Men Bacterial Vaginosis and Other Misconceptions

                

 

Bacterial vaginosis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) since women who have never engaged in sexual activity can develop BV.

BV is simply caused by a reduction of good bacteria that normally live within the vaginal environment helping to protect it. Followed by an increase in bad bacteria that (which also normally live within the vaginal environment in reduced numbers) cause the major symptoms of increased discharge and sometimes a fishy vaginal odor.

A man cannot get bacterial vaginosis. It is generally thought that men cannot transmit bacterial vaginosis but they can play a role in aggravating the condition. Treating a boyfriend or treatment for a male partner is unnecessary.

It is suspected that women involved in sexual relations with another woman (or lesbian relationships) can spread or initiate BV in other women they are having intimate contact with.

You cannot spread bacterial vaginosis simply by kissing. BV by its nature is strictly limited to the vaginal region but the infection can spread up into the fallopian tubes causing difficulties with pregnancies or future attempts at pregnancy.

If you have an infection of the mouth it may likely be what is commonly called thrush (in children) or is related to a yeast infection. A yeast infection is different from bacterial vaginosis. A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of yeast within the body or a particular area and BV is an overgrowth of bad bacteria within the vaginal environment.

Food cannot cause BV and contracting the infection is not based on hygiene or other normal methods of keeping yourself clean, but it is thought that douching and other feminine products can play a role in upsetting the balance of the vaginal environment, leading to bacterial vaginosis.

There should be not lesions or sores if all you have is bacterial vaginosis. It may be possible to develop some irritation or inflammation or that scratching the area excessively may cause sores. But any sores are not directly related to BV and if you have sores you probably have some other condition and should see a doctor.

Need to learn more right now about bacterial vaginosis or discover the cause of bacterial Vaginosis?

Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis

                

 

Bacterial Vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection of American women. Also known as Gardnerella-associated Vaginitis or just Vaginitis, the condition results from an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.

If you have Bacterial Vaginosis, you might notice signs like discharge, odor, itching, burning or pain. Women suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis often notice a strong fishy or unpleasant musky odor particularly after sexual intercourse. Additionally, you may notice more discharge than normal, and the discharge can be thin and of a white or gray color. Many women with the infection feel itching or irritation. However, some women don?t have any signs of Bacterial Vaginosis at all. In fact, experts say that more than 50 percent of women with Bacterial Vaginosis have no symptoms at all.

Though Bacterial Vaginosis is listed as a sexually transmitted disease by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease is considered a mild infection and the actual cause of the disease is not known. Though you can?t catch it from someone, women who have not had sex are rarely affected by Bacterial Vaginosis. However, women with multiple sex partners or are currently with a new sex partner are more likely to develop the infection.

To understand how Bacterial Vaginosis might occur, one needs to understand how the natural flora function in the vagina. In the vagina, there is a greater balance of what?s considered to be good bacteria. These bacteria are of the same type that you might eat in yogurt?lactobacilli. Also present are the bad bacteria, but the good bacteria keep them in balance. When Bacterial Vaginosis occurs, the balance of power shifts toward the bad bacteria as they overtake the natural good bacteria flora.

If you think you have Bacterial Vaginosis, you must seek treatment from your doctor. If the infection is left untreated, it can spread up into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause a more serious infection. For pregnant women, treatment is especially important because the infection can travel up into the uterus.

Diagnosis is made by your doctor by both physical exam and laboratory test. On the physical exam, the doctor can observe the irritation and discharge as well as smell the odor. The laboratory test will determine the presence of the bad bacteria, Gardnerella, and the lack of lactobacilli, the good bacteria.

Treatment includes an antibiotic regimen taken either orally or vaginally and may include Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, Clindamycin, Tetracycline or Metronidazole.

Kristi Patrice Carter is an experienced health writer and the author of Beating Bacterial Vaginosis for Good! (A comprehensive eBook that teaches women how to successfully overcome Bacterial Veginosis). For additional information, please visit http://www.bacterialvaginosisrecurrent.com

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