Learn about Bacterial vaginosis symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Bacterial vaginosis

What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?

You might have a discharge from your vagina. It can have a fishy odor. But you might not get symptoms.

About half the women who have bacterial vaginosis don't notice any symptoms.

Source:
McGregor JA, French JI.
Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy.
Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2000; 55 (supplement 1): S1-S19.

Keep in mind that many other things, such as having a

yeast infection
Infections with certain types of fungus are called yeast infections. These infections are common and can affect many different parts of your body. A yeast infection in your mouth is called thrush. It gives you white spots on your tongue or on the roof of your mouth. If your body's self-defense system (your immune system) is weakened, you're more likely to get a yeast infection.

yeast infection, can cause a discharge from your vagina. But bacterial vaginosis is the most common cause.

Also, it is normal to have some discharge from your vagina, and it can change in its appearance or thickness at different times of the month.

Your doctor will take a sample of the fluid from your vagina if he or she thinks you have bacterial vaginosis. He or she will use a cotton swab to do this and will send the sample to a lab for testing.

Doctors say you have bacterial vaginosis if you have at least three of the following four signs:

Source:
McGregor JA, French JI.
Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy.
Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2000; 55 (supplement 1): S1-S19.

Source:
Weir E.
Bacterial vaginosis: more questions than answers.
Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004; 1171: 448.

A thin gray or white vaginal discharge that sticks to the walls of your vagina
Vaginal fluid that is less acidic than usual
A fishy odor when a chemical (potassium hydroxide) is added to a sample of your vaginal fluid
"Clue" cells when your vaginal fluid is examined under a microscope. (These are cells with a lot of bacteria stuck to them.)

Your doctor might also look at your vaginal fluid under a microscope to check for the types of bacteria that you get in bacterial vaginosis.

Source:
Fredricks DN, Fiedler TL, Marrazzo JM.
Molecular identification of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis.
New England Journal of Medicine. 2005; 353: 1899-1911.

Sources for the information on this page:

McGregor JA, French JI.Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy.Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2000; 55 (supplement 1): S1-S19.

Weir E.Bacterial vaginosis: more questions than answers.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2004; 1171: 448.

Fredricks DN, Fiedler TL, Marrazzo JM.Molecular identification of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis.New England Journal of Medicine. 2005; 353: 1899-1911.

This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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