Toni Belfield, former director of information at FPA (Family Planning Association), tells us what she would ask her doctor if she was diagnosed with BV.
What causes BV?
It’s caused by an overgrowth of a type of bacteria in the vagina, but nobody knows quite why it happens. You have this bacteria normally, but for some reason it starts to increase. This causes a change in the pH (the acid/alkaline balance) of your vagina. Douching, vaginal deodorants and scented bubble bath all seem to affect the vaginal environment, but so do the hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.
Did I get it by having sex?
No. It’s not an STI. If you’re sexually active and you have a change of partner, you might get it. This could be something to do with semen, which makes the vaginal environment more alkaline.
Does my partner need to get tested?
If your partner has symptoms, then yes. But all the evidence says it’s not helpful to treat the partner of someone with BV.
How common is BV?
Very. A huge number of women have it and don’t know it. But there are a lot of things we’re not aware of that don’t do us any harm because they haven’t become so problematic that we’ve got symptoms.
I keep getting BV. What can I do?
BV is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor should look at what’s going on in your vagina if you keep getting BV. They should ask if you’re putting scented bath foam in the bath, using scented soaps or douching. You’d be surprised how many products people use in the bath! You just need to look at the things you do in your daily life.
