Bacterial vaginosis is a form of vaginitis (i.e. inflammation of the vagina). Other common types of vaginitis are yeast infection, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. The characteristic bacterial vaginosis symptoms are white grayish vaginal discharge that has a fishy smell. Sometimes there are also vaginal itching and pain during urination. The vaginal discharge and malodor tend to worsen after a sexual intercourse or during the period.
If you are experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge or other symptoms indicative of a vaginal infection (e.g. vaginal irritation or pain), then it is very important to get tested to determine if it is bacterial vaginosis or other forms of vaginitis.
To confirm if the symptoms are a consequence of bacterial vaginosis infection, usually a series of physical examinations and laboratory tests will be performed.
Your gynecologist will first take a medical history from you by asking a routine of questions, such as if you have had experienced bacterial vaginosis symptoms before, the nature of your discharge, are there symptoms of vaginal irritation, have you recently got a new sexual partner, did you have a history of sexually transmitted infection, etc.
Next, a pelvic examination will be performed. Your gynecologist will observe the appearance of your vaginal lining and cervix and examine the uterus and ovaries. During the pelvic exam, your gynecologist may also gather tissue samples from those areas to be checked under a microscope. This step is to exclude the possibility of any sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Your vaginal discharge may also be sampled to be examined for any abnormality. The purpose is to differentiate bacterial vaginosis from yeast infection (e.g. candidiasis) and an STD (e.g. trichomonas). Bacterial vaginosis is present if a group of unusual cells (known as ‘clue cells’) are observed under the microscope.
If you have bacterial vaginosis, the microscopic examination of vaginal discharge will also detect a lower number of the normal ‘good’ vaginal bacteria lactobacilli. The vaginal pH may also be tested since one of the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal pH greater than 4.5.
For vaginal malodor, a test known as ‘whiff test’ can be done. It is performed by mixing a drop of potassium hydroxide with a drop of vaginal discharge on a microscope slide. A fishy odor is produced if bacterial vaginosis is present.
If a woman has bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy, she will be more prone for serious complications, such as preterm delivery, miscarriage and post-partum infection. Pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis symptoms should be tested for the infection to ensure timely treatment.
Apart from standard antibiotic therapy and over-the-countert treatments, a large number of women also tried bacterial vaginosis natural cures to tackle their BV symptoms.