The vagina usually has a varied and balanced collection of microorganisms. Getting BV is most likely and may happen to any woman. Bacterial vaginosis develops when a certain kind of bacteria increases in number in the vagina. Moreover, medication prescribed by a doctor or nurse can effectively cure BV. However, it might increase your risk of STIs and lead to complications during pregnancy.

Bacterial vaginosis develops when dangerous bacteria outweigh good bacteria. This disturbs the normal working of the vagina.

Symptoms

Most of those infected with BV have no signs of any symptoms. If you do experience symptoms bacterial vaginosis, you can experience the following:

• fever
• pain
• swelling
• fatigue
• cough
• difficulty breathing
• diarrhea
• skin changes
• thin vaginal discharge
• itching
• burning;
• odor

The majority of people who have bacterial vaginosis don't experience any pain, itching, or any other symptoms as mentioned above. However, you should investigate alternative bacterial vaginosis caused by a strange vaginal discharge if you are unsure if it is BV.

Causes

Poor hygiene

Not washing hands often enough before or after using restrooms or not disinfecting commonly used things like utensils are two examples of poor hygiene contributing to sickness. It takes as little as a touch to spread germs from one host to another.

Contaminated food or water

Ingesting hazardous microorganisms from contaminated food or water might result in illness.

Ensure your food is cooked properly and only drink purified water to avoid this.

Weak immunity

A weakened immune system might leave us more vulnerable to bacterial infections due to sickness or pharmaceutical use. We are more susceptible to bacterial infections when our immune systems are compromised.

Close interaction with infected people

If you spend time with people with bacterial vaginosis or infection, it increases your risk of catching BV. Because it spreads by germs in coughing or sneezing or individuals. So, you need to limit your interactions with infected people.

Skin tears or cuts

Cuts are entry points for bacteria into the human body. To prevent bacterial infections, wounds should be clean and protected.

Diagnosis Methods

Methods that help diagnose BV are:

• A medical examination
• The analysis of a cervical fluid or discharge sample

A medical examination is necessary for the diagnosis of any medical condition. You can talk to your doctor or provider about the condition down there. Gray or yellow-green vaginal discharge with a fishy odor is a common symptom that leads doctors to suspect bacterial vaginosis. They probe further, inquiring about the source of the discharge and other conditions that might be at play.

Diagnosis is completed after examining fluid or discharge. The sample of discharge is taken by your opening of the uterus with a swab. The doctor will examine the presence of STDs in your sample. And by examining the pelvic region, the doctor also diagnoses other infections in the vaginal area.

Treatments

Treatment methods for bacterial vaginosis aim to restore the regular bacterial composition of the vagina. Possible methods of treatment include using antibiotics as per your doctor's prescription.

When you have bacterial vaginosis, the first treatment that comes to mind is taking antibiotics. You can take them as pills or in gel form. Even you can use them in the form of tubes. Bacterial vaginosis usually improves after a few days of treatment but often returns. If the infection keeps returning, you need an antibiotic treatment for a long time (weeks to months). Other than this, you can also try different bacterial vaginosis home remedies, including using a mixture of oil and water.

Returning of Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis often returns after being treated successfully, often within a few months. If it returns, you will get more antibiotics in your medications prescribed. Antibiotic vaginal gel may be used if you experience recurrent outbreaks (more than four times per year). To prevent a recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, you may need to continue this medication for a few months.

A doctor or sexual health clinic can advise how long you should take medication. They can also tell you if sex or your menstruation is to blame for your case of bacterial vaginosis.

Is Bacterial Vaginosis STI or STD?

BV is not a disease that spreads through sexual activities. Although the risk factor for developing BV is sexual activity, sexual contact is not the only means of transmission. According to the research, sex may alter the vaginal microbiomes. This makes bacterial overgrowth more likely. Sexual activity is one element that might contribute to this imbalance, but it can also develop in sexually inactive women.

Preventing BV

Doctors and researchers still don't know how the virus spreads or how to stop it. Consider taking the following simple precautions to lessen your chances of contracting BV:

• Avoid sexual activities
• Avoid douching (cleaning the vagina from the inside)
• Consistently and adequately use condoms throughout sexual encounters, if any.

How Does BV Spread?

The origin of BV is a mystery to scientists. But we know that sexually active people are disproportionately affected by this illness. BV develops when the vaginal flora is unbalanced between "good" and "harmful" bacteria. The usual balance of vaginal bacteria can be disrupted by behaviors including douching, not using condoms, and having new or many sex partners, all of which increase a person's risk for acquiring BV.

However, the exact mechanism by which sexual activity brings about BV is unknown. No studies have shown that how one treats one's sex partner influences whether or not that person contracts BV. Possessing BV raises the probability of contracting further sexually transmitted diseases. Those who have never had intercourse are pretty unlikely to get BV.

Risk Factors of BV

Several things can make it more likely to get bacterial vaginosis, such as:

Women who can conceive

Bacterial vaginosis is common in women between the age of 15-44. Or it is shared among the women that can conceive.

Sexual activity

Women with an active sexual life or more than one sexual partner are at high risk of Bacterial diagnosis.

Changes in hormones

The production of hormones changes during pregnancy and labor, which can cause bacterial vaginosis in women.