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What causes bacterial vaginosis and
how is it diagnosed?
Bacterial vaginosis
(BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing
age.
Bacterial vaginosis is not
caused by a particular organism but by a change in the balance of normal
vaginal bacteria or a change in the PH balance. Vaginal PH is usually between 3.8-4.5.
THE
PH SCALE
0 1
2 3 4
5 6 7
8 9 10
11 12 13
14
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Acid Neutral Alkaline
  
The
cause of BV is not fully understood.
Bacterial
vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of harmful
bacteria in the vagina due to the depletion of lactobacillus. The vagina
normally contains a lot of good bacteria called lactobacilli and some other
bacteria called anaerobes. Too many anaerobes can cause this imbalance.
Bacterial vaginosis is most common among sexually
active women although this is not always the case. You are more at risk of
getting BV if you have multiple sex partners, have an intrauterine device
as birth control or if you douche.
HOW IS
BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS DIAGNOSED
There are several tests that can be done to establish
whether a woman has BV. These include a WET MOUNT TEST where a sample of vaginal discharge is mixed
with a salt solution and placed on a microscope slide. The slide is then
examined for CLUE CELLS. The
presence of clue cells indicates that you have BV. Another test commonly
used is a WHIFF TEST. This
involves dropping potassium hydroxide solutions to a sample of vaginal
discharge. A fishy odor on a whiff test suggests BV. Also a rise in vaginal
PH above 4.5 can often indicate BV. Normal vaginal PH is usually
between 3.8-4.5.
The
presence of clue cells, increased PH and a
positive whiff test are enough evidence to treat BV.
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