There is no known cause for BV but certain factors are more common than others in women who are diagnosed with this condition. Most women who have BV are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 – 44. BV is twice as common among African-American women as it is among women of other racial backgrounds. About 1 in 4 of women who are pregnant will develop BV, perhaps due to hormonal changes.  Women who don't use condoms, but do use intrauterine devices (IUDs), are more likely to get BV than those who use condoms or who are not sexually active. BV is not the result of bad hygiene. You can get BV without having sex, but many women who are diagnosed with BV report having recent sexual activity with either male or female partners. Sexual activity includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Men can not be diagnosed with BV. Many women with bacterial vaginosis do not show any symptoms at all. Signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis may differ from person to person but is chiefly characterized by:   Grey, white or yellowish discharge. This is caused by an outgrowth of the bad bacteria that thrives in the vagina, thereby interrupting the normal vaginal flora.  Foul-smelling discharge. Most commonly described as a “fishy odor” and usually becomes worse after sexual intercourse.  No signs of soreness or itchiness. BV can sometimes be confused with a yeast infection, also known as thrush. This infection of the vaginal area results in a milky discharge, itchiness and soreness. If your genital area itches, it's unlikely to be BV.  Pain upon urination. Some women report a painful sensation of burning and sometimes stinging. If you suspect you have BV, you'll need to make a doctor's appointment to confirm and treat it. Your doctor will need to take a sample from your vaginal discharge. This will require you to lie down on your back, with your feet in stirrups, on the exam table. Your doctor will swab the inside of your vagina lightly with a cotton swab in order to gather the necessary sample.  The acidity of the sample will be measured. If your sample is less acidic than it should be (less than 4.5 pH) you may have bacterial vaginosis. Your medical provider may examine the sample under a microscope. If your lactobacilli count is low, but there is an abundance of "clue" cells (cells from the vaginal lining that are coated with bacteria), it's likely you have BV.
تعرفي على المزيد عن البكتيريا المهبلية. قم بمعرفة أعرض إلالتهاب البكتيري المهبلي. إليكِ كيفية تشخيص المرض.