What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy?
Strong fishy vaginal odor is the most noticeable and frequently the most unsettling symptom of BV, but some women also experience increased amounts of grayish discharge. Other signs of bacterial vaginosis include pain during sex, itching in the vulvovaginal area, and a burning sensation when you urinate.
A wet mount (microscopic slide test) and pH test are used to evaluate vaginal discharge (BV frequently results in a pH level of 4). 5 or higher), KOH slide (a test on a microscopic slide), or a whiff test (using a concoction that gives off a strong fishy smell).
Amylase, an enzyme that divides large carbohydrates into smaller ones called glycogen that healthy bacteria eat, has lower levels in the vagina of women with BV. The beneficial lactobacillus bacteria cannot develop and flourish without this preferred food source. Reduced levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which can fend off invasive bacteria, are also present in BV patients. In healthy vaginas, vaginal mucosal cells normally make AMPs. It is connected to having vaginal sex despite not being sexually transmitted. Consequently, if you search for it, it might come up under sexually transmitted diseases.
Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection?
No, BV isn’t a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Still, doctors are uncertain about how much of a role sexual activity plays in getting BV since there’s no definite explanation as to how BV spreads. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to know exactly what to do to avoid the infection — but, as we’ll get more into a little later, it’s highly treatable.
How can this affect my pregnancy?
The U. S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 million pregnant women contract BV annually. Due to the hormone changes that occur during pregnancy, pregnant women have an increased risk of developing BV. Hormones are chemicals made by the body.
Premature birth and low birth weight are increased risks for your unborn child if you have BV during pregnancy. Premature birth is birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy. When your child is born with a low birthweight, it means that it is under 5 pounds, 8 ounces. Your baby may experience health issues if they are born too soon or too small.
BV also can cause pelvic inflammatory diseases (also called PID). PID, an infection of the uterus, can make it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant.