Diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis Based On Bv Symptoms And Tests

Diagnosing Bacterial Vaginosis Based On Bv Symptoms And Tests

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Besides from yeast infection, trichomoniasis and chlamydia, another form of commonly occurring vaginal infection is bacterial vaginosis (BV). The characteristic BV symptoms are excessive vaginal discharge with a fishy smell and, sometimes, vagina itchiness and pain during urination. The vaginal discharge and foul odor are likely to become worse after sex or during menses.

If you are experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge or other symptoms hinting a vaginal infection, then it is very important to get tested to determine if it is BV or other forms of vaginitis.

To confirm if the symptoms belongs to BV infection, usually a series of physical examinations and laboratory tests will be performed.

Your gynecologist will first ask you a series of questions, for example: if you have had BV symptoms prior to this, how does your discharge look like, or have you had any sexually transmitted infection.

After that, your gynecologist will perform a pelvic exam to check the appearance of your vaginal lining and cervix, and examine the ovaries and uterus. During the pelvic exam, your gynecologist may also gather tissue samples for further tests. This step is to exclude the possibility of any STD, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

A sample of the vaginal discharge could also be collected for microscopic examination. The purpose is to differentiate BV from yeast infection (e.g. candidiasis) and an STD (e.g. trichomoniasis). Bacterial vaginosis is associated with the presence of an unusual cell (known as 'clue cell') seen under the microscope.

If you have BV, the microscopic examination of vaginal discharge will also detect a lower number of the vaginal bacteria, lactobacilli. The vaginal pH may also be tested to see if it's greater than 4.5, which indicates BV.

To test for fishy vaginal smell, a test called 'whiff test' is performed by mixing a drop of potassium hydroxide testing liquid with a drop of vaginal discharge on a microscope slide. You'll notice a fishy smell if you have BV. Once you are diagnosed with BV, you'll usually be prescribed with antibiotic as the standard treatment for BV. Several over-the-counter products for BV are available as well.

About the Author:
Besides antibiotic and OTC bacterial vaginosis treatments, you may also want to try bacterial vaginosis natural cures for permanent BV relief. Read the Bacterial Vaginosis Freedom review to find out.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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