Is Bacterial Vaginosis An Infection?

Any woman can relate to how uncomfortable it can be to have any kind of vaginal infection. The question is always raised, is bacterial vaginosis an infection? To answer this question one must look at all the things that give this answer. There are three kinds of vaginal infections, they are bacterial vaginosis, vaginal yeast infection and trichomoniasis.

How is Bacterial Vaginosis Identified?

Bacterial vaginosis can be identified with a thin, very smelling discharge, with the odor of fish. This discharge is usually thin and of a grey or white color. There can also be burning or itching. Some women with this disease have none of these symptoms. Yeast infection results in intense itching and burning when urinating. The discharge is like cottage cheese. Trichomoniasis has all of the previous symptoms mentioned and is a sexually transmitted disease. Any of these infections can result in a smelly discharge, itching and general irritation. There are many causes of vaginosis and over the counter medicines will not always correct the problem. The vagina is the home to bacteria which usually keeps a healthy balance. When this balance is interrupted because of sex, sexual diseases, douches, antibiotics and other such things it causes the vagina to become inflamed. rnThe name vaginosis, in itself, means inflammation. This inflammation is often caused by infections which can mean a serious disease, hormonal change or a variety of other things related to a person's life. Bacterial vaginosis means an infection which must be medically treated. A similar problem is yeast infection which can be treated with over the counter drugs. The symptoms of this infection can often be compared to other diseases of the vagina such as gonorrhea so need a medical examination before treatment can be prescribed. Any smelly discharge, burning upon urination or itching should be attended to immediately. This infection is caused by the imbalance of the natural bacteria that is always present in this area. When consulting a physician with these symptoms a pelvic exam will be taken with a specimen removed for a laboratory examination. When viewed under a microscope, it will be readily apparent what the problem is. The doctor can then prescribe the correct medication to correct the problem. Usually this includes a device to dispense medicine immediately into the vagina and possibly an oral prescription as well. There are very few women who go through life without some kind of vaginal infection. With the ups and downs of everyday life, various medications and sexual intercourse there is bound to be an interruption to the bacteria count in that area. There is no specific way to keep this from occurring as it has nothing to do with how clean one is or what one should avoid eating or doing. rnThis type of infection is especially dangerous for pregnant women. Possibility of a miscarriage is especially dangerous in the first trimester. This infection has also been associated with newborn problems such as low birth weight and premature delivery. Anyone who is pregnant should consult a physician immediately to eliminate any danger of this happening. It is important that a woman take good care of her body in order to life a healthy lifestyle. Infections of this kind are not only uncomfortable, they are dangerous. If left to develop over a period of time that can cause on to have a fever and lead to more serious complications. In addition, having the symptoms of itching and urination burning make it difficult to work or carry on everyday activities. If working at a desk job, it is almost impossible to sit for long periods of time. A woman must be vigilant at all times to any change in her body functions. If one has a stomach ache some kind of treatment is immediately sought to take care of the problem. It should be the same with all parts of the body. The vagina is one of these important parts. It acts as a birth canal as well as for intercourse. To have both of these things operate correctly it is necessary to have the vagina in a healthy condition. This is possible if care is taken to notice anything that is not right in this area. Discharge from the vagina is ordinarily normal. However, there be no itching, burning or smell that does not easily disappear when bathing. Without this fluid the vagina would be very dry and irritated, especially in the event of sex or inserting something such as a tampon. Is bacterial vaginosis an infection? The answer is a definite yes.