The Most Common Infection of Vaginitis
By Datriona Spears
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most frequently occurring vaginal infection affecting from 10% to 64% of the female population at any given time. But today woman are beginning to see more infections caused by bacterial vaginosis. Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can result in discharge, itching and pain. Vaginitis usually appears when a woman’s normal balance of vaginal bacteria or an infection changes, it can also result from reduced estrogen levels after menopause.
There are four main types of Vaginitis:
- Bacterial vaginosis: This type of vaginitis results from overgrowth of one of several organisms normally present in your vagina, upsetting the natural balance of vaginal bacteria. More than one in six pregnant women in the United States has bacterial vaginosis, though many aren't aware of it.
- Yeast infections: A naturally occurring fungus called Candida albicans usually causes this type of vaginitis. An estimated three out of four women will have a yeast infection in their lifetime.
- Trichomoniasis: This type is caused by a parasite and is commonly transmitted by sexual intercourse.
- Atrophic vaginitis: This type results from reduced estrogen levels after menopause. The vaginal tissues become thinner and drier, which may lead to itching, burning or pain.
What is Bacterial Vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of several bacterias that normally exist in the vagina. Many believe that BV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but woman who are not sexually active may get an infection. Many times BV is included when talking about STIs because it is more common in women who are sexually active and because the symptoms of BV can be similar to the symptoms of other STIs.
The exact cause of BV is unknown. It is a condition in which the natural balance of organisms found in the vagina changes. The healthy vagina normally contains a variety of bacteria. One kind of bacteria, known as lactobacillus, which is important for keeping the vagina slightly acidic to help reduce the growth of potentially harmful organisms. Women who have BV lose this protection and have both a large increase in the number of potentially harmful bacteria and a large decrease in the numbers of normal, protective lactobacilli in their vagina.
What are The Symptoms?
About half of all women with BV will experience no symptoms at all. But when a woman does have symptoms, the most common sign is a foul or "fishy" smelling vaginal odor, which greatly increases following intercourse. Another common symptom is an excessive white or gray discharge with a milk-like consistency that can stain undergarments.
How to Be Diagnosed and Treated
The best way to be diagnosed for bacterial vaginosis, is by seeing your medical provider who will be able to detect bacterial vaginosis by examining vaginal secretions under a microscope and checking pH. Occasionally, bacterial vaginosis will be incidentally picked up on a routine Pap smear. Your doctor may prescribe a medicine you can use vaginally for a prescribed length of time, but it also can be treated with oral medications. It is important to take the medicine as directed and to abstain from sexual contact until the treatment is completed.