Bacterial vaginosis is more common than you think

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection in women of childbearing age and people with vaginas who don’t identify as women. It causes a watery, greyish-white discharge that has a fishy odour, particularly after sex¹. One popular myth is that bacterial vaginosis is a sexually transmitted infection, but it is not. BV can actually be triggered by many factors². Which means that it doesn’t indicate anything about a person’s sexual habits, so no one should feel ashamed about having a vaginal infection.

Let’s demystify
bacterial vaginosis

Let’s demystify
bacterial
vaginosis

BV is often mistaken for vaginal yeast infection but for people of reproductive age, BV is actually more common³. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is not a sexually transmitted infection however, it can be triggered by sex⁴. BV is triggered by a change in vaginal pH, which can be caused by everyday factors. For example, people with vaginas are more likely to get BV if they’re sexually active (although those who haven’t had sex can also get BV), have an intrauterine contraceptive device, or use perfumed products around the vaginal area⁵.

What does bacterial
vaginosis look like?

watery greyish white discharge
a strong, fish-like odour (especially after sex)⁶

Tips to stop BV from recurring⁷

Choose showers over baths
Use just water or a wash specifically developed for the vulva
Don’t use vaginal douches or deodorants
Don’t use perfumed products and antiseptic liquids in the bath
Don’t use strong detergent to wash underwear
No smoking

Get reassurance
from your doctor

It’s always worth paying attention to the discharge in your underwear as it might help you identify an eventual infection. If you think you might have BV, but are still a bit unsure of your symptoms, you should get it diagnosed by a doctor instead of trying to diagnose yourself. The sooner you get a professional diagnosis, the sooner you can get the right treatment. If you have a vagina and you notice a change that involves discomfort, pain, discharge or smell that is not normal for you, then speak to your doctor or gynaecologist. Medical professionals are used to answering all kinds of questions about vulvas and vaginas.

If you have a neo vagina, feel free to reach out to transgender medical and support services if you need.

Ref:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/health/seven-myths-about-bacterial-vaginosis-38248719.html
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis/

You might
also want to read:

There are no ‘normal’ vulvas. They’re all different.

Where did you begin to learn about what the vulva and vagina look like? Was it formed from...

Bacterial vaginosis is more common than you think

Let’s demystifybacterial vaginosis

Let’s demystifybacterialvaginosis

What does bacterialvaginosis look like?

Tips to stop BV from recurring7

Get reassurance from your doctor