1. What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Menopause Quiz
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Bacterial vaginosis facts
• What is bacterial vaginosis?
• What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?
• What causes bacterial vaginosis?
• Is bacterial vaginosis contagious?
• How is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
• Are there home remedies for bacterial vaginosis?
• What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis?
• What are complications of bacterial vaginosis?
• Pictures of What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain - Slideshow
• Take the Menopause Quiz
• Pictures of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - Slideshow
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Complications
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Treatment
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Bacterial Vaginosis Index

Many women (about 85% of those affected) with bacterial vaginosis actually have no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, vaginal discharge and odor are the predominant symptoms. Usually, there are no other symptoms. The amount of vaginal discharge that is considered normal varies from woman to woman. Therefore, any degree of vaginal discharge that is abnormal for a particular woman should be evaluated.

Some women may experience an unpleasant fishy odor with vaginal discharge. The discharge is usually thin and grayish white. The discharge is often more noticeable after sexual intercourse.

Researchers have had difficulty determining exactly what causes bacterial vaginosis. At present, it seems to be that a combination of multiple bacteria must be present together for the problem to develop. Bacterial vaginosis typically features a reduction in the number of the normal hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli in the vagina. Simultaneously, there is an increase in concentration of other types of bacteria, especially anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow in the absence of oxygen). As a result, the diagnosis and treatment are not as simple as identifying and eradicating a single type of bacteria. Why the bacteria combine to cause the infection is unknown.

Certain factors have been identified that increase the chances of developing bacterial vaginosis. These include multiple or new sexual partners, intrauterine devices for contraception, recent antibiotic use, vaginal douching, and cigarette smoking. However, the role of sexual activity in the development of the condition is not fully understood, and although most experts believe that bacterial vaginosis does not occur in women who have not had sexual intercourse, others feel that the condition can still develop in women who have not had sexual intercourse.