Bacterial vaginosis

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Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (pronunciation: bak-TEER-ee-ul vag-uh-NOH-sis) is a type of vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina, which upsets the natural balance.

Etymology

The term "bacterial vaginosis" was first used in the 1980s to describe the condition. It is derived from the words "bacteria", referring to the microorganisms that cause the condition, "vagina", the area of the body affected, and "osis", a suffix often used in medicine to indicate a disorder or disease.

Symptoms

Women with bacterial vaginosis often have an abnormal vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor. Discharge, if present, is usually white or gray; it can be thin. Women may also experience burning during urination or itching around the outside of the vagina, or both. However, most women with bacterial vaginosis report no signs or symptoms at all.

Causes

Bacterial vaginosis results from an overgrowth of one of several organisms normally present in your vagina. Usually, "good" bacteria (lactobacilli) outnumber "bad" bacteria (anaerobes) in your vagina. But if anaerobic bacteria become too numerous, they upset the balance, causing bacterial vaginosis.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for bacterial vaginosis include sexual activity, having multiple sex partners, having a female sex partner, douching, and lack of use of a condom.

Treatment

Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotic medications prescribed by a health care provider. Two different antibiotics are recommended as treatment for bacterial vaginosis: metronidazole or clindamycin. Either can be used with non-pregnant or pregnant women, but the recommended dosages differ.

Prevention

To help prevent bacterial vaginosis:

  • Minimize vaginal irritation by using mild, nondeodorant soaps and unscented tampons or pads.
  • Don't douche. Your vagina doesn't require cleansing other than normal bathing. Repetitive douching disrupts the normal organisms that reside in the vagina and can actually increase your risk of vaginal infection.

See Also

External links

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