Vaginal Infection

Vaginal problems are some of the most common reasons women go to the doctor. They may have symptoms such as

• Itching

• Burning

• Pain

• Abnormal bleeding

• Discharge

Often, the problem is vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina. The main symptom is smelly vaginal discharge, but some women have no symptoms. Common causes are bacterial infections,trichomoniasis, and yeast infections.

What causes bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

A change in the balance of bacteria that normally live in the vagina causes BV.

Usually, "good" bacteria (lactobacilli) outnumber "bad" bacteria (anaerobes) in your vagina. But if anaerobic bacteria become too numerous, they upset the natural balance of microorganisms in the vagina and lactobacilli decrease.

Factors that can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the vagina include:

• Reacting to antibiotics

• Using an intrauterine device (IUD)

• Having unprotected sex with one or more partners

• Douching

Is there a cure for bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

Yes, BV is usually curable with prescription antibiotics that can help readjust the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Although some over-the-counter vaginal medications are sold, these are not effective for curing BV. Currently, only prescribed antibiotics are effective.

With BV, there is a risk of relapsing if the entire course of antibiotics is not finished. Therefore, it is important to finish all of the pills in a BV prescription.

Although BV can be cured, it does carry certain risks. Women with BV are at a higher risk for:

• Delivering an infant preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)

• Delivering an infant with a low birth weight (generally, 5.5 pounds or less)

• More easily contracting certain sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, herpes, and HIV/AIDS

• More easily infecting a partner with certain STDs, including HIV/AIDS

• Developing pelvic inflammatory disease

Should BV be treated in pregnant women?

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women with BV should be treated because of the possible risks of BV to the fetus.

• Risks of BV during pregnancy include delivering an infant preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and delivering an infant with a low birth weight (generally, 5.5 pounds or less).

• The CDC recommends that pregnant women be tested—and treated if necessary—if they have symptoms of BV.

• In addition, the CDC recommends that all pregnant women who have ever had a preterm delivery or delivered an infant with a low birth weight be considered for BV examination regardless of whether they have symptoms.

• Some research shows that treating BV in pregnant women does not reduce the risk of preterm birth. Further study is needed to better understand these outcomes.