{"id":20253,"date":"2020-02-06T08:33:17","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T08:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=20253"},"modified":"2021-10-15T06:35:54","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T06:35:54","slug":"14-causes-of-bacterial-vaginosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/14-causes-of-bacterial-vaginosis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, it is considered an infection – and it cannot be caused by improper hygiene. It’s one of the most common types of vaginal infections out there, and there are many things that you might not know about what’s commonly called BV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include discharge, odor, and itching: These symptoms last for as long as the infection does. Bacterial vaginosis cannot affect men but can be spread from one partner to another – commonly between women – although it doesn’t always take sex to trigger a case of BV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s nothing to be ashamed about, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about and it’s nothing to be self-conscious about: Instead, it’s just another routine infection that has to be treated and can even be treated at home in most cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 common causes of BV that you should know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Unprotected Sex <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though bacterial vaginosis is considered a bacterial type of infection instead of a sexually transmitted disease, having unprotected sex with multiple partners is one of the factors which can put you most at risk for contracting it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any type of unprotected sex can be considered risky: The more partners you share your sexual life with, the more your risk of contracting conditions spread through sex becomes – and bacterial vaginosis might be one of them. You’ll notice the first symptoms a few days to weeks after contracting the condition, although many cases show no symptoms – and generally, men aren’t able to get bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sex with multiple partners can imbalance the pH of the vagina, as can cleaning or douching the vagina too much. These factors put you at an automatically increased risk of developing bacterial vaginosis or of contracting related conditions such as a yeast infection <\/a>or urinary tract infection, which can share similarities and symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Unprotected Oral Sex<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unprotected sex isn’t the only sexual act that might put you at an automatically increased risk of developing bacterial vaginosis. Sometimes unprotected oral sex can also increase your risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis – and even though it won’t show any of the same symptoms, BV is a type of bacteria that can easily be carried in the mouth and subsequently transmitted through genital-oral contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more sexual partners included in this list, the higher your risk of contracting or spreading as condition like bacterial vaginosis as a result even though BV isn’t considered to be a sexually transmitted disease or infection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the first signs of a condition like BV, cease all unprotected sex until the condition has been diagnosed and treated, and the symptoms have subsided. Also remember that bacterial vaginosis isn’t the only condition that can be spread this way, and other conditions might have similar symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Unprotected Anal Sex<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial vaginosis is considered a routine infection just like a yeast or urinary tract infection: It’s one most common types of vaginal infections out there, and there are thousands of people out there who might have picked up one of these infections without knowing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of these thousands, many might be too self-conscious or embarrassed about it to go to a doctor (or might not show any visible, obvious symptoms of the condition) and this increases the potential risk of them spreading the condition to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just because it’s not a traditional STD doesn’t mean that sex can’t help spread the condition around. Unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex are some of the ways in which you can increase your risk of contracting BD, particularly if you’ve had unprotected sex with a woman who has it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always take the necessary precautions when having sex<\/a>, particularly when you’re having sex with multiple partners. At the first sign of symptoms, stop having sex and be tested to make sure what kind of infection you have.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Sex with Unseen Risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unprotected sex isn’t the only kind of sex that can be considered risky and increase your chances of contracting an infection like bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection. Sometimes protected sex doesn’t always go as planned; this is why things like spermicide gel and the morning after pill have a market in the first place – and tearing condoms <\/a>can be one of the things that one doesn’t notice during sex that increases the potential spread of an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the heat of the moment, people might forget to check a condom for rips or tears: This turns a protective sex encounter into something that carries more risk and you might not even see this until afterward – or realize it until you have the first symptoms or signs of an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes sex can have unseen risks, and anyone who is sexually active should be aware that these risks are possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Multiple Sexual Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Multiple sexual partners are one of the factors that can put you at most risk having multiple sexual partners changes the natural internal pH balance of the vagina, and this means that you are at an increased risk of developing yeast infections, urinary tract infections<\/a> and other infections such as bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though bacterial vaginosis isn’t considered to be a sexually transmitted infection or disease, sex with multiple partners – particularly a woman who has bacterial vaginosis – increases your risk of getting it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over-cleaning and douching (as separate reasons) can also sometimes go together with frequent sexual activity or multiple sexual partners and might also lead to bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you have it, stop having sex for the duration of the condition until you’re sure it has been adequately treated. This can help to decrease your chances of getting BV, and it can also decrease the risk of spreading it through sexual contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Improper Condom Use<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Condom use can decrease your risk of developing a condition like bacterial vaginosis or similar conditions such as a yeast or urinary tract infection: Pregnancy isn’t the only thing that condom use helps to prevent, and condoms are just a part of safe sex – but this also means that condoms have to be used in the right ways for them to be effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improper condom use (or the use of improper condoms) can increase your risk of developing infections, of contracting sexually transmitted conditions and of getting pregnant<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always store condoms properly, open them carefully and double-check the expiry dates of your condoms to stop this from happening – and only stick to reliable, tested condom brands to ensure that you’re using high-quality products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, you should not keep condoms in your wallet or back pocket: Both of these put the condoms at risk of damaging or rupturing before use, and it might be so small that you cannot see the tear – but that it still increases your chances of contracting an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Overcleaning of the Vagina <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial vaginosis and how likely you are to get it has nothing to do with your personal hygiene<\/a>, and certainly nothing to do with personal hygiene that isn’t done properly – but this is still one of the most common misconceptions surrounding bacterial vaginosis out there today, and it’s what makes most people feel self-conscious, embarrassed or even scared when they find out that they might have any kind of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to obsessive cleaning or douching, both of which can be more bad for the health than good. In fact, overcleaning of the vagina disturbs that natural pH balance of the body – and instead of making an infection like bacterial vaginosis less likely to happen, it actually increases your risk and makes you more likely to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience repeated infections of the bladder or urinary tract together with bacterial vaginosis, you should start by asking yourself if you could be causing the problem with an obsessive hygiene routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Over-Douching <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several different ways to clean the vagina, and there are thousands of products available on the market that claim to do the trick – including vaginal wipes and douche kits. But there is such a thing as cleaning the vagina too much, and most of the urge to repeatedly douche the vagina will stem from fear that it’s somehow necessary (although in reality mostly isn’t, and douching or cleaning more than you should isn’t good for the body).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making use of douche products too frequently can throw the vagina’s natural pH out, and this can mean that you are more likely to contract conditions like a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. Not from a lack of hygiene, but instead from too much of it instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you have bacterial vaginosis<\/a>, a yeast infection or any other kind of vaginal condition, hold off on using douche products for a while – and when resuming their use, don’t use them too frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Previous Bacterial Vaginosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have had bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection within the past three to six months, it automatically increases the likelihood of the pH balance in your body not being what it should be – and again, this is another factor that can increase your risk of contracting conditions like a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the condition was properly treated, the infection can come back on a routine cycle: All this means is that there might be other factors causing the infection to come back, such as a severe <\/a>allergy to underwear or washing powder or over-cleaning or douching causing a constant imbalance of vaginal bacteria that again manages to trigger bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a previous bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection comes back a few months in a row, start looking at potential risk factors that might be causing it. Should changing these factors make no difference, it could be time to see your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Lowered Immune System Combined with Other Risk Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The body’s immune system can be called the body’s safeguard against picking up any infections: This is why most guides to health will tell you to boost your immune system – and why  it’s the first thing you should do if you spot the symptoms of any kind of infection like bacterial vaginosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many things that can affect your immune system including an unhealthy diet or lack of the right vitamins <\/a>and minerals: Your immune system can also be negatively affected by certain chronic conditions that cause it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the reason for a lowered immune system, it can put you more at risk of conditions such as BV, and it can mean that you are harder-hit by the symptoms than anyone with a comparatively better-equipped immunity. To prevent this, do what you can to increase the overall health of your immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Affected Underwear Improperly Cleaned<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have recently had bacterial vaginosis or a similar condition such as a yeast infection, you should automatically consider yourself at risk of developing the condition again – and you might have to see your doctor or look for risk factors if this is the case and the condition  keeps recurring for several months in a row. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the potential dangers of contracting a bladder<\/a>, urinary tract or vaginal infection such as BV is any underwear that you might have used for this period of time. Because of the fact that discharge is one of the most common symptoms of BV, it might spread to underwear and a few washes might not have been enough to get rid of traces of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, discard your underwear if you have healed from a recent BV infection, especially if you have already had multiple infections recurring in a row. Should this not fix the problem, look at other risk factors that could be triggering it or see your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Regular Sex<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having regular sex with multiple sexual partners can be one of the factors that increase your risk of contracting a condition like bacterial vaginosis. The risk can increase if the sex involved happens in a group situation where not everyone is wearing protection – and women are more likely to spread bacterial vaginosis through unprotected sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though bacterial vaginosis is an infection instead of an STD<\/a>, it can still spread through sex: Unprotected sex increases the risk, as do multiple sexual partners – both of these things can throw out the natural pH balance of the vagina and kill off the body’s own healthy bacteria. These things, in turn, can cause bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To lower your risk of the condition, stop having sex if you spot symptoms, and make as sure as possible that the sex you have is protected, whether it’s with one partner or multiple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that over-douching as part of your hygiene routine can trigger bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Untreated STDs <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Untreated sexually transmitted infections can lead to further problems with your sexual health, and might lead to an increased rate of developing infections such as yeast infections and urinary tract or bladder infections: it might even lead to infections elsewhere in the body such as the kidneys <\/a>– and it can certainly lead to repeated problems with bacterial vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you might have any kind of sexually transmitted condition, stop having sex and have yourself tested to find out what condition you might have: Doing anything else in this situation is risky, can affect your health very negatively and can mean that the infection has a chance to spread through your circle of sexual partners and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never leave any STD or infection untreated, and never leave your health to chance. Some sexually transmitted conditions can also mimic the symptoms of BV – and you might not know what you have contracted until you’ve had the right tests done.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Sex with an Affected Woman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Men can sometimes be considered carriers of BV, and they might spread the condition in a group sex situation without protection through direct genital contact – but men generally do not show symptoms of the BV bacteria<\/a>, and they can’t get BV. Sexual contact with a woman who has bacterial vaginosis is far more likely to trigger the condition – and extreme care should be taken in any sexual situation to stop the infection from spreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you have picked up BV, the right thing to do is to get yourself tested to be sure – and to inform your sexual partners of the condition once you know just in case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Remember that there are also many other sexually transmitted conditions that might look like BV, and you can only know which you have once the proper tests have been done: Before you have test results, all you’re doing is speculating – and this can do a lot more harm than good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>