Bacterial vaginosis is the most common genital tract health problem among women of reproductive age. There are many reasons causing vaginal discharge and fishy odor, but BV is the most prevalent cause of these health problems. BV has been associated with many obstetric complications such as preterm labour, premature rupture of membrances, and postpartum endometritis. Screening the presence of bacterial vaginal infection as early as possible is crucial for curing this problem.

BV is a common problem if you are having these high risk factors: smoking, sexual activity, or vaginal douching. Research has indicated that women who are sexually active have a higher rate of contracting BV than virginal women. Also, if you smoke, you are more likely to have BV. In other words, some how smoking will affect the balance of these bacteria population within your body.

When you are healthy, your vaginal area will contain both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. One of these species which is know as lactobacillus is believed to be the good bacteria within your body that protect you from getting infection, and it is also the crucial factor to govern the pH value in the vagina. Usually, if you have bacterial vaginosis, your vaginal pH value is greater than 4.5. In other words, your vaginal area becomes less acidic. When you are having bacterial vaginosis, the number of lactobacilli is decreased, whereas the number of the pathogenic bacteria is increased.

Because of the serious consequences of having bacterial vaginosis, the screening process of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy is important. When you are pregnant, it is common to have vaginal discharge. However, if you have this problem persistently during pregnancy, it is recommended that you go see your doctor to screen for lower genital infection. After treatment, you should have a followup testing after a month to ensure that the problem is fully treated.

For the treatment you have two options. One is to use oral treatment and the other is to use vaginal treatment. Research results have shown that oral treatment has a greater cure rate than vaginal therapy. However, when you are pregnant, you need to consider the side effect that may have on your embryo with these treatments. If possible, seek for the natural cures for bacterial vaginosis is preferred.

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