New Recommendations to Make IUD Insertion Less Painful
There is new guidance on pain management for IUD insertion and acknowledgement that providers often underestimate the pain patients feel during their procedures.
Bacteria Vaginosis (BV)
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common gynecologic infection, affecting nearly 29 percent of women in the U.S. While not all women with BV have symptoms, those that do may experience an abnormal vaginal discharge that may be white or gray, watery, and may also have a strong fish-like odor, or vaginal itching and irritation.
How does someone get BV?
In a healthy vagina, there is a balance among many kinds of bacteria. Some kinds of bacteria are considered “helpful” while others are “less helpful.” Helpful bacteria help keep the vagina a little bit acidic. This keeps less helpful bacteria from growing too fast. Sometimes, though, the less helpful bacteria can take over, and the result may be BV.
Anyone with a vagina can get BV, but there are some things that may increase the chance of someone getting BV, like douching or having new or multiple sex partners.
Diagnosing BV
Correct diagnosis is important. Untreated, BV can increase a woman’s risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Pregnant people can face additional problems, as BV may cause babies to be born early or with low birth weight.
Women may mistake the generic symptoms of BV—like itching and discharge—for a yeast infection. While it can be tempting to self-diagnose and self treat with over-the-counter products, it’s easy to misdiagnose the problem. In a 2017 ASHA survey, 62 percent of women mistook BV for a yeast infection prior to diagnosis. If it is BV, medication for a yeast infection won’t help.
Only a healthcare provider can accurately diagnose BV. Your provider will likely perform an exam and take a sample of vaginal discharge. The provider may examine the sample under a microscope in the office or send it to a lab to be tested.
Treatment
BV can be treated with antibiotics, including a one-day, one-dose treatment. However BV can come back in the months after treatment, so if symptoms come back, talk to a provider.
A Healthy Vagina is a Happy Vagina
Fortunately, the vagina is designed to keep itself clean with natural, healthy vaginal secretions. You can keep your vagina healthy with the same things that keep your whole body healthy—regular hygiene and a good diet. Here are a few basic tips:
Don't Douche
While some women douche thinking it keeps the vagina clean, it actually does more
harm than good. Douching upsets the natural balance of the vagina and may make you more prone to vaginal infections.
Keep Clean
Wash your vaginal area with mild, unscented soap. There is no need to use anything special to clean the vulva and vagina. Also remember to wipe your vagina and anus from front to back to avoid spreading germs.
Get Help
If you have symptoms of an infection, like discharge or irritation, see a provider to find out what's going on. It may be BV, or it may be another problem like a yeast infection or an STI. Only a provider can make a correct diagnosis.
More Resources on BV
Is It BV?
Don’t be fooled by symptoms and try home remedies for treatment. Those symptoms could be BV.
Managing BV: A Conversation with Jenelle Marie Pierce
In this episode of the ASHA podcast Jenelle Marie Pierce, health educator and executive director of the TheSTIProject.com, shares her experiences in coping with BV and offers tips on talking with health care providers.
Get The Fact Sheet: BV Basics
This one-page, printable PDF offers all the basics on BV, from symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatment.
Interested in other educational fact sheets? Check out other free ASHA publications and fact sheets here.
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Contraception and Birth Control Methods
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Questions and Concerns about Long-Acting Reversible Contraception
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The Impact of STIs on Fertility
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Over-the-Counter Contraceptives Might Soon Be Covered by All Insurance
The Biden Administration proposed new rules designed to make getting contraception easier and less expensive.
New Study Casts Doubt on the Effectiveness of Tubal Ligation
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Understanding the Social Factors Associated with Congenital Syphilis
Public health experts have said that every case of congenital syphilis is a failure of STI screening and prenatal care. A new study looked more closely at cases to see what factors in a pregnant person’s life were most associated with congenital syphilis.