Global InformationBacterial vaginosis information
| Bacterial vaginosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Anaerobic vaginositis, non-specific vaginitis, vaginal bacteriosis, Gardnerella vaginitis[1] |
 | |
| Vaginal squamous cell with normal vaginal flora versus bacterial vaginosis on Pap stain. Normal vaginal flora (left) is predominantly rod-shaped Lactobacilli whereas in bacterial vaginosis (right) there is an overgrowth of bacteria which can be of multiple species. | |
| Specialty | Gynecology, infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Vaginal discharge that often smells like fish, burning with urination[2] |
| Complications | Early delivery among pregnant women[3] |
| Causes | Imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina[4][5] |
| Risk factors | Douching, new or multiple sex partners, antibiotics, using an intrauterine device[5] |
| Diagnostic method | Testing the vaginal discharge[6] |
| Differential diagnosis | Vaginal yeast infection, infection with Trichomonas[7] |
| Prevention | Probiotics[6] |
| Medication | Clindamycin or metronidazole[6] |
| Frequency | ~ 5% to 70% of women[8] |
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria.[6][9] Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish.[2] The discharge is usually white or gray in color.[2] Burning with urination may occur.[2] Itching is uncommon.[2][6] Occasionally, there may be no symptoms.[2] Having BV approximately doubles the risk of infection by a number of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.[8][10] It also increases the risk of early delivery among pregnant women.[3][11]
BV is caused by an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina.[4][5] There is a change in the most common type of bacteria and a hundred to thousand fold increase in total numbers of bacteria present.[6] Typically, bacteria other than Lactobacilli become more common.[12] Risk factors include douching, new or multiple sex partners, antibiotics, and using an intrauterine device, among others.[5] However, it is not considered a sexually transmitted infection and, unlike gonorrhoea and chlamydia, sexual partners are not treated.[13] Diagnosis is suspected based on the symptoms, and may be verified by testing the vaginal discharge and finding a higher than normal vaginal pH, and large numbers of bacteria.[6] BV is often confused with a vaginal yeast infection or infection with Trichomonas.[7]
Usually treatment is with an antibiotic, such as clindamycin or metronidazole.[6] These medications may also be used in the second or third trimesters of pregnancy.[6] However, the condition often recurs following treatment.[6] Probiotics may help prevent re-occurrence.[6] It is unclear if the use of probiotics or antibiotics affects pregnancy outcomes.[6][14]
BV is the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age.[5] The percentage of women affected at any given time varies between 5% and 70%.[8] BV is most common in parts of Africa and least common in Asia and Europe.[8] In the United States about 30% of women between the ages of 14 and 49 are affected.[15] Rates vary considerably between ethnic groups within a country.[8] While BV-like symptoms have been described for much of recorded history, the first clearly documented case occurred in 1894.[1]
- ^ a b Borchardt KA (1997). Sexually transmitted diseases: epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment. Boca Raton [u.a.]: CRC Press. p. 4. ISBN 9780849394768. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?". 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ a b Queena JT, Spong CY, Lockwood CJ, eds. (2012). Queenan's management of high-risk pregnancy: an evidence-based approach (6th ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Willey-Blackwell. p. 262. ISBN 9780470655764.
- ^ a b Bennett J (2015). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders. ISBN 9781455748013.
- ^ a b c d e "Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Condition Information". National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Donders GG, Zodzika J, Rezeberga D (April 2014). "Treatment of bacterial vaginosis: what we have and what we miss". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 15 (5): 645–57. doi:10.1517/14656566.2014.881800. PMID 24579850. S2CID 19241611.
- ^ a b Mashburn J (2006). "Etiology, diagnosis, and management of vaginitis". Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 51 (6): 423–30. doi:10.1016/j.jmwh.2006.07.005. PMID 17081932.
- ^ a b c d e Kenyon C, Colebunders R, Crucitti T (December 2013). "The global epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 209 (6): 505–23. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2013.05.006. PMID 23659989.
- ^ Sharma H, Tal R, Clark NA, Segars JH (January 2014). "Microbiota and pelvic inflammatory disease". Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. 32 (1): 43–9. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1361822. PMC 4148456. PMID 24390920.
- ^ Bradshaw CS, Brotman RM (July 2015). "Making inroads into improving treatment of bacterial vaginosis - striving for long-term cure". BMC Infectious Diseases. 15: 292. doi:10.1186/s12879-015-1027-4. PMC 4518586. PMID 26219949.
- ^ "What are the treatments for bacterial vaginosis (BV)?". National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. 15 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ Nardis C, Mosca L, Mastromarino P (September–October 2013). "Vaginal microbiota and viral sexually transmitted diseases". Annali di Igiene. 25 (5): 443–56. doi:10.7416/ai.2013.1946. PMID 24048183.
- ^ "Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Fact Sheet". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ Othman M, Neilson JP, Alfirevic Z (January 2007). "Probiotics for preventing preterm labour". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012 (1): CD005941. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005941.pub2. PMC 9006117. PMID 17253567.
- ^ "Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Statistics Prevalence". cdc.gov. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.