{"id":9740,"date":"2019-08-11T12:21:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T12:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9740"},"modified":"2021-04-25T16:29:36","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T16:29:36","slug":"14-common-symptoms-of-bacterial-vaginosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-symptoms-of-bacterial-vaginosis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Like many other parts of the body, the vagina has a natural bacterial balance. Certain species of bacteria could and should be there naturally, but when the balance is thrown off or a new type of bacteria is introduced to the vagina. One of the most common resulting symptoms is a condition known as bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition is usually caused by a growth in a specific strain of bacteria that is normally present in the vagina. This strain is known as Gardnerella vaginalis and is specific to the vagina. Some of these bacteria are normal, but it is usually balanced out by a certain number of other microbes. If it grows out of control, then that can lead to bacterial vaginosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes this condition results from the introduction of foreign bacteria strains, such as during sexual intercourse. Even normal, otherwise healthy actions can throw the balance off. Things like douching can alter the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at 8 common symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Discharge That Smells<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A certain amount of vaginal discharge<\/a> is entirely normal, especially if it is after the completion of a cycle. Chances are that you are familiar with normal discharge, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary, that can be a sign that something isn\u2019t right and additional medical attention might be required.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One major sign that something might not be right is an unusual odor. One smell that might indicate an imbalance in your natural bacteria colonies is a fish-like smell. Fishy smells can be caused by a lot of different issues, but if the discharge itself has a marine odor then that can be a sign of bacterial vaginosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important not to take a symptom such as this as a reason to self diagnose. It\u2019s the combination of factors that can aid your self-diagnosis of this condition. With that said, an odorous discharge can be a starting point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Discolored Discharge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to discharge that has a funky smell, there\u2019s something else you might notice about discharge that can indicate a bacterial problem. Any discoloration from the normal discharge you are used to could indicate a medical issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One form of discoloration is white discharge. Although this can also indicate a yeast infection<\/a>, it\u2019s not uncommon to see during a case of bacterial vaginosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another possible problem is dull gray discharge. This will be more opaque than usual and, as the name indicates, possess a gray tint to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One other possibility is that the discharge takes on a green tint. In general, green tints added to mucus membrane excretions can indicate an infection. Just like when you cough up green mucus when sick, green discharge from the vagina is a strong indication that you may be dealing with the symptoms of some sort of infection and medical treatment may be necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Yeast Infection Treatment Has Failed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the symptoms have a strong overlap, you may at first think you have come down with a yeast infection. There are many over the counter treatments <\/a>for yeast infections, and these treatments are usually pretty effective. If you have suspected a yeast infection, followed the normal treatment procedure, and haven\u2019t seen any improvement in symptoms over the course of several days following treatment, you may be dealing with something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your typical yeast infection symptoms continue to be present after treatment, then that is a stronger indication that the problem may come from bacterial vaginosis instead of yeast. Typical medication for yeast infections won\u2019t do anything to bacteria, so the cure will be something else entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since these medications are so effective, if they do nothing to help improve the symptoms you have been experiencing, you can usually rule out a yeast infection and move on to other options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. You Think You Might Have an STD But Nothing Adds Up<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you think you might have an STD <\/a>based on your symptoms, but the symptoms themselves don\u2019t line up with any STD you have read about or you haven\u2019t had any untrustworthy sexual partners recently, then the problem might not be due to an STD at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis overlap heavily with a lot of different STDs and STIs but are caused by an entirely different underlying problem. With that said, the usual treatment for some types of STDs (like a strong course of antibiotics) can also help cure bacterial vaginosis. Other treatments will remain entirely ineffective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have gone down the path of researching and\/or treating STDs or STIs but see no improvement and it doesn\u2019t make sense that you may have contracted a sexual disease based on your recent sexual history, then that makes a stronger case for bacterial vaginosis being your problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Foamy Discharge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve touched on a number of issues with vaginal discharge that deviate from the normal fluid you may experience on a monthly basis. In addition to color changes and strong odors, another issue you might have is a foamy texture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is exactly what it sounds like \u2013 the discharge itself takes on a foam-like consistency, like something you might see from a foaming soap dispenser or lathered body wash. If your discharge looks like this, then that is a strong signal that something is wrong, and the cause might be bacterial <\/a>in nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discharge will seem aerated in this case, with a lot of extra volume from air particles, but it won\u2019t be heavy like it normally is since the density is reduced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be embarrassing to discuss, but it\u2019s important to consider all factors if you want to get on the path to curing this problem and resuming your life as normal.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re experiencing abnormalities in vaginal discharge color, texture, or odor, that could be due to a number of problems. If there is also a fever <\/a>present, then that is a sign that your body is trying to fight off an infection, which helps narrow down if the problem is bacterial or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria can only survive in a carefully controlled environment. Because of this, we have evolved protections against infections, such as raising the core body temperature. The extra heat makes it harder for bacteria to thrive and reproduce, which helps our bodies fight the infection off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We often hear that the normal human body temperature is 98.6 degrees F. That are pretty accurate as an average, but it\u2019s common for that temperature to fluctuate during the day. Seeing a temperature of 95.5 or even 99.9 could still be in the healthy range, but if you average your temperature and find it\u2019s high, that can signal an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Itching or Burning When You Pee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Discomfort <\/a>during urination can be due to a number of factors, but it\u2019s also a sign of bacterial vaginosis. These symptoms don\u2019t have to come along with one another. You may experience itching with no burning, or burning with no itching. In severe cases, you may experience both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are both signs of a bacterial infection. One of the body\u2019s responses to infection is to increase inflammation, which is what you normally see when some part of your body swells up and becomes red. Inflammation is irritating, but it\u2019s one of the ways your body naturally uses to fight off infections. Your body can understand that it is dealing with an infection long before you do. The human body is very good at dealing with infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may experience a burning or itching sensation even when you aren\u2019t urinating, but the symptoms are most likely to appear during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. You\u2019ve Been Douching a Lot Lately<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve been taking measures to clean your vagina, such as vaginal douching, then that could be a risk factor and a sign that any discomfort you\u2019ve been feeling is due to bacterial vaginosis<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The human body maintains a normal amount of certain types of bacteria. These bacteria are perfectly normal and a sign that things are going well and you have a healthy body. If one of these cultures is allowed to grow more strongly than normal and overpower other types of bacteria, then an imbalance can result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can also happen if you have tried to change the pH (percent hydrogen, also known as the balance between alkalinity and acidity of the vagina). The pH is naturally regulated and taking steps to change that can affect bacteria, making it easier for some cultures to grow and harder for other ones to keep up, which changes the natural balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Surgery Complications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Those women who are over the age of 40-years old, start to experience the onset of menopause<\/a>. As a result of the condition, the affected individual begins to experience a disruption in ovulation and hormone balance. As the condition progresses, the changes in hormones may alter a person\u2019s personality. It\u2019s for this reason that many women decide to have a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy describes a medical procedure where surgeons remove the womb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the surgery, the affected individual experiences a balancing of the hormone profile, and the end to symptoms of irritability and frustration. Some women who experience an unwanted pregnancy may slow decide to opt for abortion surgery. Both of these procedures may result in the onset of postoperative infection with BV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s possible to treat BV using a course of antibiotics to eradicate the harmful bacteria and bring the vagina back to normal levels of health. There is rarely any other severe complications with the disorder, and most patients make a full recovery within a few days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. PID<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with the onset of BV experience an imbalance in the bacteria found in the vagina. As a result of the imbalance, harmful bacteria start to take over the infection <\/a>site. If left untreated and undiagnosed, the patient begins to notice the onset of inflammation in other tissues in the pelvis. The harmful bacteria may spread through the urinary tract, causing the beginning of burning sensations when urinating.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria may also spread into the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, causing symptoms of severe inflammation in the pelvis. IF the patient does not receive treatment, the increase of inflammation in the pelvis may lead to a life-threatening condition known as a pelvic inflammatory disease, (PID).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PID causes numerous adverse health effects in the affected individual. The patient requires immediate hospitalization for treatment. Provided the patient receives prompt treatment, the symptoms will subside, and the patient will make a full recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Bladder Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with a case of bacterial vaginosis may experience the bacteria migrating to other organs and tissues in the pelvic region. As a result, the patient may start to experience bladder pain. As the harmful bacteria caused by the imbalance in the vagina begin to spread, they migrate up the urethra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the bacteria enter the urethra, it starts a progression toward the bladder. When the bacteria infect the bladder, it may lead to symptoms of pain when the person needs to urinate<\/a>. The patient may also experience pain as the bladder reaches capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases of bladder infection, the situation resolves on its own, without the need for medical intervention. However, those patients that experience bladder infection as a result of BV require the use of antibiotics to cure the disease and return the bladder to health. In most cases, the symptoms of bladder pain will dissipate within 24 to 36-hours after starting antibiotic treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Receiving a Diagnosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial vaginosis is an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition for women to deal with when it occurs. Many women confuse the onset of the disorder with the presence of a sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia<\/a>. The embarrassment with their condition may cause the affected individual to delay seeking treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaying treatment exacerbates the effects of the condition, and women may start to experience the bacteria spread to other regions of the pelvis. Should you experience the onset of BV, its best to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Women that don\u2019t get treatment may experience the persistence of the imbalance for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat the imbalance with the use of antibiotic medications to kill off the harmful bacteria. The doctor will also recommend that the patient increase their good bacteria by taking a course of probiotics as well. Most women will begin to notice their symptoms clear up within a week of starting treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Treatment Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When bacterial vaginosis takes over the vagina, it causes an imbalance in the types of bacteria found in the organ. The vagina has a natural bacterial balance, and when it’s disturbed, it can cause the onset of BV in the affected individual. There is a multitude of reasons as you why the patient may develop the disorder. Cleaning the vagina with a douche is the most common cause of the disease, as the cleaning disrupts the bacterial balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the reason for the cause of the condition, the patient\u2019s symptoms will be the same. They exhibit discharge from the vagina, and the patient will also experience the onset of irritation, inflammation<\/a>, and itching symptoms \u2013 especially during urination or while having sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat the condition through the use of antibiotics. The antibiotics may come as a tablet, or the doctor may prescribe anti-bacterial cream to apply topically and internally to the vagina. In most cases, the patient will notice a rapid recovery from the condition, and they should reach normal levels of health within a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Risk Factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As with any disease or health disorder, there is a group of risk factors <\/a>that make some women more predisposed to developing BV than others. If you find yourself mentioned in the list of high-risk groups for BV mentioned below, speak to your doctor about preventative strategies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women that douche their vagina regularly are at a higher risk of developing BV. The douching changes the bacterial balance inside the vagina, resulting in a change in bacteria populations that occur at the onset of BV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those women who have sex with multiple partners are at a higher risk of developing BV. Choosing to have sex with multiple partners is a risky practice. You have a higher risk of catching an STI, such as HPV, and you also have a chance of developing BV as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have experience of BV in the past, then you are more likely to develop the condition again. Take care that you don\u2019t follow any of the behaviors that could lead to the recurrence of the imbalance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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