“The S-E-X word is not something that adults believe can be discussed with teens these days. In truth, however, this information is important in helping us grow.”
—Sarah, 17, AL
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection in women and is sometimes accompanied by discharge, odor, pain or burning. The discharge might have a fishy odor and look white or grey in color.
BV develops when there is an imbalance in the bacteria normally found in the vagina, sometimes triggered by sexual intercourse. It can cause serious complications during pregnancy and is generally cured by taking antibiotics. Being sexually intimate with another person can trigger this infection in a female, but it is generally not considered to be passable from one partner to another.
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Your Comments
couple questions...
Posted by: pixiefreak13 on Apr 11th, 2008 12:01am
are these the only symptoms? because if so, a weight's just
been lifted off my shoulders. could this be triggered by
taking birth control pills?
RE: i'm not sure
Posted by: DanR on Feb 11th, 2008 10:55am
As is says above, bacterial vaginosis is a very common
infection that is sometimes triggered by sexual intercourse,
but it does not have to be. It is normal for women to have
a natural scent, so you may not have anything to worry
about. It is impossible for us to diagnose you online, so
if you think you are having a problem, it is probably best
to make an appointment with your health care provider to be
on the safe side.
i'm not sure
Posted by: blu3xb3rry on Feb 8th, 2008 9:21pm
i'm not sure if i have it or not because i have never had
sexual intercourse before but my vagina has a fishy oder but
is it not gray or white. I do wash there propery but i'm
just not sure. Does that mean i should go have an
appointment just in case?
diabetes: response
Posted by: StacieS on Jul 20th, 2007 12:20pm
No, diabetes doesn't make it more likely that you will
develop BV. BV is pretty common all on its own.
diabetes
Posted by: 44blah44 on Jul 20th, 2007 12:40am
could having diabetes cause you to develop bv?
question?: response
Posted by: StacieS on Jul 17th, 2007 12:41pm
No. BV doesn't stop your period. Young women often have
irregular periods. Periods also skip a month due to stress,
travel, extreme weight loss or a pregnancy. If you have
skipped a period and could possibly be pregnant take a
pregnancy test as soon as possible. It is also a good idea
to talk to your doctor about your irregular periods to make
sure everything is ok.
could i have bv?: response
Posted by: StacieS on Jul 17th, 2007 12:15pm
Yes, women who have never been sexually active in any way
coud still have BV. Make an appointment with your doctor or
at a clinic so that you can get correctly diagnosed and
treated. Good luck, and take care.
question?
Posted by: 44blah44 on Jul 16th, 2007 11:47pm
could havin bv cause you to not start your period?
could i have bv?
Posted by: 44blah44 on Jul 14th, 2007 11:52pm
i have all of the symptons listed as having bv but ive never
been sexually active. could i still have bv??
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RE: couple questions...
Posted by: DanR on Apr 14th, 2008 2:34pm
These are some of the primary symptoms, but they can vary
from person to person. If you are experiencing any kind of
discharge, odor, pain, or burning that is abnormal for you,
you should definitely see your doctor or go to your local
clinic. Certain STDs can present with symptoms that will
eventually go away, but the infection will still be in your
body, which is why it is important to get checked. Starting
on birth control will generally not cause these types of
symptoms.