Bacterial Vaginosis Basics

                

 

Bacterial Vaginosis is basically defined as a disruption or an upset in the bacterial balance of the normal vaginal environment.

It affects women of childbearing years (15-44) and while sexual activity does seem to play a role in the occurance of BV it is not considered a sexually transmitted disease since even women that have not had sexual intercourse (virgins) or have not had sexual intercourse for a long time can contract this infection.

There are several symptoms of bacterial vaginosis but the worst, for most women is the fishy vaginal odor.

This odor is very distinctive only to bacterial vaginosis. If you have this unfortunate and embarrassing odor you can be assured that it stems from the vaginal infection caused by bacterial vaginosis.

What is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is when the vaginal environment undergoes a change in which the good bacteria that exist normally within begin to decrease and the bad bacteria begin to increase.

Exactly what brings about this shift is not know. Generally there may be several underlying factors or triggers that can bring about BV.

A variety of good bacteria constantly live within the vaginal area and help to protect it in a variety of ways. The bad bacteria also constantly live within the same area but when everything is in good order the good bacteria greatly outnumber the bad and keep them in check.

Two of the biggest culprits thought to bring on bacterial vaginosis are hormonal changes such as when a woman gets pregnant, starts or changes birth control and other hormonal events.

And the other is antibiotics. When you take antibiotics these powerful bacterial killers also kill the good bacteria within your body and can set the stage for bacterial vaginosis.

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