Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a frequent vaginal infection that is simple to treat. As a result, vaginal discharge may vary, and it can also generate a strange odor in your discharge.
Bacterial vaginosis has little effect on most pregnancies. However, there is a danger of complications, such as early birth or miscarriage, in some circumstances.
Read on to identify the symptoms, causes, and how you can self-manage it.
Bacterial vaginosis symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis:
• A change in your regular vaginal discharge’s color; may appear to be grey.
• A strange odor coming from your vaginal discharge; the peculiar odor has been compared to that of raw fish.
What induces BV?
The exact cause of bacterial vaginosis is unidentified. However, it might happen if the bacteria in your vaginal area changes.
You have a variety of germs in your vaginal area. Lactobacilli are a type of ‘friendly’ or ‘healthy’ bacteria. When friendly bacteria die off, other bacteria start to thrive. These bacteria are known as anaerobic bacteria. Your vaginal acid balance is thrown off by this change in bacteria. This can lead to the growth of more ‘unfriendly’ anaerobic bacteria, which can lead to BV.
Bacterial vaginosis treatment
Medications can be prescribed by your doctor or obstetrician to treat bacterial vaginosis. Antibiotics are frequently used as a therapy. It could be in the form of tablets, cream, or gel.
Always follow your doctor’s, obstetrician’s, or pharmacist’s recommendations.
Preventing and self-managing bacterial vaginosis
There are several things you can do to self-manage bacterial vaginosis in addition to the medication mentioned above.
You can simply use plain water when washing your genitals. Neither soap nor shower gel should be used as they can irritate the skin and change the vaginal pH balance. Use an emollient like aqueous cream instead. Moreover, if you have bacterial vaginosis, you should take showers rather than baths. Because you are sitting in the water, bathing is more likely to change the pH balance in your vagina.
Don’t douche the vagina (a douche is flushing, squirting, or spraying water or other cleaning products into your vagina), and avoid using tampons when pregnant since they can introduce unwanted microorganisms. Also, try to quit smoking if you are a smoker as it can weaken your immune system and make you more prone to bacterial vaginosis.
Therefore, you now better understand how to spot bacterial vaginosis and self-manage it if you have it. If you suspect you have BV, make sure to see your doctor, midwife, or obstetrician.
