Bacterial vaginosis (BV)~
Bacterial vaginosis (BV)Bacterial vaginosis (BV) formerly known as non-specific vaginitis, is the most common cause of vaginitis and is characterised by an increase in vaginal discharge and overgrowth of certain bacteria in the vagina, including Gardnerella vaginalis. Although BV is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, sexual activity has been linked to development of this infection.
Bacterial vaginosis is grossly underdiagnosed because many women assume they have a yeast infection and treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications.
The incidence of BV increases with the number of recent and lifetime sexual partners or new sexual partners. BV is predominantly identified in women. Male partners are usually asymptomatic and rarely develop infections with BVs; however, the urethras of men whose sexual partners have symptoms of BV are frequently colonized with the same strain of Bacterial vaginosis.
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