Aside from the embarrassment, bacterial vaginosis causes a great deal of discomfort for almost 700,000 U.
S.
women each year.
Some estimation has suggested that just about 1 in every 3 U.
S women will have bacterial vaginosis at some point in life.
The most common symptoms associated with this medical problem are an unpleasant and "fishy" odor, and accompanying vaginal discharge.
These are the most embarrassing symptoms suffered by women who suffer from BV.
Cramping, itching and irritation are other symptoms that bacterial vaginosis causes.
Before we can address the main causes, we first need to know why it occurs.
Bacterial vaginosis usually develops where a reduction of healthy lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina are disturbed.
These bacteria, which are healthy, are predominant in the vagina and usually thrive in an environment that is oxygen-rich.
As the number of the healthy bacteria decreases, the not-so-healthy bacteria will become more prevalent.
These too are ever-present within the vagina, but are usually contained by the healthier bacteria.
It is usually disturbing of the delicate balance of healthy and healthy bacteria that is the foremost cause.
The variety of things that are bacterial vaginosis causes are sexual intercourse with multiple partners, or with female partners, the use of contraceptives, use of IUD as birth control, not using condoms, douching and smoking; which are all accepted practice.
BV also has other health concerns.
For pregnant women, it may increase the risk of pre-term labor and miscarriage.
It has been connected with the onset of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; which usually occurs when the sufferers undergo a vaginal or pelvic procedure.
It can also increase the likelihood of passing or contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
Bacterial vaginosis causes are many and varied and sometimes of the variety that simply cannot be avoided, but luckily the condition itself is usually just a minor inconvenience.
All problems of this nature must be discussed with your doctor as, with any condition, if left completely untreated it may lead to certain health risks as discussed earlier.