If your swab has come back from the lab with a diagnosis of: Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of unusual vaginal discharge. BV is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can increase your risk of getting an STI such as chlamydia.
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 and thin and watery
Half of women with bacterial vaginosis do not have any symptoms.
Bacterial vaginosis does not usually cause any soreness or itching.
The condition is not usually serious, but you’ll need to be treated with antibiotics if you do have it.
It’s also important to seek treatment if you’re pregnant as there’s a small chance it can cause complications with pregnancy.
Treatment for bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is usually treated with antibiotic tablets or gels or creams.
These are prescribed medications.
If you have a same-sex partner, 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.
Things you can do yourself
There are things you can do to help relieve symptoms and prevent bacterial vaginosis returning.
Do:
- Use water and plain soap to wash your genital area
- Have showers instead of baths
Don’t:
- 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
Page updated 11 July, 2023