Bacterial Vaginosis Causes

Although bacterial vaginosis is a fairly common condition that occurs in many women in the United States, not much is known about its cause. That’s why it is difficult to determine bacterial vaginosis causes. The main culprit is an imbalance of bacteria in vagina, but scientists are still determining the factors that cause the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Bacterial vaginosis causes a white or gray discharge that smells fishy, along with itchiness in the vaginal area. This may be accompanied by burning during urination. In pregnant women, bacterial vaginosis causes harm to the baby and can result in pre-term labor or a baby with a low birth weight.

It is believed that bacterial vaginosis causes can include sexual activity. It is though that sex, especially with multiple partners, can bring out bacterial vaginosis. However, many women who have had bacterial vaginosis have never even had sex, so that cannot be the only cause. It is also thought that douching could be one of the bacterial vaginosis causes. This is a plausible cause, as douching does remove bacteria from the vagina, including good bacteria needed for a healthy and functioning vagina. It is even thought that smoking and intra-uterine device (IUD) use can also be bacterial vaginosis causes, maybe because they affect the good bacteria in the vagina, but there has not been much evidence to back up these claims.

It is also thought that improper wiping after using the restroom and wearing tight jeans and thong underwear can also contribute to the possible bacterial vaginosis causes. If you think about this, these causes do make sense. Wiping from back to front can cause fecal material from the anal region to transfer to the vagina, causing harmful bacteria to develop and turn into an infection. That’s why proper wiping after a bowel movement is very important. Along the same lines, wearing tight jeans and thong underwear can cause the cloth to rub from the anal region to the vagina, causing the same situation as not wiping properly. The moist environment causes bacteria that are transferred to the vagina, possibly causing bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis causes can also include female-female sex, making it a sexually transmitted disease among lesbians. It is believed that bacterial vaginosis is not contagious through other means. It cannot be transmitted through male-female sex and women cannot get the disease by using public restrooms or swimming pools. They also cannot get it by touching things.

Bacterial vaginosis causes serious complications if not treated properly. Although it often disappears on its own, it can cause serious conditions in pregnant women, such as miscarriage, pre-term delivery, low birth weight and ectopic pregnancy. For those who are not pregnant, bacterial vaginosis causes increased susceptibility to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), increased risk of infection after surgery and pelvic inflammatory disease. For those trying to get pregnant, bacterial vaginosis causes infertility due to damage to the fallopian tubes. It can also affect IVF treatments, lowering a woman’s success rate of getting pregnant.

As you can see, bacterial vaginosis seems like a fairly minor condition, but bacterial vaginosis causes serious complications if left untreated. If you suspect you have it, you should see a doctor right away to determine the best course of action. If you don’t have bacterial vaginosis, take the proper steps to prevent it. Practice good hygiene after using the restroom. Wear comfortable clothes that are not too tight-fitting. Abstain from sex or limit your sexual activity to one partner. Also, there is no need to douche. It removes the good bacteria needed for proper vaginal function.