With more than 3 million cases of bacterial vaginosis in the United States alone, this issue is a problem that is common for women of childbearing age. While many will face off against this at one point or another, many don’t even realize that they have it. The reason is simple, not everyone sees symptoms come through on day one. That can cause a great deal of problems for individuals that are dealing with bacterial infections of this type. There are some things that you should know about this, before you can get help from a doctor. Understanding the root causes, and what symptoms may develop will help you understand the bigger picture involved with this issue as a whole.
What Exactly Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
This is a problem that causes no symptoms in some women, but can get worse over time. This problem is associated with bacterial overgrowth that occurs in the tissue of the vagina. It happens due to pH balance being disrupted, and can cause a number of symptoms to form down the line. Some of the most common issues that you’re going to find to be true is that of redness, itchiness, discharge, and even a foul odor. This can be caused by a number of reasons, but most common includes unprotected sex, douching too often, and hormonal changes to the body.
What Do Doctor’s Do To Help?
You can visit a doctor and get a helping hand with this issue. They will prescribe one of several things, but most common is antibiotics. This can be taken orally or through a cream. The end result of this being a reversal of the negative bacteria, and return of the good kind. Now, this takes time, and sometimes may take longer than you’d like. Most common, with antibiotics, you may end up seeing results come through within 7 to 12 days. This can be on the first dose, but there are some individuals that will have to take this medication longer. Some women may need to take a second round if the issue comes up again within the first year. If there is a recurrence, a doctor will need to prescribe a different option to heal this.
Is Vaginosis Dangerous?
This problem can become dangerous for women that are pregnant. This can lead to abnormal bleeding, and even miscarriage. That’s why it’s imperative that a doctor is seen if you are pregnant or are thinking about getting pregnant. Without proper medical attention, you will not be able to get a proper reversal of this issue. This is an important thing to remember, as this can become dangerous. If you’re not pregnant, then it doesn’t cause much distress, and can be reversed with the help of antibiotics.
Regardless of whether or not you’ve dealt with this in the past, make sure that you do not let this become a serious issue. Get help when you feel symptoms come through, and discuss with your doctor ways to prevent this from recurring down the line. A little bit of change can go a long way.