What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?
Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) however it increases your risk of getting STIs. Some risk factors for developing BV include new sexual partners, not using condoms, smoking and washing intimate areas with perfumed soaps.
What are the signs and symptoms of BV?
Half of people with bacterial vaginosis do not develop symptoms.
Those that do have symptoms, might have a change in the consistency of their vaginal discharge (thin-watery), a change in colour (grey-white) and change in smell (fishy). BV does not tend to cause itchiness.
How is BV diagnosed?
A health care provider will discuss your medical and sexual history with you and examine the discharge. If needed a cotton swab of the discharge will be taken to run further tests. These include testing the pH of the vaginal fluid and looking at it under a microscope.
How is BV treated?
It is treated with antibiotics. These can be either in the form of tablets you swallow or a vaginal gel.
If you have a same-sex partner, they might also need treating.
BV treatment in pregnancy can differ, please let your health care provider know if you are, or could be pregnant.
Are there any side-effects of the treatment?
Side effects of the treatment depend on the antibiotic used. The most common antibiotic used is metronidazole. We advise to avoid alcohol throughout the treatment and at least for 48 hours after. Antibiotics can interact with other medications you might be taking. Please liaise with a health care provider before taking antibiotics.
Vaginal antibiotic creams could trigger or worsen vaginal thrush.