A normal, healthy vagina is home to a variety of different bacteria. However, in Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) the balance is disturbed, and an overgrowth of some of these bacteria occurs. It’s not entirely clear why this happens. The most common symptom is a change in vaginal discharge, which may become white-grey in colour and may [...]
BV isn’t classified as a classic sexually transmitted infection, and it can occur in people who aren’t sexually active. That said, the understanding of BV has shifted: sexual activity is one of the strongest triggers, the bacteria involved can be carried by a partner, and recent research shows that treating a male partner at the [...]
In women of reproductive age, BV is the most common cause of vaginal discharge. Women are more likely to get BV if they: are sexually active have recently changed sexual partner have a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are smokers have a copper coil for contraception use bubble bath Women are less likely to get BV if: they [...]
BV is usually diagnosed on the basis of symptoms, and can be confirmed by taking a vaginal swab, which can be performed by a doctor or nurse, or can be self-collected. You may also need a referral to get tested for STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. If you are pregnant, and suspect you may [...]
In most women, BV causes no harm whatsoever, though the discharge may be unpleasant. However, if you have untreated BV during pregnancy, there is a slightly higher risk of premature labour, miscarriage, preterm birth and having a baby with a low birthweight. If you are pregnant and suspect you may have BV, you should see [...]
For women in whom BV has been diagnosed, antibiotics will usually quickly get rid of the symptoms. Treatment for bacterial vaginosis can involve oral antibiotics or topical treatment (an antibiotic vaginal cream). However, in milder cases, there is a good chance that BV will gradually clear by itself, so treatment is not always required. If [...]
Further testing is not generally needed if your BV symptoms get better. However, if the course of antibiotic treatment does not work, retesting is advisable, in case something else is causing the symptoms or the BV has not responded to treatment. Follow up testing may be recommended in pregnant women who have had BV, to [...]
Recurrent BV is common. If you’re getting the same symptoms you’ve had diagnosed before, a doctor can assess you online, prescribe treatment where appropriate. They can discuss what can help reduce how often it returns, including, if you have a male partner, whether treating them at the same time could help. If your symptoms are [...]
This is an area where the advice has changed recently. BV wasn’t traditionally treated in partners, but recent Australian research has found that when a woman has BV and her male partner is treated at the same time, the BV is more likely to clear and less likely to come back. The partner’s treatment is [...]
The scalp skin normally changes testosterone to another hormone called dihydrotestosterone. In balding men it seems that the hair follicles become too sensitive to dihydrotestosterone and react by shrinking over time. Normally a single hair should last around 3 years, but as hair follicles shrink, the hairs become thinner and shed more often, until they [...]
