What happens if bv is untreated

Are African-American. BV is twice as common in African-American women as in white women. How do you get BV? What are the symptoms of BV? Many women have no symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they may include: Unusual vaginal discharge. The discharge can be white milky or gray. It may also be foamy or watery. Some women report a strong fish-like odor, especially after sex. Burning when urinating Itching around the outside of the vagina Vaginal irritation These symptoms may be similar to vaginal yeast infections and other health problems.

What is the difference between BV and a vaginal yeast infection? How is BV diagnosed? Before you see a doctor or nurse for a test: Don't douche or use vaginal deodorant sprays. They might cover odors that can help your doctor diagnose BV. They can also irritate your vagina. Make an appointment for a day when you do not have your period.

How is BV treated? What can happen if BV is not treated? Having BV can raise your risk of getting HIV , genital herpes , chlamydia , pelvic inflammatory disease , and gonorrhea. Pregnancy problems. What should I do if I have BV? BV is easy to treat. If you think you have BV: See a doctor or nurse. Antibiotics will treat BV.

Take all of your medicine. Even if symptoms go away, you need to finish all of the antibiotic. Tell your sex partner s if she is female so she can be treated. Avoid sexual contact until you finish your treatment. See your doctor or nurse again if you have symptoms that don't go away within a few days after finishing the antibiotic.

Is it safe to treat pregnant women who have BV? The risk of BV is higher if you: Have a new sex partner or multiple sex partners Douche Do not use condoms Have a female sexual partner with BV BV is more common in lesbian and bisexual women than in other women.

What are signs of BV in women? Women with BV may have few or no signs of infection. Some women with BV have: Increased vaginal discharge: Often watery Gray or white in color Sometimes has an unpleasant, fish-like odor, especially after sex Itching or irritation in the vaginal area Burning during urination How do you know if you have BV?

How is it treated? Female partners of women with BV may need treatment. Male sexual partners do not need treatment What can happen if you have BV for a long time? However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases STDs like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease can cause infertility and increase the risk of ectopic tubal pregnancy. An infection after a procedure on the female organs. BV is the most common vaginal infection affecting young women. Itching and burning are not common signs of bacterial vaginosis. If a girl has those symptoms, the doctor will check for other conditions.

A lot of good, healthy bacteria live in the vagina. They help protect the vagina from bad bacteria that can cause symptoms such as smelly discharge. Girls with BV have fewer good bacteria than usual, which lets more bad bacteria grow. When the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina changes, a girl can start to have symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. Although doctors don't know for sure what causes BV, some things can make it more likely, such as:. Rarely, even girls who have never had sex can get BV.

You can't get BV from things like toilet seats, sheets and towels, or swimming pools. However, if a pregnant woman has symptoms of BV, she should be tested and treated immediately with the same antibiotic used for women who aren't pregnant.

Left untreated, BV can cause low—birth-weight babies less than 5. To treat BV, your health care provider may prescribe either oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics, which are inserted into the vagina.

Although most of the survey respondents completed the required course of treatment, 69 percent had a recurrence of their symptoms. This common condition can lead to postpartum depression and development problems in children if left untreated. Your Health.