&lt;h1&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bacterial vaginosis, or BV for short, is a common vaginal condition that happens when there&amp;rsquo;s an imbalance in the natural bacteria found in your vagina. Normally, your vagina hosts a mix of &amp;ldquo;good&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;bad&amp;rdquo; bacteria living in harmony. But when certain bacteria multiply too much&amp;mdash;especially a type called &lt;em&gt;Gardnerella vaginalis&lt;/em&gt;&amp;mdash;the balance tips, causing an infection known as BV. BV is one of the most common vaginal infections affecting women, particularly those between ages 15 and 44. It&amp;rsquo;s more frequent in sexually active women, though it can affect anyone with a vagina.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The main culprit behind BV is the overgrowth of &lt;em&gt;Gardnerella vaginalis&lt;/em&gt;, a type of bacteria naturally present in the vagina but harmful when it grows unchecked. Other bacteria, like &lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/ureaplasma-urealyticum&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Ureaplasma&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; and &lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/mycoplasma-genitalium&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mycoplasma&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; species, may also play a role. These bacteria can alter the vaginal environment, especially the pH level, which normally stays slightly acidic (around 3.8 to 4.5) to keep things balanced.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Several factors can disturb this delicate balance, including:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New or multiple sexual partners&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; introducing new bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Douching&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; which washes away healthy bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hormonal changes&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; such as those during menstruation, pregnancy, or from birth control&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Smoking&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Using scented soaps or feminine hygiene sprays&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Are the Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Good news:&lt;/strong&gt; many women with BV don&amp;rsquo;t have any symptoms at all.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&lt;strong&gt;But when symptoms do appear, they might include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Thin, watery, or grayish-white vaginal &lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/vaginal-discharge&quot;&gt;discharge&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;A strong, unpleasant &amp;ldquo;fishy&amp;rdquo; odor, especially after sex&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Burning sensation during urination&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/vagina-itch&quot;&gt;Itching&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; or irritation around the vulva&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since BV symptoms can be similar to other infections, getting a proper diagnosis is important.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Why Is It Important to Treat BV?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If left untreated, BV can increase your risk of catching &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/stis-in-hong-kong&quot;&gt;sexually transmitted infections (STIs)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, including:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/hpv-hong-kong&quot;&gt;Human papillomavirus (HPV)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/herpes-symptoms-testing-treatment&quot;&gt;Herpes simplex virus (HSV)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/chlamydia-in-hong-kong-testing-symptoms-treatment&quot;&gt;Chlamydia&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/gonorrhoea-hong-kong&quot;&gt;Gonorrhea&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/hiv-basics&quot;&gt;HIV&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BV can also lead to other health complications such as:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/pelvic-inflammatory-disease&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &amp;mdash; a serious infection of the reproductive organs&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pregnancy issues&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;mdash; like miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Infertility&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;When Should You See a Doctor?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you notice any unusual discharge, odor, itching, or burning, it&amp;rsquo;s a good idea to get checked out. Your healthcare provider will typically take a &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/std-testing&quot;&gt;vaginal swab&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; to test for BV and rule out other infections. Treatment usually involves a course of antibiotics, either oral or topical. Most of the time, male partners don&amp;rsquo;t need treatment since BV isn&amp;rsquo;t classified as a traditional &lt;span style=&quot;color: #000080;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/stis-in-hong-kong&quot;&gt;STI&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, but female partners might be at risk and should consider testing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Balance Your Vagina&amp;rsquo;s Health.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/booking&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.eu-health.org/Files/Buttons/Booking-an-appointment-at-PULSE-CLINIC.png&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;33&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Book your BV screening&amp;mdash;quick, clear, confidential.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How to Prevent Recurring Bacterial Vaginosis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BV has a pesky tendency to come back, but there are ways to reduce your chances:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Maintain good vaginal hygiene by washing with mild, unscented soap and water&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Avoid douching or using scented feminine products, which can disrupt your natural balance&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Use condoms to reduce bacteria exchange during sex&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Limit the number of sexual partners or discuss testing with new partners&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Clean sex toys thoroughly and avoid sharing them&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Consider taking probiotics (like &lt;em&gt;Lactobacillus&lt;/em&gt; supplements or yogurt) to help restore healthy bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If BV symptoms return after treatment, it&amp;rsquo;s important to revisit your healthcare provider to check for recurrent infection or other underlying issues.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BV Prevention Checklist&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Wash your genital area daily with warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Avoid douching &amp;mdash; it disrupts healthy bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Wear breathable cotton underwear and avoid tight synthetic clothes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Use condoms consistently, especially with new or multiple partners&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Limit the number of sexual partners&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Clean sex toys thoroughly before and after use; avoid sharing&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Manage stress and maintain a healthy immune system&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Consider probiotics like yogurt or supplements with &lt;em&gt;Lactobacillus&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Avoid scented feminine hygiene products (sprays, wipes, soaps)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get regular check-ups, especially if you experience symptoms frequently&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quick FAQ About Bacterial Vaginosis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q: Is BV a sexually transmitted infection?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A: BV isn&amp;rsquo;t classified as an STI, but sexual activity can increase the risk.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q: Can men get BV?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A: Men don&amp;rsquo;t get BV, but they can carry bacteria that may contribute to a partner&amp;rsquo;s infection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q: How long does treatment take?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A: Antibiotics usually clear BV within 7 days.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q: Can BV come back?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A: Yes, BV often recurs, especially without lifestyle changes or proper treatment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q: When should I see a doctor?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A: If you notice unusual discharge, odor, itching, or burning &amp;mdash; or if symptoms return after treatment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Patient-Friendly Guide: Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is BV?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Bacterial vaginosis is when &amp;ldquo;bad&amp;rdquo; bacteria in your vagina multiply too much, upsetting the natural balance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What causes BV?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Changes in your vaginal environment &amp;mdash; like new sexual partners, douching, or hormonal shifts &amp;mdash; can cause it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Symptoms to watch for:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Watery, gray or white discharge&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Fishy smell&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Burning when you pee&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Itchy or irritated skin around your vagina&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How is BV treated?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Your doctor will give you antibiotics &amp;mdash; either pills or creams &amp;mdash; to clear the infection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How can I prevent BV?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Stick to the prevention checklist above! Simple changes can keep your vaginal health balanced.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Remember:&lt;/strong&gt; If you feel something&amp;rsquo;s off, don&amp;rsquo;t hesitate to get checked. Early treatment can help avoid complications and keep you feeling your best!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Feeling Off? Get Checked for BV Today.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/booking&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.eu-health.org/Files/Buttons/Booking-an-appointment-at-PULSE-CLINIC.png&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;33&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fast, discreet, effective care&amp;mdash;book now.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

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