Vaginosis
What to do about vaginosis
Vaginosis, which is technically called bacterial vaginosis, is a mild infection of the vagina. The vagina normally contains bacteria; however, with vaginosis, the growth of the bacteria can no longer be controlled. For a woman in good physical health who lives a healthy lifestyle, there are some so-called "good bacteria" and "bad bacteria" in the vagina; these bacteria stay in a constantly balanced state.
When a woman is afflicted with bacterial vaginosis, the balance is gone; there are too many "bad bacteria" and not enough "good bacteria." Experts are not exactly certain what causes vaginosis; however, there are some factors that can make a woman more susceptible to the infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Vaginosis
It is believed that vaginosis is more common in women who have multiple sex partners, have female sex partners, smoke tobacco and/or use douche. Studies suggest that women may be able to avoid vaginosis if they limit their sex partners, quit smoking and avoid douches. Vaginosis is not an infection that is "caught" from another person.
The most common symptom of vaginosis is a vaginal discharge that has an fishy odor. The discharge may be gray, yellow or whitish in color.
It is important to get tested by a doctor, though, rather than trying to self-diagnose. This is because there are many other issues and problems that can cause vaginal discharges similar to those seen in vaginosis. For example, yeast infections and certain sexually transmitted diseases may cause such a discharge. Doctors can do a simple test for vaginosis by performing a pelvic exam.
Treatment Options for Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis usually clears up on its own within a few days. However, a course of antibiotics can be the best way to make certain that the infection is truly gone. A home remedy for bacterial vaginosis or an herbal remedy for bacterial vaginosis could be used if a person cannot take antibiotics.
Women who have repeated vaginosis infections may actually have cytolytic vaginosis. Some doctors are unfamiliar with this condition; however, this infection – which is caused by an overabundance of lactobacilli bacteria – can be tested for with a vaginal swab.