Women's Health: What is Bacterial Vaginosis and How to Prevent It
If there’s anything unusual about the vagina, such as changes in smell and discharge, it should be observed more closely. Changes in vaginal PH can cause a condition known as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
This type of condition is the most prevalent vaginal symptoms affecting 29% of American women ages 14-49. BV can be a silent disease – 84% of women diagnosed with it report not having any symptoms.
Know the ways on how you can identify and protect yourself from bacterial vaginosis by reading the facts below:
What’s Bacterial Vaginosis?
The PH of the vagina should be balanced for it to be healthy. When the PH of the vagina goes awry, it increases the number of certain types of bacteria in its environment, encouraging the onset of bacterial vaginosis.
As mentioned above, a lot of women with bacterial vaginosis report not feeling any symptoms. But, if they do, BV often manifests as a burning feeling when urinating, itchy vagina, a fishy smell, and unusual discharge that can be gray or green.
There’s a higher risk of getting bacterial vaginosis if a woman engages in any of the following behaviors:
Sexually active
Have a new partner or multiple partners.
Smoking
Douching
Douching, in particular, destroys the good bacteria – lactobacilli – in the vagina, upsetting the natural balance.
The vaginal environment should be slightly acidic. Lactobacilli, the good bacteria in the vagina, help maintain this environment by releasing lactic acid. When the balance is disrupted, other bacteria proliferate, which causes changes in the microflora, making the vagina less acidic than it should be.
Women who have BV have higher chances of getting infected with STIs. Some examples of STIs women who are infected with BV have a risk of getting are chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and HPV.
The presence of bacterial vaginosis is particularly dangerous for women who are pregnant. A BV can cause preterm birth, a late miscarriage, and the possibility of developing postpartum endometritis.
For women who are not pregnant, complications of bacterial vaginosis include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infection of the organs in the reproductive system.
How Do You Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis?
Many experts are still baffled by the nature and causes of BV. It’s important to treat bacterial vaginosis to escape the complications associated with it, and doctors would recommend antibiotics that come in tablet or gel forms. Metronidazole, Clindamycin, Tinidazole are the three most potent antibiotics that fight bacterial vaginosis
As they say, prevention is better than cure. Adjusting some behaviors and habits can lower the risks of getting bacterial vaginosis. To prevent BV, you should do the following:
Consume Probiotics
You can prevent BV with probiotics by consuming yogurt, capsules, and using vaginal suppositories infused with probiotics. You can also use Activated You, a dietary supplement that helps your metabolism fight off infections.
Probiotics are abundant with lactobacilli. As mentioned, these are good bacteria found all over the body, including the vagina. Lactobacillus is potent because it can attach to vaginal cell surfaces, discouraging the growth of harmful bacteria, specifically those that cause BV.
Practice Safe Sex
Having a new partner and multiple partners has been linked to developing bacterial vaginosis.
Semen can affect the vagina’s PH, so your sexual partner needs to wear a condom. If you’re uncertain about the health of your sexual partner, wearing a condom is even more crucial before sex.
Stop Smoking
Women who smoke increase their chances of developing bacterial vaginosis. The vagina has an ecosystem whose optimum PH balance must be maintained.
Although smoking is inhaled through the lungs, research has found that traces of nicotine find its way in cervical mucus. This can trigger an upset in vaginal microflora and induce the proliferation of bad bacteria – the main cause of bacterial vaginosis.
Avoid Douching
Some women douche to ensure that their vaginas are clean and have a fragrant smell. However, the standard definition of clean doesn’t apply to the vagina.
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ, and the introduction of chemicals and fragrances may cause an upset in its PH balance. Douching will increase the chances of the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which results in anaerobic infections. The presence of such bacteria on the vagina causes bacterial vaginosis.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to be healthy inside and out to live life to the fullest. If you suspect that you have BV, you should consult with your doctor or the Medivera Compounding Pharmacy immediately. Having BV will affect your routine and your life due to the complications associated with it.
Bacterial vaginosis can be a silent disease. That’s why it is vital to regularly have a general checkup with your doctor. Practicing prevention can help stop the occurrence of BV and can ensure a healthy reproductive system for the long-term.