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Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is an
infection of the vagina that's often characterised by itchiness and
excessive discharge. Although it's one of the most common vaginal
infections, researchers don't yet know how it's spread. It generally
affects women of childbearing age, but it's also been found in
infants, children with no exposure to sex, and postmenopausal women.
Researchers used to think that BV
was fairly harmless. But they've recently found that if untreated,
it can put you at risk of more serious disorders, such as
inflammation or swelling of the Fallopian tubes or the uterine
lining. It has also been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease,
an infection of the Fallopian tubes that can lead to permanent
tissue scarring and infertility.
On top of that, BV can cause
complications during pregnancy. According to a 1995 US study,
pregnant women with BV are 40 percent more likely to give birth to
premature, low birthweight babies (babies weighing less than 5
pounds) than those without BV. Research has also linked the
condition to infection of the amniotic fluid (the liquid surrounding
a foetus in the womb), as well as post-caesarian infection and other
health problems following birth. |
