When a woman's experiencing pain and discomfort in the vaginal area, or pain during intercourse, it greatly impacts her quality of life. This is often connected to a condition called bacterial vaginosis, or BV. This is the most common type of vaginal infection in women who are of childbearing age, and Dr. Kompal Gadh of the Advanced OBGYN Institute have extensive experience treating this condition. For women in Weston and Pembroke Pines, Florida, an appointment with the Advanced OBGYN Institute can help bring relief.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal bacterial infection that causes itching, burning, pain, discharge, and odor. The underlying cause isn't known, but researchers believe that a hormonal imbalance may be to blame. BV develops when the bad bacteria in the vagina increase in number to exceed the number of good bacteria.
BV isn't a sexually transmitted disease, and the way women contract the infection isn't really known. However, women who aren't sexually active rarely get BV, so it's possible that sexual activities play a role. Also, women can't get BV from toilet seats, touching objects, swimming in swimming pools, or sleeping on used bedding.
The most common symptoms women with BV report are:
However, some women can have BV with no symptoms, so it's important for all women to keep their annual visits with the Advanced OBGYN Institute to check for health conditions like BV.
Dr. Gadh will examine the vagina for signs of the infection if a woman suspects she has BV. They will also take a sample of the vaginal fluid to test for bacteria.
BV is typically treated with antimicrobial medications, including metronidazole or clindamycin, which the doctors at the Advanced OBGYN Institute will prescribe after a positive test for BV.
BV doesn't cause much other than discomfort in most cases, but for a few women it can cause complications. Pregnant women who have BV are at higher risk for having babies born early or have lower birth rates. In rare cases, the bacteria causing BV enters the uterus and fallopian tubes causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a condition that causes infertility. BV increases a woman's risk of contracting HIV or passing HIV on to sexual partners.
Since the causes of BV aren't well known, prevention measures are also not well known, but protecting the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina should help reduce a woman's risk of getting BV. To do this, women should:
Following these protocols won't prevent all BV infections, but doing so will limit the number of infections a woman experiences. For more information about BV treatment, diagnosis, and prevention, make an appointment with the Advanced OBGYN Institute.
At Advanced OB / GYN Institute, we accept most major insurance plans. Please contact our office if you do not see your provider listed.
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"Dr. Gadh and her staff are very attentive to each patient. The one-to-one interaction between the doctor and the patient is second to none."
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