What is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial Vaginosis or BV is also known as Vaginal Bacteriosis which is a common cause of vaginal infections. Vagina already has some bacterias, some of them may be good or some may be bad. Good balance the bad ones but if it gets disturbed, bad bacteria may grow and may cause Vaginal Inflammation. Usually, it occurs during the reproductive years, but it may be common among women in any other conditions as well. Bacterial Vaginosis should not be confused with Candidiasis or Sexually Transmitted Disease. It is just a bacterial disturbance. Although it is not a serious condition and may cure by own, yet one must not ignore this problem as it may take chronic form in the future. Some antibiotics are available to cure this which may results in 2-3 days yet, 7 days course is always prescribed to complete it. 

What are the Symptoms & Signs of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Not all the women may have the visible symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis yet the most common symptoms are abnormal white discharge which the foul smell. some of the common symptoms are:-

• Vaginal Itching
• Foul smell discharge after sexual intercourse
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Vaginal Bleeding (rarely)
• Burning sensation at the time of passing urine
• Change in color of discharge to grey, yellow
• Women may also experience some irritation, pain, and erythema 

What are the Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial Vaginosis usually occurs with the effect of bad bacteria over the Good bacteria. The actual reasons are still unknown, although some of the causes are given below:-

• Overgrowth of Vaginal bacteria
• It may common to those who are not sexually active
• Having sex with multiple partners
• Vaginal Douching
• Intrauterine devices
• Smoking and intaking drugs
• Use of antibiotics
• Menopause women are most likely to get affected. 
• Pregnant and Women with STIs are more into the risk of It

A healthy vagina is a combination of many microorganisms such as Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii. Lactobacillus stops the growth of microorganisms causing bacterial symptoms. A reduction in Lactobacillus may allow bad bacteria to grow and gets multiplied. Production of these toxins may make it difficult to grow healthy bacteria.

What are the Complications of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Although it is common and may not have any adverse effect in the short run, if it not treated on time, it may lead t serious complications such as:-

• Pelvic inflammatory disease or PIDs following surgical terms such as hysterectomy
• Premature Delivery or Miscarriage
• HIV Infections
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Tubal factor infertility

How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnosed?

If any women face a problem of abnormal vaginal discharge, the doctor may ask her some of the questions pertaining to her medical symptoms and may also ask to check for the followings tests and diagnosis:-

• Medical Histories Like earlier vaginal infections, STIs, Sex with multi-partners or UTIs, etc
• Pelvic examination to check the vaginal lining and cervix
• Manual Exam of Ovaries and Uterus while collecting the samples to check for chlamydia or gonorrhea infection.
• Examining the vaginal Discharge via Whiff tests to check for the fishy odor or to distinguish it from Yeast or candidiasis and STI infection such as trichomonas
• Wet Mount test is prescribed in which salt water is added to the discharge and observed under the microscope for clue cells and White Blood Cells (WBC). Clue cells are the indication of Bacterial Vaginosis whereas WBC shows Infection
• Normal Vaginal pH test is 3.8 to 4.5. If the value is more than 4.5, it may be an indication of Bacterial Vaginosis. 
• Oligonucleotide Probe test which reveals absolute results, although it is not readily available in every lab.

What is the Ayurvedic Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Many of the allopathy and antibiotic solutions are available in the market to cure the Bacterial Vaginosis. But these may have some adverse effect as well. The result can never be the same as the condition may depend on the human body & immune system. Here at A1Sexologist, we treat the problem via AYURVEDA which is a natural way to heal the difficult health problems which can't even be identified by modern techniques.  No doubt, Ayurveda takes time to heal, but results are prompt and long-lasting. It may cure the difficult disease even with using holistic procedure and with no side-effects.