Bacterial vaginosis

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include:

• an unusual vaginal discharge that has a strong fishy smell, particularly after sex
• a change to the colour and consistency of your discharge, such as becoming greyish-white, thin and watery

Half of women with bacterial vaginosis do not have any symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis does not usually cause any soreness or itching.

• you think you have bacterial vaginosis

The condition is not usually serious, but if you have it you may need to be treated with antibiotics.

It's also important to seek treatment if you're pregnant as there's a small chance it can cause complications with pregnancy.

If you have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, a GP or sexual health clinic will want to confirm it is bacterial vaginosis and rule out an STI.

You'll be asked about your symptoms, and a doctor or nurse may look at your vagina.

A cotton bud may be wiped over the discharge inside your vagina to test for bacterial vaginosis and other infections.

Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotic tablets or gels or creams.

These are prescribed by a GP or sexual health clinic.

If your partner is a woman or has a vagina, they may also need treatment.

Recurring bacterial vaginosis

It's common for bacterial vaginosis to come back, usually within a few months. If it comes back, you'll usually be given more antibiotics to treat it.

If you keep getting it (you get it more than 4 times in a year), you may be given an antibiotic gel that you put in your vagina. You may need to use this for a few months to help stop bacterial vaginosis coming back.

A GP or sexual health clinic will recommend how long you need to treat it.

They can also help identify if something is triggering your bacterial vaginosis, such as sex or your period.

There are things you can do to help relieve symptoms and prevent bacterial vaginosis returning.

• use water and plain soap to wash your genital area

• have showers instead of baths

• do not use perfumed soaps, bubble bath, shampoo or shower gel in the bath

• do not use vaginal deodorants, washes or douches

• do not put antiseptic liquids in the bath

• do not use strong detergents to wash your underwear

• do not smoke

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by a change in the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina.

What causes this to happen is not fully known, but you're more likely to get it if:

• you're sexually active (but women who have not had sex can also get bacterial vaginosis)
• you have had a change of partner
• you have an IUD (contraception device)
• you use perfumed products in or around your vagina

Bacterial vaginosis is not classed as an STI, but it can be triggered by sex.

You can pass it to a woman, or to anyone with a vagina, during sex.

Bacterial vaginosis increases your risk of getting an STI. This may be because it makes your vagina less acidic and reduces your natural defences against infection.

Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include white and watery vaginal discharge that often has a strong fishy smell.

Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotics from a GP or sexual health clinic.

You can ease symptoms and help prevent bacterial vaginosis coming back by avoiding perfumed products and having showers instead of baths.

You're more likely to get bacterial vaginosis if you're sexually active, have an IUD or use perfumed products around your vagina.