Understanding the Symptoms and Complications of Bacterial Vaginosis

In the past, bacterial vaginosis was called Gardnerella vaginitis, which is named after the germ that was believed to cause the vaginal infection. The currently used term, bacterial vaginosis, better represents this vaginal disorder that it is caused by the overgrowth of multiple species of bacteria naturally living in the vaginal area.

Although the disease is not dangerous in the general women population, the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis can lead to immense discomfort, hassle and stress in women afflicted with the infection. The characteristic symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are little to moderate increase in vaginal discharge and foul vaginal odor.

The discharge is normally thin and grayish white, and sometimes there are bubbles in the vaginal fluid. There is also a horrible fishy vaginal smell. These symptoms often become more serious after sex. Vaginal irritation may or may not present. However, up to 75% of women who have the condition don’t feel any BV symptoms at all.

What causes the vagina to have a fishy smell?

The fishy odor is a result of the generation of a compound known as amines by the anaerobic bacteria. When the pH raises, the amines become unstable, which occurs in BV due to a decrease in the number of lactobacilli bacteria (vaginal pH is increased to more than 4.5 in BV). The symptom gets worse when vaginal alkalinity is enhanced, for example after sex (due to the presence of semen) and during menses (due to the presence of blood).

Complications related to bacterial vaginosis

BV symptoms are very disturbing, but are not the only concern in the affected women. BV has been reported to be associated with a number of complications.

• Increased risk of infection following a pelvic surgery, i.e. pelvic inflammatory disease.
• Higher susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
• More likely to acquire chlamydial cervicitis, trichomoniasis, herpes simplex infection.
• Lowering the success rate of in-vitro fertilization procedures.
• 6-time increase in postpartum endometritis if there was BV before cesarean delivery.
• Increased risk of cystitis.
• If a woman have BV during pregnancy, there is an increased risk in major adverse pregnancy outcomes, e.g. low-birth weight, preterm labor, premature ruptures of membranes, and spontaneous abortion.

The standard medication for bacterial vaginosis is antibiotic, but you can also relieve the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis permanently with BV natural cures.