What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis? It's sometimes called a vaginal pH test or a wet mount test. In certain circumstances, having bacterial vaginosis can cause complications, such as: If you have untreated BV, the chance of developing an infection of the womb is slightly higher following certain operations (such as termination of pregnancy or a vaginal hysterectomy). When too much gardnerella bacteria grows, you can develop an infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). Metronidazole vaginal gel or clindamycin vaginal cream placed inside the vagina can be used if you prefer this type of treatment, or if you experience unpleasant side-effects with metronidazole tablets. 180060: Bacterial Vaginosis, NAA | Labcorp Newer laboratory tests that detect Gardnerella vaginalis DNA or vaginal fluid sialidase activity have similar sensitivity and specificity to Gram stain. Most rounds of antibiotics will last for seven days and should eliminate the infection completely, however, some people may require another round of treatment. The body is often very good at getting back its own balance. A person can test for BV using a home testing kit, which they can often purchase online or at a local pharmacy. (July 22, 2021) Last Reviewed: July 22, 2021. Developing an infection of the womb after childbirth (a condition known as, The usual dose is 400-500 mg twice a day for 5-7 days. Customers will also get a one-on-one call with a nurse. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Nucleic acid amplification testing is recommended for the diagnosis of trichomoniasis in symptomatic or high-risk women. [8] Not only can pH imbalances be harmful, but some lubricants contain ingredients that may cause irritation to the vagina or vulva. How Bacterial Vaginosis Is Diagnosed - Verywell Health Bacterial Vaginosis and Pregnancy - Verywell Health What causes it? Whiff test. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Fishy odor; thin, homogenous discharge that may worsen after intercourse; pelvic discomfort may be present, Increased risk of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes infections, White, thick, cheesy, or curdy discharge; vulvar itching or burning; no odor, Green or yellow, frothy discharge; foul odor; vaginal pain or soreness, Thin, clear discharge; vaginal dryness; dyspareunia; itching, Inflammation; thin, friable vaginal mucosa, Purulent vaginal discharge, burning, dyspareunia, Low socioeconomic status, vaginal douching, smoking, new or multiple sex partners, unprotected intercourse, women who have sex with women, Recent antibiotic use, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, AIDS, corticosteroid use, other immunosuppression, Low socioeconomic status, multiple sex partners, other sexually transmitted infections, unprotected intercourse, drug use, smoking, Menopause, lactation, oophorectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunologic disorders, premature ovarian failure, endocrine disorders, antiestrogen medications, Soaps, tampons, contraceptive devices such as condoms or diaphragms, sex toys, pessaries, topical products, douching, fastidious cleansing, medications, clothing, Sperm, douching, latex condoms or diaphragms, tampons, topical products, medications, clothing, atopic history, Positive whiff test (i.e., the amine odor produced by mixing 10% potassium hydroxide solution with vaginal discharge sample), Metronidazole (Flagyl), 500 mg orally twice daily for seven days, Tinidazole (Tindamax), 2 g orally once daily for two days, Metronidazole, 500 mg orally twice daily for seven days, Routine treatment of sex partners is not recommended, Topical azole therapy applied intravaginally for seven days, Routine treatment of sex partners is not recommended unless the partner is symptomatic, Metronidazole, 2 g orally, single or divided dose on the same day, Metronidazole, 2 g orally, single dose in any stage of pregnancy, Differentiate persistent or recurrent infection from reinfection, Concurrent treatment of sex partners is recommended, Clotrimazole 1% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for seven to 14 days, Clotrimazole 2% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for three days, Miconazole 2% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for seven days, Miconazole 4% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for three days, Miconazole 100-mg vaginal suppository, one suppository daily for seven days, Miconazole 200-mg vaginal suppository, one suppository daily for three days, Miconazole 1,200-mg vaginal suppository, one suppository for one day, Tioconazole 6.5% ointment, 5 g intravaginally in a single application, Butoconazole 2% cream (Gynazole-1, single-dose bioadhesive product), 5 g intravaginally in a single application, Terconazole 0.4% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for seven days, Terconazole 0.8% cream, 5 g intravaginally daily for three days, Terconazole 80-mg vaginal suppository, one suppository daily for three days. The most common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are a strong "fishy" smelling discharge and an increased amount of vaginal discharge. This is true in about half of the women who have the condition. Bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV, is the most common vaginal problem for people assigned female at birth (AFAB) of reproductive age. Tests for bacterial vaginosis use samples of fluid from your vagina. Brotman RM, Ghanem KG, Klebanoff MA, et al; The effect of vaginal douching cessation on bacterial vaginosis: a pilot study. Newer laboratory tests such as DNA and antigen testing for bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, or vaginal fluid sialidase testing for bacterial vaginosis, may have similar or better sensitivity and specificity compared with traditional office-based testing. Frequent changes of sexual partner, or having more than one regular partner, increase the likelihood of BV further. If there is no color change to the swab, but a person is experiencing symptoms, it could indicate a yeast infection. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000262.pub4. Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, Walk-In-Lab Vaginosis Profile Doctors Data Test Kit, LetsGetChecked Vaginitis Test (BV, CV, TV), MedLab Diagnostics Vaginal pH Test Strips, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), Walk-In Lab Vaginosis Profile Doctors Data Test Kit, https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/bacterial-vaginosis, https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm, https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/bv.htm, https://www.cdc.gov/std/prevention/default.htm, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3457017/, https://www.npwomenshealthcare.com/making-the-diagnosis-vaginal-infections/, https://labtestsonline.org/conditions/vaginitis-and-vaginosis, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8618584/#:~:text=From%20previous%20studies%2C%20a%20vaginal,6.5%20or%20more%20%5B12%5D, Smartwatches may detect Parkinson's up to 7 years before symptoms appear, Fluctuating cholesterol, triglyceride levels may influence dementia risk, Multiple sclerosis treatment could improve with discovery of genetic marker. Too much washing around the vagina - once a day is enough. Nongonococcal urethritis is a condition that involves inflammation of the urethra, the tube through which urine passes on its way out of the penis. According to the company, a person can expect their results within 68 days. You normally need treatment for BV if it is causing symptoms, or if the characteristic smell is noticeable to you. [1]. Treatment with acetic and lactic acid gels aims to keep the vaginal pH at less than 4.5, to encourage lactobacilli to grow, and to discourage anaerobic bacteria from growing. See permissionsforcopyrightquestions and/or permission requests. Everlywell makes lab testing easy and convenient with at-home collection and digital results in days. No studies were found on the cost-effectiveness of these newer tests compared with office-based testing. FloriSense claims that its Vaginal Health Test gives results in about 10 seconds. A bacterial vaginosis test is a way to diagnose a bacterial vaginal infection. (Press Enter or Space to Go to Landing Page or Press Down to expand Menu), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Combatting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement. Test Details Results and Follow-Up Overview What is a bacterial vaginosis test? See additional information. [1] Douching refers to using a stream of water to clean or rinse out the vagina. In fact, excessive washing of the vagina (particularly if strong soaps or perfumed deodorants are used) may alter the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina even more, which may make BV more likely to develop or worsen. STD Facts - Bacterial Vaginosis - Centers for Disease Control and The vagina normally has a mix of germs (bacteria), including anaerobic bacteria and lactobacilli, but in bacterial vaginosis (BV) the balance changes. Despite being common in sexually active people, BV is not an STI. This condition can affect a persons ability to have children. UTIs are often caused when Escherichia coli bacteria found in your body travel up your urethra into your bladder and kidneys. It is important that you take all of the medicine prescribed to you, even if your symptoms go away. Therefore, during treatment and for five days after treatment with clindamycin vaginal cream, do not rely on condoms or diaphragms to protect against pregnancy and STIs. Epub 2008 Mar 4. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. [1,13] Another round of medicine can be prescribed if someone does have a recurring infection. If you are pregnant and have BV, your baby is more likely to be born early (premature) or at a low birth weight. This test checks your sample for genetic material from harmful bacteria. The Affirm VP III (Becton Dickinson) is an oligonucleotide probe test that detects high concentrations of G. vaginalis nucleic acids (>5 x 10 5 CFU of G. vaginalis/ mL of vaginal fluid) for diagnosing BV, Candida species, and T. vaginalis. It can be watery and greyish in colour. The most common causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Astodrimer sodium gel also prevents recurrent BV and associated symptoms. Vaginal discharge is tested through a wet mount (microscopic slide test), pH test (BV often causes a pH level of 4.5 or higher), KOH slide (microscopic slide test) or a whiff test (a mixture that causes a strong fishy odor). Women with untreated BV may be at a slightly increased risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease. Source: Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnosis is made using a combination of symptoms, physical examination findings, and office-based or laboratory testing. Remember, your vagina naturally contains a delicate balance of different types of bacteria. BV can affect any woman, including those who do not have (or who have never had) sex or those who have multiple sex partners. An elevated pH can indicate either bacteria vaginosis or trichomoniasis.