Everything you should know
about bacterial vaginosis!
Did you ever notice a strange smell from your intimate area? A strong, even fish-like odor that left you feeling a bit uncomfortable? This could be due to a bacterial imbalance also known as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis results from an overgrowth of bacteria in your vagina. Normally, the healthy lactobacilli are the dominating bacteria in the vagina, but if bacterial vaginosis develops, other unwanted bacteria start to overgrow the lactobacilli.
The exact cause of this overgrowth is unknown, but there are some factors that might increase the risk such as being sexually active. However, it’s important to stress that BV can also occur in the absence of sexual activity. Therefore, bacterial vaginosis is not considered to be an STD.
Symptoms
The following symptoms might indicate bacterial vaginosis:
- Foul, fish-like odor (which may be intensified after intercourse)
- Thin, grayish white vaginal discharge
Less common symptoms are burning during urination and vaginal itching.
"The exact cause of this overgrowth is unknown, but there are some factors that might increase the risk such as being sexually active "
