Bacterial Vaginosis In Pregnancy: Causes, Signs & Treatment
Vaginosis causes vaginal discomfort and may become severe if not treated on time.
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In This Article
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy is a common vaginal infection. It happens due to the domination of unhealthy bacteria in the vagina. BV leads to pregnancy complications and other perinatal outcomes such as low birth weight or preterm birth. (1).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a retrospective cohort study and established that around 30% of all pregnant women in the US (about 29.2 million) are affected by BV. In several instances, most women are not aware of the condition until diagnosed (2).
Read the post to learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of BV in pregnancy.
What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis In Pregnancy?
BV is caused by the imbalance of lactobacilli in the vaginal microbiome (3). Lactobacilli are responsible for maintaining an acidic environment in the vagina, which prevents the overgrowth of other bacteria and clinical indications of intrauterine infection. The risk of acquiring BV is higher in asymptomatic women who
- Have a sexually transmitted disease
- Have an implant or intrauterine device (IUD)
- Have multiple sex partners
- Have done or do vaginal douching frequently
- Have unprotected sexual intercourse
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Bacterial Vaginosis?
Most women with BV may not experience noticeable symptoms. Nevertheless, if you suspect you have BV, check for the following symptoms and contact your healthcare professional (4):
- Thin greyish vaginal discharge
- Fishy odor from the vaginal secretions, especially after sex
- A burning sensation while urinating
- Itching and discomfort around the vagina
If you suspect that you may have BV, contact your gynecologist and discuss your observations with them. It is important to refrain from self-medication without consulting a doctor, as some medicines might harm the developing fetus.
How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnosed?
BV is diagnosed and screened in pregnant women based on the healthcare provider’s discretion and available facilities. However, some common diagnostic procedures are (5)
- Microbiological testing of vaginal fluid swab/culture
- Gram stain analysis of morphotypes
How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Treated During Pregnancy?
No OTC medicines are available for treating BV. Therefore, doctors mostly prescribe antibiotic treatment, such as metronidazole or oral clindamycin. Since antibiotics also affect the good bacteria in the vagina, they are not prescribed unless necessary. Other treatment options include vaginal probiotics or ointments containing vaginal clindamycin to help reduce the symptoms and adverse effects of BV (1) (6).
What Are The Complications Of Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy?
BV in pregnant women may increase the risk for the following adverse pregnancy outcomes if left untreated (1) (7):
- Fetal and maternal morbidity
- Abortion
- Preterm delivery
- Spontaneous preterm birth
- Premature rupture of membranes causing peripartal infections
- Amniotic fluid infection
- Postpartum endometritis
- Genitourinary infections
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Wound infection or genital tract infection post cesarean delivery
- Low infant birth weight
Can Bacterial Vaginosis Resolve By Itself During Pregnancy?
BV is usually a mild condition that resolves by itself in a few days. However, if the infection persists, it may harm the mother and the baby. Hence, consult your doctor beforehand to prevent future complications.
How Can You Reduce Your Risk For Bacterial Vaginosis?
Taking measures to increase the growth and concentration of lactobacillus bacteria is the first step to help reduce your risk of acquiring BV in pregnancy. Clinical trials have shown that adding probiotics to your diet can help in this regard (8).
Here are some other preventative measures that may reduce the risk of contracting BV (5) (9)
- Avoid unprotected sex with multiple partners.
- Avoid douching (washing the inside of the vagina).
- Wear cotton underwear to help absorb moisture.
- Avoid vaginal contact with objects that have come into contact with your anus.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is cranberry good for BV?
A study suggests that consuming cranberry may help restore the balance in the vaginal microbiota. The oligosaccharides and polyphenols in cranberry products are thought to be responsible for their beneficial properties and can help treat bacterial vaginosis (10).
2. Is BV caused by poor hygiene?
No, BV is not caused by poor hygiene. Excessive washing and cleaning of the vaginal area with deodorant or other harsh soaps may cause an imbalance of the vaginal microbiome (11).
BV is a common genital tract infection in women of reproductive age. It is usually self-limiting and without visible symptoms. However, if the infection persists, doctors prescribe antibiotic treatment. If you are pregnant and contract BV, consult your doctor to help prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes and complications for you and your baby.
Key Pointers
- Lactobacilli imbalance in the vaginal microbiome causes bacterial vaginosis.
- Its symptoms may include thin greyish vaginal discharge with a fishy smell and burning sensation and irritation around the vagina.
- Vaginal probiotics or ointments with vaginal clindamycin can help alleviate the symptoms.
- It generally resolves on its own, but a persistent infection may harm the mother and fetus.
References
- Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy.
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-complications/bacterial-vaginosis-during-pregnancy/ - Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Statistics.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stats.htm - Bacterial Vaginosis.
https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/vaginal-infections-and-pelvic-inflammatory-disease/bacterial-vaginosis-bv - Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Fact Sheet.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm - Deborah Money; (2005); The laboratory diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2095014/ - Bacterial Vaginosis.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/bv.htm - J A McGregor; (2000); Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10804540/ - Saran Cribby et al.; (2008); Vaginal Microbiota and the Use of Probiotics.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2662373/ - Bacterial Vaginosis.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3963-bacterial-vaginosis#management-and-treatment - Ayoub Al Othaim et al.; (2021); Impact of cranberry juice consumption on gut and vaginal microbiota in postmenopausal women.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fft2.76 - Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/EducationalContent/wh/Pages/0011.aspx#
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