A normal, healthy vagina is home to a variety of different bacteria. However, in Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) the balance is disturbed, and an overgrowth of some of these bacteria occurs. It’s not entirely clear why this happens. The most common symptom is a change in vaginal discharge, which may become white-grey in colour and may [...]

Bacterial Vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection (although using condoms does seem to make it less likely to develop). It can affect all women, whether they have had sex or not, but it is more common in sexually active women. Male sexual partners of women who have BV do not need any treatment, though female [...]

In women of reproductive age, BV is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. Women are more likely to get BV if they: are sexually active have recently changed sexual partner have a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are smokers have a copper coil for contraception use bubble bath Women are less likely to get BV if: they [...]

BV is usually diagnosed on the basis of symptoms, and can be confirmed by taking a vaginal swab, performed by a doctor or nurse. You may also need tests for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. If you are pregnant, and suspect you may have BV, it’s important to get tested and treated, as it [...]

In most women, BV causes no harm whatsoever, though the discharge may be unpleasant. However, if you have untreated BV during pregnancy, there is a slightly higher risk of premature labour, miscarriage, preterm birth and having a baby with a low birthweight. If you are pregnant and suspect you may have BV, you should see [...]

For women in whom BV has been diagnosed, antibiotics will usually quickly get rid of the symptoms. Treatment for bacterial vaginosis can involve oral antibiotics or topical treatment (an antibiotic vaginal cream). However, in milder cases, there is a good chance that BV will gradually clear by itself, so treatment is not always required.  If [...]

Further testing is not generally needed if your BV symptoms get better. However, if the course of antibiotic treatment does not work, retesting is advisable, in case something else is causing the symptoms or the BV has not responded to treatment. Follow up testing may be recommended in pregnant women who have had BV, to [...]

If you’ve had BV diagnosed and successfully treated in the past, but the same symptoms return after a period of time, another course of antibiotics may be considered. Qoctor can provide online assessment in this scenario. However, if your symptoms did not fully respond to treatment in the first place, if the symptoms are not [...]

Although BV is not an STI, if you have a female partner, she should consider being tested if she also has symptoms. However, a male partner does not need to be tested.