health tips
It Could
Be More
than
What You
Think
By Tamara Je’Taime Lawrence
With the colossal panic of vaginal infections like HPV
and STIs, the most common but least talked about infec-
tion is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). Commonly confused with
the yeast infection, BV is not dangerous, but can lead to
harmful complications.
The cause BV is assumed to be part of the normal
bacteria found in a woman’s vagina. A healthy vagina con-
tains a tiny amount of healthy bacteria called lactobacillus,
which helps maintain the normal balance of microorgan-
isms in the vagina. Because the healthy bacteria are kept
in low numbers, sometimes “bad” bacteria’s overgrowth
disrupts this balance causing an infection.
It is crucial that women do not confuse BV with a yeast
infection. Symptoms include a fishy odor and vaginal dis-
charge, which is typically grayish white and thin. Other
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symptoms include mild itching, burning or irritation. Some
women, however, may not experience any of these symp-
toms.
Sexually active or not, it is imperative for women to
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get an annual Pap smear to help detect any signs of in-
flammation. BV has been associated with abnormal Pap
smear results, and these results have shown that women
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with BV have an increased chance of developing pelvic
inflammatory disease which leads to infertility, pelvic pain
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and an ectopic pregnancy.
Untreated BV has also been associated with the in-
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creased risk of contracting other sexually transmitted
infections such as Chlamydia and Syphilis. Other com- part in a survivor celebration at the
plications include premature births and low-birth-weight
infants.
Relay For Life of Detroit.
Though the exact cause of the infection is unknown,
according to Planned Parenthood, it seems to occur more
frequently in women who have new sexual partners or
more than one partner. Furthermore, men usually do not
experience problems or any symptoms with this infec-
Relay For Life of Detroit
tion.
To prevent the development of BV, doctors suggest
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that women avoid douching because it leads to bacteria
balance corruption. Perfumed soaps and feminine hy-
June 20-21,2009
giene sprays are also discouraged because they can ir-
ritate the vagina. Additionally, it is recommended to wipe
front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectum
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to the vagina. And women should also be more aware of
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how they dress; tight clothing traps heat, providing a wel-
come breeding ground for bacteria.
Many women with this condition often struggle to find
the right treatment. While there are many different antibi-
otics, such as Metrogel-Vaginal, for this bacterial infec-
tion, each person must find the one that is right for her.
When treatment is given, it is also important that all the
medication be completed even if symptoms go away. And
it needs to be understood that BV can always come back
after full treatment.
Any woman, young or old, can contract BV. It could be
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yeast infection, but then again there is a chance that it’s
not. So, if you suspect that you may be infected with BV
the best course of action is to make an appointment with
your gynecologist to get checked.
 The Michigan FrontPage • May 29, 2009
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