Bacterial vaginosis is not an STD, but it is often associated with a sexual infection because it affects the genitals. It occurs when the normal bacteria in the vagina are disrupted by an imbalance and replaced by an overgrowth of bacteria. It really is that simple, but often people are misinformed because they don’t know the facts.
Causes of vaginal disease
Bacterial vaginosis is the leading cause of vaginal discomfort and the most misunderstood. Most women mistake it for a yeast infection and half never know they have it because of the symptoms. It’s the exact opposite with an STD that causes pain and discomfort early on.
BV is not really an infection at all. It just represents an imbalance of live bacteria normally found in the vagina. This imbalance occurs when the pH level of a woman’s vagina becomes less acidic and bacteria begin to multiply. I know it’s weird that we need our vagina to be acidic, but that’s really what keeps our genital area sanitized and considerate. normal.
Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis
When a woman first experiences the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, it’s no wonder she immediately thinks it’s an STD. The pungent fishy smell, discharge, and itching would obviously lead you to believe that she has contracted a sexual infection, but in fact, she has not. It is becoming more common than a yeast infection.
So what causes BV?
It is still a mystery, but scientists suspect that it is due to all the chemical compounds that we use in the vaginal area. Just think of all the common products you buy, like body washes you soak in or feminine sprays you use or deodorant tampons; All of these things can cause an imbalance and change the environment inside the vagina. Certain activities can cause a woman to get BV, such as changing sexual partners, douching, and a change in the laundry detergent she uses.
STDs, formerly called venereal diseases, are spread through sexual contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal sex. STDs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV, HIV/AIDS, herpes (HSV), and genital warts. The symptoms are more evident in men than in women, but they can remain dormant and go unnoticed, which has dire consequences if left untreated.
Although bacterial vaginosis is not an STD, history tells us that many genital problems are often misunderstood and therefore mislabeled. For a time, BV was tested using the same kits as STD. If it tested positive, then it was diagnosed as an STD; wrongly, of course, but that’s where it started. Even today, doctors misdiagnose bacterial vaginosis because there aren’t many scientific results that provide concrete information about it. When faced with the medical unknown, doctors often prescribe an antibiotic for it.
People blindly believe what they are told without educating themselves on the details. Bacterial vaginosis is not any type of infection and is not sexually related. However, if left untreated, BV can become a big problem indicating pain, profuse discharge, and genital rashes.
If you are not sure about your health, you should contact a doctor to get tested. There are new tests that can tell bacterial vaginosis from an STD.
