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Approximately 10% - 30% of pregnant women will experience Bacterial Vaginosis during pregnancy. Bacterial Vaginosis is caused by an imbalance in the normal bacteria that exists in a woman’s vagina. It is not transmitted sexually, but is associated with having vaginal intercourse. You may or may not experience symptoms.

Symptoms Of  Bacterial Vaginosis

One of the symptoms of BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) is a gray or whitish discharge that has a foul fishy odor. However some women do not experience any symptoms. Diagnosis is made through a pelvic exam. Vaginal discharge is tested through a wet mount (microscopic slide test), pH test (BV often causes a pH level of 4.5 or higher), KOH slide (microscopic slide test) or a whiff test (a mixture that causes a strong fishy odor).

Causes Of BV ?

Bacterial Vaginosis is an imbalance of bacteria which leads to an over growth of bacterial species. The cause has not clearly been identified. It is not transmitted sexually but it is associated with having vaginal sex and therefore may be listed under sexually transmitted diseases when you look it up.

There is significant evidence that links Bacterial Vaginosis with preterm labor. There have been many recent studies that have been conducted to verify this information and find a method of prevention. Other studies have also shown a possible link to miscarriages, low birth weight and premature rupture of membranes.

It depends. If you don't have symptoms and are at low risk for giving birth prematurely, you won't be screened for BV. If you're at high risk for delivering prematurely (particularly if you've had a premature baby in the past), you might be screened at your first prenatal visit and, if positive, treated.

Although women with BV are more likely to have a preterm delivery and antibiotics can clear up the infection most of the time, almost all research to date shows that treating symptom-free cases of BV in women who haven't had a previous preterm delivery doesn't lower their chances of delivering early. For this reason, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and a number of other experts agree for now that screening isn't worthwhile for this group of women.

If you don't have symptoms of BV but are at high risk for preterm delivery, your caregiver may or may not screen you at your first prenatal visit. Experts debate whether it's beneficial to do so because the evidence is conflicting.

Some studies have found that screening and treating women who've previously had a preterm delivery reduces their risk of giving birth early, but other research has shown it makes no difference. In a study of women with no symptoms who'd had a second-trimester miscarriage or preterm labor in a prior pregnancy, treatment actually increased the risk of preterm birth.

In a 2008 statement, the USPSTF concluded that for women who are at high risk for preterm delivery but have no symptoms of BV, "the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for bacterial vaginosis." There are some specialists, though, who recommend screening for certain high-risk women. And everyone agrees that more research is needed in this area, so stay tuned.

The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all pregnant women with symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis be screened and treated. The CDC also supports screening women who have had a previous preterm labor. Screening for BV is left up to your healthcare provider to decide.

Treatment is highly recommended to avoid any chance of preterm labor. There are various treatments which include:

Oral medications – Clindamycin 300 mg or Metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for 7 days

Topical medications – Clindamycin 5 g or Metronidazole at bedtime for 5 days (this treatment may give symptomatic relief but is insufficient in preventing pregnancy complications)

Research done in 2004 by McDonald H, Brococklehurst P and Parsons J, suggests that antibiotic treatment may reduce the risk of premature rupture of membranes and low birth weight for women with a history of preterm labor, who have BV. This study did not find any significant evidence that treatment reduces premature labor.