Bacterial vaginosis – discharge that smells bad

How to get rid of foul-smelling discharge

Do you have thin, gray-yellow, white, or greenish discharge that often foams and smells bad? This is the most common symptom of bacterial vaginosis, a common vaginal infection caused by an imbalance in the bacterial flora.

HOW COMMON IS BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS IN THE GENITAL AREA

Bacterial vaginosis, or “vaginitis” as it is also called, affects about 30% of all women and is a common vaginal infection, which can be a comfort for those affected. The condition is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease but is more common in sexually active women, although it is not actually known why some women are affected more often than others.

NORMAL DISCHARGE PROVIDES PROTECTION

Having discharge does not mean something is wrong – on the contrary! It is completely normal to have discharge that smells slightly sour – somewhat like cultured milk. During women's fertile period, the character and consistency of the discharge also change depending on where in the menstrual cycle one is and becomes, for example, more abundant during ovulation. The discharge also ensures that the acidity in the vagina is high, which protects against infections and keeps the mucous membranes moist. A happy vulva has a whole army of good bacteria that help keep the vagina moist, healthy, and with an acidic pH value, which reduces the risk of bacteria, infections, and eczema.

SYMPTOMS OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

The most common symptom of bacterial vaginosis is foul-smelling discharge often described as having a fishy odor. Sometimes the smell can be so strong that it can be detected through clothing but can also vary in intensity and become stronger after menstruation or intercourse without a condom. About half of all affected actually have no symptoms at all, and the symptoms can also come and go. Sometimes itching and burning when urinating also occur, which can cause the condition to be mistaken for a yeast infection in the vagina.

Read more about yeast infection here

CAUSE OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

In bacterial vaginosis, the good lactic acid bacteria in the vagina, whose task is to fight infections, have decreased, which allows unwanted bacteria to thrive and begin to increase in number. A bacterial imbalance occurs, which is the reason the discharge starts to smell bad.

The cause of bacterial vaginosis is not always entirely clear, but the vaginal mucosa is affected by, for example, menstruation and vaginal intercourse.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND YEAST INFECTION

Bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection are two common genital complaints with symptoms that often resemble each other but are treated differently. Bacterial vaginosis occurs due to an imbalance in the vaginal bacterial flora and is often treated with prescription antibiotics, while yeast infection is caused by the growth of fungus in the genital area and can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal medications.

IMPORTANT TO TREAT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

The vagina's protection against infections deteriorates when affected by bacterial vaginosis, so the infection should be treated as quickly as possible to avoid further complications. Bacterial vaginosis is rarely dangerous but if you are pregnant it can lead to an increased risk of pregnancy complications and endometritis (infection in the uterus) after delivery. It is also important not to have a bacterial infection if you are going to undergo a gynecological procedure such as an abortion or insertion of an IUD, as there is a risk of ascending infection. Since the symptoms of yeast infection and bacterial vaginosis often resemble each other, it is also common for women with bacterial vaginosis to think it is a yeast infection and mistreat themselves, which causes the symptoms to persist. Bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection can also occur simultaneously, which requires two different treatments.

DIAGNOSE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

To diagnose bacterial vaginosis at a youth clinic or gynecologist, three of four criteria must be met through:

• A sniff test – which means taking a sample of vaginal secretions and adding a drop of potassium hydroxide, which raises the pH and in bacterial vaginosis reveals the typical fishy smell
• An examination of the discharge under a microscope
• A pH test on the discharge (if pH is above 4.5 it may indicate bacterial vaginosis)
• To examine the discharge's color and consistency

VAGIVITAL VS FOR VAGINAL INFECTIONS GIVES ANSWERS IN 30 SEC

At many youth clinics, microscopes are missing and it can also be difficult to get an appointment with a gynecologist. VagiVital VS for vaginal infections is a self-test that you can easily perform at home in peace and the answer comes directly within thirty seconds. The product is unique in its kind, patented and studied by specialists in gynecology and has more than 92% accuracy.

VagiVital VS for vaginal infections you find here

VERNIVIA VAGINAL MOUSSE – TREATMENT WITH EFFECT

But what happens if VagiVital VS Self-test shows that you have bacterial vaginosis? Don't worry, because here comes Vernivia Vaginal Mousse into the picture. This Swedish innovation is based on patented technology and is CE-certified. It has been developed and produced in Sweden and is clinically proven to effectively treat bacterial vaginosis within a 7-day course. One of the most impressive results is that 83% of women were clinically cured after the seventh day of treatment. This is an impressive success rate that demonstrates Vernivia's effectiveness. But that's not all. Vernivia also helps to strengthen the vagina's natural defenses, making it harder for bacterial vaginosis to recur.

You can find Vernivia vaginal mousse for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis here

THREE EASY WAYS TO MANAGE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS WITH FOUL-SMELLING DISCHARGE

1. Order VagiVital VS Self-test online or in store

2. Diagnose directly at home with VagiVital VS and get results within 30 seconds.

3. If the test is positive, treat at home with Vernivia Vaginal Mousse - and you can be clinically healthy within a week.

You can find the VagiVital BV Kit with Vernivia and VS Self-test here 

PREVENT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

It is still not completely certain why some women suffer from bacterial vaginosis, but it is usually recommended to avoid washing the genital area with soap and to use condoms during intercourse. Cleaning the intimate area with soap also risks drying out the sensitive mucous membranes and disturbing the pH balance. VagiVital V Cleanser is an intimate wash that is different and completely unique on the market! This product has the same moisturizing and unique properties as VagiVital AktivGel but with some rapeseed oil added. Soap risks drying out the vagina while an oil only removes fat-soluble impurities. Although the product is soap-free, it can clean both fat- and water-soluble impurities while moisturizing without disturbing the sensitive pH balance of the genital area.

You can find VagiVital V Cleanser here

FUTURE RESEARCH

There is still not enough research on bacterial vaginosis, even though one in three women is affected. Only 4% of all research and development in the pharmaceutical industry is invested in solving health issues for women, and almost all medical research has traditionally been conducted on men.

Therefore, we would like to highlight researchers who have chosen to focus on women-specific diseases. Ina Schuppe Koistinen, associate professor and researcher at the Karolinska Institute, studies the role of the bacterial flora for women's health and has also written the book Vulva which is filled with knowledge and concrete advice based on the latest research on the significance of vaginal flora for women's health. You can also hear her interviewed in the podcast Babyzpodcast where she talks about what a normal bacterial flora in the genital area is, how it changes throughout life, and what happens when it is disturbed.