Bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs when the balance of the bacteria normally present in the vagina (particularly lactobacilli) is disrupted. It affects around 1 in 10 women at some point in their lives. In BV, there is an overgrowth of other bacteria. It is not clear how women get Bacterial Vaginosis, but there are some factors that seem to contribute:
- It is more common in women who are sexually active.
- It sometimes develops after intercourse with a new partner.
- Women who have female sexual partners may be at higher risk of BV than women who have sex with male partners only.
- having unprotected penile-vaginal sex (i.e. without a condom)
- around 50% of women who get BV will get a recurrence within six to 12 months
- treating the male partner of a woman who has recurring BV seems to reduce the risk of recurrence. Read more here.
- vaginal douching (washing inside the vagina with water, soap, “feminine wash”, etc.)
- having an intrauterine device (IUD), particularly a copper IUD