Bacterial vaginosis is more common in women who are sexually active. But it can occur if you are not sexually active as well.

The most common symptom is a smelly vaginal discharge. It may look grayish white or yellow. A sign of bacterial vaginosis can be a "fishy" smell, which may be worse after sex. About half of women who have bacterial vaginosis do not notice any symptoms.

Many things can cause abnormal vaginal discharge, including somesexually transmitted infections (STIs). See your doctor so you can be tested and get the right treatment.

Doctors diagnose bacterial vaginosis by asking about the symptoms, doing a pelvic exam, and taking a sample of the vaginal discharge. The sample can be tested to find out if you have bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis usually does not cause other health problems. But in some cases it can lead to serious problems.

• If you have it when you are pregnant, it increases the risk ofmiscarriage, early (preterm) delivery, and uterine infection afterpregnancy.
• If you have it when you have a pelvic procedure such as a cesarean section, an abortion, or a hysterectomy, you are more likely to get a pelvic infection.
• If you have it and you are exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (including HIV), you are more likely to catch the infection.

• Doctors usually prescribe an antibiotic to treat bacterial vaginosis. They come as pills you swallow or as a cream or capsules (called ovules) that you put in your vagina. If you are pregnant, you will need to take pills.

• Bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 2 or 3 days with antibiotics, but treatment goes on for 7 days. Do not stop using your medicine just because your symptoms are better. Be sure to take the full course ofantibiotics.

  Antibiotics usually work well and have few side effects. But taking them can lead to a vaginal yeast infection. A yeast infection can causeitching, redness, and a lumpy, white discharge. If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor about what to do.

  Bacterial vaginosis is an infection of the vagina caused by bacteria. Normally, there are a lot of "good" bacteria and some "bad" bacteria in the vagina. The good types help control the growth of the bad types. With bacterial vaginosis, the balance is upset. There are not enough good bacteria and too many bad bacteria. This can cause a discharge from the vagina that may smell fishy.

• Bacterial Vaginosis - Cause

  Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an imbalance of the organisms (flora) that naturally exist in the vagina. Normally, about 95% of vaginal flora are lactobacillus bacteria. (These types are unique to humans, different from the lactobacillus in yogurt.) These lactobacilli help keep the vaginal pH level low and prevent overgrowth of other types of organisms. Women with bacterial vaginosis have fewer lactobacillus organisms than normal and more of other types of bacteria. Experts do not yet understand what causes this imbalance.

  Although the specific cause isn't known, a number of health and lifestyle factors have been linked to bacterial vaginosis. For more information, see What Increases Your Risk.

• Bacterial Vaginosis - Symptoms

  Many women with bacterial vaginosis do not have any symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis does not typically cause itching. But it does cause:

  • An excessive grayish white vaginal discharge, unlike normal vaginal discharge. Some women describe the discharge as "yellow."
  • A bothersome "fishy" odor, which is usually worse after sex (intercourse).

  Other conditions with similar symptoms include some sexually transmitted infections (especially trichomoniasis, chlamydia, andgonorrhea) and vaginal yeast infection.

• Bacterial Vaginosis - What Increases Your Risk

  Things that increase your risk of gettingbacterial vaginosis include:

  • Having more than one sex partner or having a new sex partner.
  • Smoking.
  • Douching.
  • Not using condoms.

  Although bacterial vaginosis can be triggered by or get worse from sexual activity, it does not appear to be an infection that is passed from man to woman. So experts do not consider bacterial vaginosis to be a male-female sexually transmitted infection. Bacterial vaginosis may be passed from woman to woman during sexual contact.
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