How to Bacterial Vaginosis

Question: Is Bacterial Vaginosis Preventable?Answer: Because the scientific community does not have a clear understanding of what causes bacterial vaginosis or BV, it follows that medical researchers have yet to discover the best ways to prevent this most common vaginal infection. However, scientists do agree that BV is associated with having a new sex partner or having multiple sex partners. In fact, it's rare for women who have never had sexual intercourse to develop bacterial vaginosis.

The following basic prevention steps can help reduce the risk of upsetting the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and developing BV:

Reference: CDC STD FAQs: Bacterial Vaginosis
http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm
Accessed: 02/13/06
Published: 02/15/06

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Treating Bacterial Vaginosis

Question: What is the Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis?Answer: The recommended treatments for bacterial vaginosis are the antibiotics metronidazole and clindamycin. When prescribed for treating bacterial vaginosis, the usual form prescribed is as a vaginal cream or gel, although both are available as oral medications. These drugs are safe when used for treatment of BV during pregnancy. The only difference between treating pregnant and non-pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis is that dosage is different for pregnant women.

Occasionally bacterial vaginosis clears up without treatment. However, it’s important that all women who have BV get treatment as soon as possible. Untreated bacterial vaginosis can lead to the development of pelvic inflammatory disease or PID. Pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis also face the prospect of premature delivery or giving birth to low birth weight babies without proper treatment.

Reference: CDC STD FAQs: Bacterial Vaginosis; http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm; accessed: 02/13/06.

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Is Bacterial Vaginosis Common?

Question: How Common Is Bacterial Vaginosis?Answer: While many people assume that vaginal yeast infection is the most common vaginal infections, the fact is that bacterial vaginosis or BV is the number one occuring vaginal infection among women of childbearing age. In the United States, approximately 16% of women develop bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy.

Reference: CDC STD FAQs – Bacterial Vaginosis; http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm; accessed: 02/13/06.

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Bacterial Vaginosis - Gardnere

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginitis symptoms among women of childbearing age. Previously called nonspecific vaginitis or Gardnerella-associated vaginitis, BV is associated with sexual activity. BV reflects a change in the vaginal ecosystem. This imbalance, including pH changes, occurs when different types of bacteria outnumber the normal ones. Instead of Lactobacillus bacteria being the most numerous, increased numbers of organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides, Mobiluncus, and Mycoplasma hominis are found in the vaginas of women with BV. Investigators are studying the role that each of these microbes may play in causing BV, but they do not yet understand the role of sexual activity in developing BV. A change in sexual partners and douching may increase the risk of acquiring bacterial vaginosis.

Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Complications

Reprinted from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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