Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) : Symptoms Causes & Treatment

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Diagnosis

The diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is only possible by a medical professional. You will be questioned by your doctor about your medical history, including any STIs or vaginal infections, at your visit. Your doctor might also conduct a pelvic exam and/or run tests on a sample of your discharge.

Samples of your vaginal fluid are used in tests for bacterial vaginosis. There are many tests that may be run on the sample to check for bacterial vaginosis. The majority are:

• Wet mount: This method entails examining your vaginal discharge under a microscope on a glass slide.
• Whiff test: Your doctor smells your vaginal discharge for the presence of any fishy odors.
• pH Test: Using this test, you can determine how acidic your discharge is. A higher pH might mean BV.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Treatment

Your doctor will provide you an antibiotic prescription, usually for metronidazole or clindamycin. You inject the gel or cream form of these drugs into your vagina. Some antibiotics come in tablet form that you can consume.

It's crucial to take the antibiotic as directed by your doctor and to finish it. If you stop too soon because your symptoms go away, you have a higher chance of developing BV once more.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Prevention

Bacterial vaginosis cannot be stopped. Nevertheless, avoiding these risks by exercising caution:

• Avoid douching. Your vagina's normal bacterial balance is altered by it. Practice good vulvar and vaginal care instead.
• Avoid touching anything that has touched your anus in the vagina. Toilet paper, for example, may spread germs from your feces to your vagina.
• Limit your sex partners to a minimum. Having several sex partners increases your risk of developing BV.
• Use cotton or cotton-lined underclothes. In damp settings, bacteria flourish. Cotton aids in the evaporation of moisture.

References

Coleman, J. S., & Gaydos, C. A. (2018). Molecular diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis: an update. Journal of clinical microbiology, 56(9), 10-1128.

Coudray, M. S., & Madhivanan, P. (2020). Bacterial vaginosis—A brief synopsis of the literature. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 245, 143-148.

Kenyon, C., Colebunders, R., & Crucitti, T. (2013). The global epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 209(6), 505-523.

Nasioudis, D., Linhares, I. M., Ledger, W. J., & Witkin, S. S. (2017). Bacterial vaginosis: a critical analysis of current knowledge. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 124(1), 61-69.

Spiegel, C. A. (1991). Bacterial vaginosis. Clinical microbiology reviews, 4(4), 485-502.