Bacterial vaginosis: symptoms and treatments

You have vaginal discharge with a strange consistency and color, your vulva and discharge smell of sulfur or rotten fish, you have itching in the vulva or vagina… All of these symptoms are clear: you seem to be suffering from vaginal vaginosis. This bacterial condition resulting from an imbalance in the vaginal flora is not serious but it can be difficult to live with and needs to be treated. As an e-concept store dedicated to women's intimacy, it was important for us to explain the symptoms of vaginosis and present the possible treatments.

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What is vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection , usually caused by an imbalance in the natural bacterial flora of the vagina . Vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but sexually active people are at greater risk of developing it.

The vaginal flora is a microbiota where good and bad bacteria develop. The good bacteria (which are lactobacilli) are more numerous and populate the vagina allowing it to be cleaned and function properly.

In bacterial vaginosis, harmful bacteria (e.g. Gardnerella vaginalis, in which case we speak of Gardnerella bacterial vaginosis) multiply abnormally. Their excessive presence causes various symptoms and discomforts, such as abnormal vaginal discharge , often grayish or whitish in color, itching of the vulva and an unpleasant vaginal odor , sometimes described as a fishy smell. Risk factors that contribute to an imbalance in the vaginal flora are multiple sexual practices, smoking and douching.

Bacterial vaginosis is usually not serious and can be easily treated with antibiotics, but its location (it affects the vagina and vulva) and its symptoms (vaginal odor and discharge that may be associated with poor hygiene) make it a taboo condition.

It is necessary and important to treat bacterial vaginosis because the imbalance of the vaginal flora that it reflects can increase the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection and experiencing complications during pregnancy . Treatment is often based on antibiotics and on restoring the balance of the vaginal (or even intestinal) flora, generally via vaginal probiotics.

Other vaginoses, non-bacterial vaginoses

While bacterial vaginosis is the most common, there are other forms of vaginal infection, linked to other causes (yeast, viruses, parasites, hormonal imbalance, etc.). Symptoms vary depending on the cause , but each time include itching, abnormal discharge, and pain. Treatment depends on the cause and may include antifungals, antivirals, antibiotics, or measures to reduce irritation or restore hormonal balance. If you are unsure about the symptoms you are experiencing, for example because they do not completely match the symptoms below, consult a doctor to find out more.

Symptoms of vaginosis

There are many symptoms of bacterial vaginosis . You may not experience all of them—the most characteristic and common are abnormal vaginal discharge and a rotten fishy odor.

Abnormal vaginal discharge

White discharge , also called vaginal discharge, changes during and after the menstrual cycle, particularly because cervical mucus , which is part of it, is linked to the cycle. White discharge, which is partly responsible for cleaning the vagina, can change color and texture when the vagina is affected. In the case of bacterial vaginosis, vaginal discharge takes on a creamy and thick texture, and a whitish or grayish color.

A smell of rotten fish

This is certainly the symptom that will bother you the most and alert you the most if you are affected by bacterial vaginosis: your discharge and your vulva will give off an unpleasant odor , often associated with that of rotten fish or sulfur/rotten eggs .

✋ When faced with this symptom, your first instinct might be to “clean” your vulva and vagina or to slather it with perfumed products. Don’t do this! If you suffer from bacterial vaginosis, it is the proliferation of bacteria that is responsible for this odor and not your hygiene: treatment will allow you to quickly get rid of bad odors!

Vaginal itching

Itching in the vulva and inside the vagina, also called vaginal pruritus, is another symptom of bacterial vaginosis. It is linked to the development of bad bacteria and the irritation that results.

✋ The wrong reflex would be to scratch yourself, on the surface or inside. This is the best way to really irritate yourself, scratch yourself and cause an equally unpleasant infection. Antibiotic treatment will allow you to get rid of this itching!

Dyspareunia / Pain during and after sexual penetration

Your vagina irritated by vaginosis is more likely to suffer during or after vaginal penetration . If you regularly suffer from pain during intercourse and your vulva is irritated after each intercourse , you have several of the symptoms discussed here, it is possible that you have vaginosis.

✋ Taking a break and limiting vaginal intercourse may be recommended as part of treating vaginosis, if only to allow the antibiotics to take effect and the vaginal flora to recover. In this case, consider other sexual practices—if you feel like it.

A burning sensation when urinating

Similar to what you may feel during urinary tract infections, you may feel a burning sensation when you urinate during vaginosis.

Absence of redness and significant inflammation

Significant redness or inflammation on your vulva is a sign of vaginosis related to other causes, such as a virus or allergic reaction. They are proof that you do not have bacterial vaginosis—but you should still see a doctor to find answers to your discomfort.

Disappearance and reappearance of symptoms according to its cycle

We mentioned it at the beginning of this list of symptoms: white discharge changes in quantity and texture throughout the menstrual cycle. During menstruation in particular, which corresponds to the phase where the endometrium disintegrates in the uterus and is expelled by the vagina, the microbiota of the vagina is strongly impacted by this discharge: bacterial vaginosis can lose its intensity and its symptoms diminish. Also, do not think you are “cured” if the symptoms change during the cycle without treatment; it may just be that the infection has slowed down but is still present. If you have symptoms of an infection, consult a doctor, do not wait.

How to treat vaginosis?

Although bacterial vaginosis is not a serious disease, it can have unpleasant consequences. On the one hand, it affects your self-esteem (it is not pleasant to have a bad smell from your vulva) and on the other hand, it affects your long-term health: you are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted infection if you have bacterial vaginosis, as well as to have complications during pregnancy. But how do you treat bacterial vaginosis? Here are the three steps.

Step 1: Consult a doctor

The first step in treating bacterial vaginosis (and more broadly any type of vaginosis) is to consult your doctor. A gynecologist or midwife can also help you, if necessary. If necessary, these health professionals will conduct additional tests to determine the cause of your discomfort and they will prescribe treatment. In the case of bacterial vaginosis, this treatment will be based on antibiotics to destroy the bad bacteria that have developed in your vagina.

Step 2: Take recommended treatments

The second step in treating bacterial vaginosis is to take the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor in the dosage (time and amount) recommended by your doctor. If you have bacterial vaginosis, getting rid of the bad bacteria is the prerequisite for recovery.

By the end of this second stage, a majority of the symptoms that were bothering you should have disappeared or at least diminished.

Step 3: Rebuild your vaginal flora with probiotics

The third step to permanently curing bacterial vaginosis is to rebuild your vaginal flora (and sometimes your intestinal flora). Indeed, the appearance and proliferation of bad bacteria, then their destruction by antibiotics can have destroyed your vaginal flora. Rebuilding it will allow you to make your vaginal flora and your vagina function properly again.

To do this, you can opt for vaginal prebiotics and probiotics. While probiotics are living organisms responsible for conquering your vaginal flora again in a positive way, prebiotics are like fuel, elements that feed the probiotics and accelerate their development.

🌈 On Gapianne, we have selected for you a product that we particularly like to help you rebuild your vaginal flora: the intimate soothing gel with probiotics from the Miyé brand. Its advantage? It can be used internally to act as quickly as possible and more effectively. Made from 99% natural ingredients, it is made in France, vegan and organic. It contains a complex set of prebiotics and probiotics, including different strains of Lactobacillus.

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Step 4: Maintain healthy vaginal flora

Once your intimate flora has been cleared of bad bacteria and rebuilt, here are our final tips for maintaining the balance of your vaginal flora and avoiding repeated vaginosis:

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