Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an imbalance of bacteria normally found in the vagina. The vagina normally contains harmless bacteria. BV occurs when some bacteria overgrow and other bacteria decrease in number.
If you have BV, you may not have any symptoms or you may notice a change in the fluid from your vagina, such as some watery discharge. The fluid may also change to a grey colour or have a fish-like odour, particularly after intercourse. It can also cause itching and irritation in the vaginal area.
BV is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it is more common in individuals who are sexually active. If you are exposed to an STI while you have BV, you are more likely to get that STI. Having an IUD, smoking or douching can also increase the chances of having BV.
To find out if you have BV, you must be examined by a health care provider. A lab test of your vaginal fluid may be done.
Your health care provider may screen you for BV if you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, and have a history of certain risk factors such as:
If you have BV, but no symptoms, treatment is not usually necessary. The condition often goes away without medication.
When you have symptoms, your health care provider may prescribe treatment, so the infection does not spread into the fallopian tubes and cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), a more serious illness. For more information on PID, visit HealthLinkBC File #08c Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
BV is treated with antibiotics. Your health care provider may prescribe these as a cream inserted into the vagina or as pills taken by mouth. Only oral medications are used to treat people who are pregnant.
It is recommended that any sexual partners with a vagina get tested for BV.
There is very little evidence to show that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. Examples of hormonal birth control include the pill, the patch, the ring or the shot. If you are being treated with antibiotics, it is important to keep using your birth control as you normally would. If you have concerns, use condoms until your next period after finishing the antibiotics or speak to your health care provider for more information.
When used correctly, external (“male”) and internal (“female”) condoms help prevent the spread of many STIs during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms are less effective at protecting against STIs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes simplex virus, genital warts (human papillomavirus (HPV)), and syphilis (when sores are present).
A dental dam is a piece of thin latex that is placed over the vagina/internal genitals or anus during oral sex. It can also be called a latex barrier/sheet, latex dam, oral dam or sheet. Dental dams are a good way to lower the chance of getting or passing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There are medications that can lower your chances of getting or passing on certain STIs. For more information, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Some STIs, such as hepatitis A, B and human papillomavirus (HPV) can be prevented with vaccines. Talk to your health care provider about how to get these vaccinations.
If you have recently changed sexual partners, or have multiple sex partners, getting regularly tested for STIs will tell you if you have an infection. Some people can have an STI and not have any symptoms. Finding and treating an STI reduces the chances of passing infections on to your partner(s).
The more partners you have, the higher your chance of getting exposed to STIs is.
Talk to your partner(s) about STIs and how you would like to prevent them before having sex. If you are having trouble discussing safer sex with your partner(s), talk about it with your health care provider or a counsellor.
For tips on how to talk to your partner(s), visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Smart Sex Resource https://smartsexresource.com/sexual-health/partners-communication/talking-to-your-partners.
If you have a sexually transmitted infection and are sexually active, it is important to tell your sexual partner(s). This will enable them to make decisions about their health and testing.
For more information on how you can reduce your chance of getting an STI, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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