Can you have BV with no odor?

Some people find that the odor is more noticeable after sexual intercourse with male partners, as well as during, and immediately after, their period. However, approximately 50 to 75 percent of people with BV have no symptoms.

Can BV be odorless?

Discharge from BV has a distinctive fishy odor, while yeast infection discharge tends to be odorless.

How do you know if you have BV or not?

A thin white or gray vaginal discharge; Pain, itching, or burning in the vagina; A strong fish-like odor, especially after sex; Burning when peeing; and.

Can you have BV with no symptoms?

Half of women with bacterial vaginosis do not have any symptoms. Bacterial vaginosis does not usually cause any soreness or itching. If you're unsure it's BV, check for other causes of unusual vaginal discharge.

What happens if you have BV for a long time?

Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.

Bacterial vaginosis, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, DIagnosis and Treatment.

Can I treat BV without antibiotics?

The primary treatment course for BV is antibiotics. However, some people may wish to treat the condition at home. Options for home treatments include practicing safe hygiene, using barrier protection during intercourse, and taking probiotic supplements. BV is a common condition and typically is not cause for concern.

Can you have BV for months?

For people who initially improve after initial BV treatment, approximately 1 in 3 will have a recurrence of BV symptoms within three months, and more than half will have a recurrence of symptoms within 12 months. Symptoms may return because of a new infection or relapse (return) of the prior infection.

What does untreated BV feel like?

Thin, gray, white or green vaginal discharge. Foul-smelling "fishy" vaginal odor. Vaginal itching. Burning during urination.

How long BV last without treatment?

Bacterial vaginosis is an infection of the vagina that may cause a fishy-smelling discharge. It's usually a mild problem that may go away on its own in a few days.

What is the whiff test?

The whiff test is a test for the fishy odor that occurs in bacterial vaginosis (previously called Gardnerella vaginitis and nonspecific vaginitis). A drop of KOH is mixed with some vaginal discharge. A positive test is abnormal and consists of a characteristic fishy odor.

What is commonly mistaken for BV?

Often, BV can be mistaken for other conditions, such as yeast infections or sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia. Often, BV (or STDs) do not have any symptoms at all, so it's imperative always to make a yearly gynecological appointment.

How do you rule out BV?

Test your vaginal pH.

Your doctor may check the acidity of your vagina by placing a pH test strip in your vagina. A vaginal pH of 4.5 or higher is a sign of bacterial vaginosis.

What does the start of BV feel like?

Bacterial Vaginosis Symptoms

Burning feeling when you pee. Fishy smell that gets stronger after sex. Itching. Thin white, gray, or green discharge.

What is your pH if you have BV?

Women with BV typically have vaginal pH levels higher than 4.5, while normal levels are in the 4.0 range. BV may cause the secretions to have a bad odor, but sometimes this is hard to detect.

Can you have BV with normal pH?

The differential diagnosis of different types of vaginitis is difficult by symptoms or signs alone. Women with vulvovaginal candidiasis can even present a normal or acidic vaginal pH [14].

Can I use Monistat for BV?

Can I use Monistat for BV? Monistat is a medication used to treat yeast infections. BV is an overgrowth of bacteria, so it is treated differently. Taking Monistat may worsen your BV.

Can BV self heal?

If you have no symptoms, treatment is usually not required as this condition is self-limiting (will go away by itself).

Can BV be permanent?

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of the vaginal bacteria normally present in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition and treatment is available; however, in some women the condition may recur or even become chronic, requiring multiple and sometimes long-term treatments.

Does stress cause BV?

Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common.

Does bacterial vaginosis itch?

Symptoms - The primary symptom of BV is an abnormal, odorous vaginal discharge. The fish-like odor is noticeable especially after intercourse. Women with BV also may have burning during urination or itching around the outside of the vagina, or both.

Why am I getting BV all the time?

Causes. Although the exact cause of BV isn't clear, experts believe that sex is a contributing factor. Unprotected sex, sex with a new partner, and sex with multiple partners may alter the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Other practices, such as douching, may also increase your risk of BV.

Do probiotics help with BV?

Multiple studies have shown that oral or vaginal probiotics can effectively treat and prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis. The dose, route, and treatment protocols vary greatly between studies, but many have shown a statistically significant reduction in the rate of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.

How long can BV linger?

While the infection may go away on its own, most doctors use antibiotics to treat it. You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days.

Can boric acid cure BV in one day?

To treat BV, the boric acid capsules can be inserted into the vagina at night for about 1-2 weeks. If you have a recurrent BV infection, your doctor may recommend you use it 1-2 times a week for about 3 months.

Does boric acid get rid of BV?

Intravaginal boric acid has been used for over a hundred years to treat vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis. Boric acid is inexpensive, accessible, and has shown to be an effective treatment for other infections, such as vaginal candidiasis.