How Dangerous Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
How dangerous is bacterial vaginosis? Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is a mild bacterial infection of the vagina. While that may sound pretty gross, taken alone, it’s important to remember that all parts of our bodies host beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria. It’s a fact of life. It’s when the numbers og “good” bacteria decrease and the numbers of “bad” bacteria increase, upsetting our natural balance, that we run into potential problems. Too many bad bacteria in the vagina can cause bacterial vaginosis. Some symptoms include an unpleasant “fishy” odor, and white, gray, or yellow vaginal discharge.
So is it dangerous? By and large, bacterial vaginosis is more of a nuisance and embarrassment than a health danger. BV is:
– Far and away the most common vaginal infection among adult women.
– Not considered contagious, and is unlikely to be passed to sexual partners.
– Often asymptomatic – many women with the condition don’t know they have it.
– Frequently chronic – many sufferers will have outbreak after outbreak, with no long-term cure.
In specific cases, bacterial vaginosis does present a danger, specifically with regards to pregnancy and childbirth. BV can endanger the health of both mother and child, and is often treated for prophylactically prior to vaginal or cesarean deliveries. Specific dangers include uterine infections, premature labor, premature birth, and amniotic fluid infections.
One other potential danger presented by bacterial vaginosis is how it may interact with other, more dangerous diseases and condition. BV can increase a woman’s susceptibility to all manner of sexually transmitted diseases, up to and including HIV.
So, just because it’s not inherently dangerous, does that mean it’s no big deal? Of course not! A BV flare-up can be humiliating, uncomfortable, and deeply upsetting. Because of the sneaky way the condition has of acting up again the minute you think you’ve got it cured, it can be emotionally wearing to the extreme. You may want to try any number of medical or home remedies in order to tackle the unique bacterial strains causing your bacterial vaginosis.
Because the condition shares symptoms with a number of STDs, such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea, or even yeast infections, it’s important to ensure that you have a clean bill of health prior to tackling BV on your own.
With any luck, this snapshot of the potential dangers presented by bacterial vaginosis has helped you to determine the best course of action for dealing with the condition.
Rachel Gipson is a health and healing enthusiast and writer living in the Northeast Kingdon of Vermont. If you found these tips helpful, but need a GUARANTEED solution for bacterial vaginosis => CLICK HERE!
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