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What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

Learn what bacterial vaginosis is, it's main symptoms, how to prevent it, more information and treatment. In this article, you can also find advice on how to treat BV effectively and how to stop it from recurring, as well as the differences between BV and thrush. 

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

BV can be a very unpleasant condition that prevents you from living your life to the full. BV is a common condition and can be easily treated. It can affect up to 1 in 3 women of childbearing age. BV is a vaginal infection caused by bacteria rather than by yeast (which is the case for thrush) and occurs when there is an imbalance of the microflora in your vagina. 

BV is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it can be passed onto another person with a vagina during sex. You should also be aware that treatments like antibiotics and BV creams can affect condoms and other contraception. 

Your vagina is naturally acidic, which stops bad bacteria from overgrowing and helps maintain a healthy level of good bacteria. However, sometimes the conditions in your vagina can change. It can become less acidic, which leads to the growth of bad bacteria causing bacterial vaginosis.

You are more likely to get BV if: 

  • You are sexually active (but women who have not had sex can also get BV),

  • You have changed your partner,

  • If you have multiple sexual partners,

  • You have an IUD (a contraception device), 

  • You use perfumed products in and around your vagina.

Bacterial Vaginosis symptoms

Getting bacterial vaginosis might be worrying because the symptoms are not pleasant: you will notice a fishy, unpleasant odour and/or thin, white vaginal discharge. Those signs can worsen after having sex. You should also know that some women who have BV might not experience any symptoms at all.    

So, what’s the difference between thrush and BV? 

Women often mistake bacterial vaginosis for thrush, but these are two different infections and they should be treated differently. The symptoms of thrush are: soreness and itching around your vagina, cottage cheese like discharge that’s odourless and burning sensation when passing urine. Bacterial vaginosis causes a fishy, unpleasant odour and abnormal vaginal discharge that’s grey-white and watery. BV should not cause you pain, irritation or itchiness in your vagina. 

The different symptoms can help you identify which condition you may have. If you are still unsure, you can use Canestest, the simple home test measuring the pH level of your vagina with over 90% of accuracy. Combining the results from the test and your symptoms you can determine whether you might have BV, and then you can start bacterial vaginosis symptom treatment if needed. 

When to see a doctor 

You should consider seeing a doctor if you have bacterial vaginosis for the first time or if you are pregnant. Pregnant women can be more susceptible to vaginal infections because of the hormonal changes that can upset the balance in their vagina. If you develop bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, there is a small chance of complications, including premature birth or miscarriage. However, in the majority of pregnancies BV causes no problems. There is also a link between BV and increased risk of problems with reproductive health and fertility.  You should see your doctor if you are unsure or when in doubt. A doctor or nurse may perform and examination and use a swab to collect a sample of your discharge to test. They may also test the pH of your vagina. This might be a little uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t hurt.  If you’re diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, your doctor may want to put you on a course of antibiotics.  You could also visit your local sexual health clinic. Sexual health clinics are designed to help if you’re concerned about issues with your genitals or urinary tract, and often take walk-in patients. This means that they might be quicker than getting an appointment with your GP.

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How to treat Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis can be easily treated with an internal gel like Canesbalance. If you visit your doctor, they may want to give you a course of antibiotics.

Canesbalance starts working immediately to relive the unpleasant intimate odour and it's clinically proven to treat the symptoms of BV effectively. It contains triple benefit formula that will help you treat your bacterial vaginosis symptoms effectively. Canesbalance is a 7-day course of treatment, available in a vaginal gel or vaginal pessary format that:

  • Provides immediate odour relief,

  • Relieves greyish, watery discharge, 

  • Hampers the growth of bad bacteria that cause the infection and, 

  • Encourages the growth of good bacteria.

While BV can sometimes go away on it's own, without treatment you may be at risk of more serious health risks. This includes being more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea, which in turn can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

How to prevent BV

There are steps you can take to prevent BV and take control over your intimate health. Your intimate area is more delicate that the rest of the body so you shouldn’t use the same soaps or shower gels because they can upset the pH balance in your vagina.

Other things you can do to stop BV from recurring:

  • Avoid deodorants or perfumed products in and around your vaginal area. 

  • Don’t over-wash.  Avoid douching inside your vagina. 

  • Don’t use strong detergents to wash your underwear. 

  • Change tampons and pads frequently. 

  • Ensure you wipe from front to back when going to the toilet. 

  • Change your underwear after swimming or working out.

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CanesOasis Cystitis Relief 4g granules for oral solution contains sodium citrate. For Thrush: Canesten 100mg Pessary; Canesten 200mg Pessary, contain clotrimazole. Canesten Thrush Combi: Internal & External Creams 10% w/w vaginal cream & 2% w/w cream; Pessary & External Cream 500mg pessary & 2% w/w cream; Soft Gel Pessary & External Cream 500mg vaginal capsule & 2% w/w cream contain clotrimazole. Canesten Thrush: External Cream 2% w/w cream; Internal Cream 10% w/w vaginal cream; Pessary 500mg pessary; Soft Gel Pessary 500mg vaginal capsule contain clotrimazole; Oral Capsule 150mg capsule contains fluconazole. Canesten Thrush Duo Oral Capsule & External Cream 150mg capsule & 2% w/w cream contain fluconazole and clotrimazole. Canesten Athlete’s Foot 1% w/w Cream; Canesten Cream, for fungal infections including nappy rash; Canesten Dermatological Spray, treatment for fungal skin infections, contain clotrimazole. Canesten Hydrocortisone Athlete’s Foot 1%, 1% w/w Cream, Canesten Bifonazole Once Daily Athlete’s Foot 1% w/w Cream contains bifonazole. Canesten Antifungal Cream, contains clotrimazole. Always read the label.

 

† This tool is brought to you by Ada in collaboration with Canesten® where it is hosted.
The Ada symptom assessment tool is a medical device registered in the European Union. Registration in other markets is pending. The Canesten website is not a registered medical device.
By opting to start the assessment, you will leave the Canesten website and enter the Ada symptom assessment tool.
Within the Ada symptom assessment tool, you will be asked a series of questions about your health and symptoms to help Ada generate a symptom assessment report.
Once this assessment report is generated, you will have the option to download it from the Ada symptom assessment tool. Bayer has no access to your personal data or assessment report. Ada is solely responsible for handling your personal data in accordance with their Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
If your assessment indicates a possible women’s intimate health condition - such as thrush, BV or cystitis - you will be given further options: find out more about these possible causes, find a local pharmacist and find out about Canesten products. At this time, you will be navigated back to the Canesten website and your Ada journey will end. Bayer is solely responsible for all content on the Canesten website.
Important note: Ada is not a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional and therefore does not replace your healthcare professional's advice or an appointment with your doctor. This symptom assessment tool cannot and is not intended to give you a medical diagnosis. Should your symptoms persist, get worse or if additional symptoms are noticed, please immediately seek professional medical attention.
Please speak to your healthcare professional if:

  • you are at all unsure about your symptoms or have any questions
  • you have never had thrush before and you think you might have it

If your healthcare professional has informed you of a diagnosis already, please follow their instructions carefully.

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