The symptoms of Bacterial vaginosis or BV can be very embarrassing and uncomfortable for women who are suffering from it. They can vary from women to women and for some can be mild and others very intense. It is also worth knowing that in fact some women can show no symptoms at all.
Odor and discharge These are the more common symptoms. The odor is a fishy unpleasant smell though it varies in intensity from case to case. The other symptom, the discharge, means you are discharging more frequently than usual. It has a grey or white color looking somewhat like milk. The abnormal discharge also often becomes even more so after sex. These two symptoms happen due to a bacterial change that is abnormal in the vagina; that is the casue of Bacterial Vaginosis.
Itching – In BV itching is not the most common symptom unlike yeast infections where it is the most common. As it is a sign of both illnesses there can sometimes be confusion over which one you have. It is not only something women themselves get mixed up, doctors have done too. This is why you should always make sure you mention all of your symptoms. As soon as you mention your odor is fishy this immidiately says it’s BV as a yeast infection has a yeast odor like bread or beer.
Irritation and Cramping Again these are less common than the first 2 symptoms of odor and discharge. They can be very uncomfortable to deal with and can range in how severe they are. As irritation is also a symptom of a yeast infection remember to check your other symptoms too.
Should you have some or all of these symptoms it is important to seek treatment. Do not leave it thinking it will just go away as other complications could occur. Know the symptoms of BV and yeast infections so you can tell the difference. If you need to, visit your doctor as soon as you can.