What Are the Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis

The symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis and their intensity vary from person to person.
Some women have no detectable symptoms.
At least 50% of women diagnosed were not aware that anything was wrong and the condition was only discovered by 'accident'.
Unfortunately, many women will suffer chronic discomfort.
The characteristic, foul smelling Bacterial Vaginosis discharge is the most common symptom and is an easy way to identify the condition.
The amount of vaginal mucus normally secreted by women will vary but when suffering from BV the discharge will be thin, greyish in colour and smell of rotting fish.
It is probably the most distressing side effect of Bacterial Vaginosis as the odor can be quite strong and is often more intense after intercourse or during a period.
Although not as common as abnormal discharge the vagina and vulva can become sore and irritated and intercourse can become painful.
If left untreated for any length of time the walls of the vagina can become so tender that post coital bleeding can occur.
Itching around the outside of the vagina usually leads to red irritated skin and overall tenderness and tearing.
This can cause further infection and in extreme cases burning during urination.
The symptoms of chronic or advanced Bacterial Vaginosis can be severe and therefore it is advisable to treat the condition as soon as you notice any symptom, no matter how mild.
Chronic conditions can increase your susceptibility to Sexually transmitted diseases, cause pelvic inflammatory disease and, if pregnant, increase the likelihood of a premature birth.
Many women mistakenly assume that the irritation and distasteful odour are down to poor hygiene and tend to 'over wash' the genital area.
The alkaline in soap will actually intensify the odor when it is mixed with the acidic BV discharge and heavy 'scrubbing' will increase irritation and exacerbate the problem.
Because symptoms such as Bacterial Vaginosis discharge and irritation can cause intense discomfort and distress, relief is just as important as a complete cure.
This is where natural remedies have an advantage over many prescriptive medicines as the cooling and emollient properties of natural yogurt or herbal bacterial vaginosis cream treatments will eliminate discomfort while dealing with the root cause of the infection.
It is true that Bacterial Vaginosis has been known to spontaneously clear up and the symptoms disappear but it is always best to treat the condition before it become chronic and causes long-term damage.