1 in 3 British women will suffer from Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) - the UK’s most common vaginal infection - at some point in their lives.
Health on Female First
Despite this, an online survey conducted by Balance Activ on Mumsnet has revealed that a shocking 73% of women have either never heard of or are unsure of the symptoms of BV which, if left untreated, has been associated with serious health implications including reduced fertility, and premature birth and miscarriage if present during pregnancy.
BV infection has also been linked to an increased risk of contracting STIs, including HIV.
Over 70% of respondents were unaware of these potential health risks, over a third wouldn’t have associated any of the symptoms with BV and, worryingly 41% said they thought they may have had some of the symptoms before but not known what it was.
Urgent call for a UK BV awareness campaign
Whilst BV is actually twice as common as thrush, the survey, conducted by Balance Activ - a clinically proven over the counter treatment for BV - found that just 1 in 10 believed this to be the case.
The infection is the leading cause of abnormal discharge for women of childbearing age and can be easily treated and prevented.
"This survey has shown that there's a serious lack of awareness about BV, how common it is and its link to more serious health problems," explains Justine Roberts, Mumsnet CEO and Co-Founder.
"It is clear that more needs to be done to give women the information they need so that they can spot the symptoms, get the correct diagnosis and get the correct treatment option for them."
According to medical research, 2 out of 3 women are misdiagnosing BV, leading to ineffective treatment and prolonged symptoms, with the possible long-term health implications associated with leaving the infection untreated.
Presented with the facts, 40% of women surveyed said they are worried or angry about the lack of awareness for UK women.
A massive 93% said they would support an awareness campaign to educate women to be able to spot the symptoms and make informed choices on treatment.
As one BV sufferer who took part in the survey put it: "Despite being diagnosed twice in my life, I know very little about it. So I’m all for a campaign to raise awareness."
"It’s alarming that, even when presented with the facts, only 1 in 10 women surveyed believe that BV is twice as common as thrush. An estimated 1 in 3 British women will suffer from BV at some point, so there is a clear and urgent need to raise awareness," says Penny McCormick, spokesperson for Balance Activ.
Tagged in Health Women's Health Fertility