An infection in the vagina is called bacterial vaginosis (BV). It’s usually caused by bacterial changes or imbalances in the vagina. Women worldwide can get this infection and if left untreated, it can lead to more serious problem. Good thing there are available treatments to easily cure BV. It is important to consult your doctor before trying out any kind of treatment. This will be an assurance that you no misdiagnosis or self-medication will happen.
Complications of an Untreated BV
Perhaps, you are asking yourself what happens if bacterial vaginosis is left untreated? What are the complications?
This is a common question from women, especially those who are not quite familiar with the condition.
It’s important to always correct something that threatens our body. Bacterial vaginosis is not a severe condition, however, there are many complications it can bring to a woman suffering from such infection.
Some of the problems that may occur are:
- Sexually transmitted infections or STIs
- Problematic pregnancy due to recurring infections
- Increases the risk of having sexually transmitted disease or STD
- Other serious diseases brought by vaginal infection
How Women Get Bacterial Vaginosis
In the vagina, there are good and bad bacteria. On average, the amount of good bacteria has to be higher than the bad ones in order to keep healthy balance. An upset balance of bacteria surely leads to bacterial vaginosis while the harmful ones tend to grow more than the good ones.
The following are some of the common reasons why an individual suffer from BV:
- New or multiple sex partners
- Using condoms
- Too much douching
- Having a sexual partner with vaginal infection
Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis
Bisexual and lesbian women are more prone to vaginal infection. But there is no explanation yet, of why bacterial vaginosis is so common to them. Worse, it may be difficult to determine if you have this infection because the signs are not very much noticeable.
Here are the most common signs of vaginal infection in women that you need to take note of:
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Watery, sometimes white, or gray discharge
- Unpleasant or fish-like smell particularly after sex
- Irritation and itching in the vagina
- Burning sensation during urination
If these symptoms are not familiar, you can undergo a medical examination to see if you have bacterial vaginosis. The doctor will look for infection signs while collecting vaginal fluid sample to test in the laboratory. After getting the results and you’re positive with BV, the most common prescription is taking antibiotics. Just be careful to follow the dosage because too much antibiotics in the body is also harmful.
Bottom Line
It’s important to immediately action once you notice that you are developing signs of having bacterial vaginosis. To know more about this condition, do not hesitate to ask your doctor what happens if bacterial vaginosis is left untreated? What are the complications? Medical professionals know better when it comes to treating infections such as the one in the vagina. Always remember, prevention is better than cure. A treated vaginal infection can prevent your from other serious health problems.
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