Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a type of vaginal infection that any woman can get. Chances are you have heard more about yeast infections than bacterial vaginosis, but bacterial vaginosis (not yeast) is the most common type of vaginal infection in women of childbearing age.

Bacterial vaginosis is often confused with yeast infections - they are not the same thing and they require different types of treatment. Bacterial vaginosis is linked to normal bacteria (germs) in the vagina getting out of balance. All women have mostly "good" and some "harmful" bacteria present in their vaginas. When harmful bacteria in the vagina increase, or overgrow, bacterial vaginosis can develop. Yeast infections are caused by the yeast Candida, which also overgrows when the normal balance of the vagina becomes disturbed.