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Bacterial Vaginosis


Overview

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disorder characterized by an offensive vaginal discharge.

  • Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge among women of childbearing age.
  • Though the cause of this condition is not clear, it is thought to occur when there is a disturbance in the growth of the normal vaginal bacterial flora resulting in replacement of normal "good bacteria" by "harmful bacteria".
  • Normally the 'good bacteria' is called "Lactobacilli".
  • These in vaginosis is replaced by a variety of bacteria like:
  1. Gardnerella vaginalis
  2. Bacteroides, Mobiluncus
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  • Mycoplasma hominis
  • Infection can spread from the rectum lining to colic lining into vagina.
  • These harmful organisms produce amines (poly & trimethyl) that are responsible for the fishy smell.
  • This condition is called vaginosis rather than vaginitis as there is no vaginal inflammation.
  1. The vaginal pH is raised (from 4.5 to levels above 6-7)
  • As it is not a sexually transmitted infection there is no benefit from treating the male partners.(1 Trusted Source
    The Etiology of Bacterial Vaginosis

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    )

Latest Publications and Research on Bacterial Vaginosis

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