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Bacterial Vaginosis - Complications

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Did you suffer complications from bacterial vaginosis? If so, what were they?

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What are complications of bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis can resolve completely without complications after treatment. No special follow-up is necessary if the symptoms disappear.

Women with bacterial vaginosis are at increased risk for contracting HIV infection as well as other STDs including genital herpes, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia.

In pregnancy, bacterial vaginosis can cause premature labor, premature birth, infection of the amniotic fluid, and infection of the uterus and pelvic organs (known as pelvic inflammatory disease) after delivery. Treatment is often recommended prior to hysterectomy, Cesarean birth, or IUD insertion in order to avoid spread of the disease into the pelvic organs.

However, treatment of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy that is not causing symptoms has not been shown to decrease the incidence of premature births in most studies. For these reasons, screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is controversial, and research is still being conducted to determine its utility and value. Currently the routine screening of all pregnant women is not recommended. However, screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis is sometimes recommended for women with a history of a preterm birth.

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See what others are saying

Comment from: 43 yr mom, 35-44 Female (Patient) Published: April 11

I have suffered from BV for the past seven years. I have an IUD and thought that was the problem. Recently, I have occurrences every 3 to 6 months. My main symptom is the foul fishy odor. This is so embarrassing; I don't want to be around people. I think I have got so immune to smelling it; I am at my breaking point.

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Comment from: oldie girl, 35-44 Female (Patient) Published: May 07

I have bacterial vaginosis and am still on meds. It's been almost a year. Without the meds I don't think I would leave my house. I didn't have a smell – I had pain and the itch. It took four doctors to really find out what I had. I got mine from douching way too much, and I never knew it could happen. But then again, I didn't know it would just “clean itself” down there. If you think you have BV go to our OB/GYN ASAP, because with a yeast infection along with BV, it's a really bad feeling. Stay on your meds – it helps. I'm a speed walker and love to be outdoors when it's hot. But with BV outside…it's not happening without the meds.

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