If you would like to know more about bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy remember that about 10%-30% of all pregnant women are affected by it.
The problem arises because of an imbalance of the bacteria that can normally be found in the vagina. This isn’t a problem that can be passed on to other people but it is linked to vaginal intercourse.
Symptoms
It is good to know about bacterial vaginosis that it could be asymptomatic. This means that the affected women don’t show any signs of the infection. One of the possible symptoms of the problem is having whitish or gray discharge that has a fishy or foul smell. The problem can be diagnosed through a pelvic exam.
There are different ways to find out whether you have bacterial vaginosis while being pregnant. The options include pH test, wet mount, whiff test or a KOH slide. As it was mentioned before, the infection is caused by a bacterial imbalance. This means that one of the bacteria species overgrows.
At the moment the specialists aren’t certain about the exact cause of the problem. Since it is connected to vaginal intercourse, it may be considered a sexually transmitted disease.
BV and pregnancy
There is some evidence suggesting that bacterial vaginosis might lead to preterm labor. Some of the studies linked the problem to low birth weight, miscarriage and also to the premature rupture of the membranes.
If you don’t show any signs of BV during pregnancy it is very likely that you won’t be screened for it. Even if you receive prenatal care, screening for BV isn’t a routine test.
Nonetheless if you have any signs of the problem most probably you will be screened for it, just to make sure. If you have any concerns, you should discuss them with your health care provider.
