untreated bacterial vaginosis can impact your ability to conceive and carry a child to term, you should schedule an urgent appointment with your GP or women's health clinic as soon as you start experiencing symptoms. This condition does not resolve on its own, and although you may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed talking to your doctor about your symptoms, try to remember they've heard it all before and simply want to get you feeling back to normal again.   

For more information on topics within women's health care, contact a medical centre.