What is bacterial vaginosis?

Vaginitis is a disease that we often hear about in life. Many women in life are suffering from this disease. In most cases, vaginitis is not very serious, but it still causes a lot of troubles to patients, such as leucorrhea with odor, especially severe itching in the genitals, which is extremely uncomfortable. In fact, there are many classifications of vaginitis. The following is an introduction to bacterial vaginitis.

What is bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a mixed infection caused by vaginal Gardnerella and some anaerobic bacteria, which leads to an imbalance of the vaginal microecological balance, causing a syndrome of increased vaginal discharge, fishy leucorrhea, and vulvar itching and burning. It can be divided into Haemophilus vaginitis, Corynebacterium vaginitis, anaerobic vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginitis, etc. This disease can also be transmitted through sexual contact, and the incidence rate is higher among people with promiscuous sexual relations. A smear examination of the secretions can reveal a large number of pus balls and find the pathogenic bacteria.

10% to 50% of patients are asymptomatic, while those with symptoms complain of grayish-white leucorrhea with a fishy odor, vaginal burning and itching.

Most patients with this disease are women of childbearing age. The disease has a slow onset and the subjective symptoms are not obvious, with the main manifestation being increased leucorrhea. The examination of vaginal secretions has the following characteristics: ① The pH value reaches 5.0-5.5, which is higher than normal. ② The leucorrhea is gray or gray-green, homogeneous, with a paste-like consistency, and may contain bubbles. ③There is a foul smell like rotten fish. The odor of women becomes worse after menstruation or sexual intercourse, and their sexual partners' genitals may also emit the same odor. ④ Patients with combined Trichomonas or Candida infection may experience vulvar itching, vaginal burning sensation, or pain during sexual intercourse.

This disease can often be combined with other vaginal sexually transmitted diseases, and its clinical manifestations may vary depending on the comorbidities. When combined with gonococcal infection, vaginal discharge will be obviously purulent and urinary tract irritation symptoms such as dysuria and dysuria may occur; when combined with Trichomonas infection, foamy vaginal discharge may appear, and itching may be aggravated and extremely itchy; when combined with Candida infection, vaginal discharge may appear curd-like or tofu-like.