Despite Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) being the most common vaginal infection, over half (57%) of women in the UK do not know what it is, according to a new survey of over 1,000 women by Balance Activ Vaginal Gel. In fact, 19% of 16-24 year-old women thought BV was an alcoholic drink while 12% of women thought it was a type of transit van.
1 in 3 women will get bacterial vaginosis, it’s twice as common as thrush and is often mis-treated (people get confused and buy a thrush treatment). However, women needn’t worry as it’s not an STI and can be easily treated.
Balance Activ Vaginal Gel restores and preserves the natural pH balance in the vagina, neutralising the embarrassing odour, and effectively relieving abnormal discharge and discomfort. Balance Activ Vaginal Gel can also be used to maintain the natural pH balance and prevent recurrence of symptoms (BV recurrence rates can be as high as 72% following use of traditional antibiotic treatments).
According to the ‘Regain Your Balance’ survey, two thirds (66%) of UK women admit they don’t know the difference between thrush and BV and a further 22% are not sure.
It is characterised by a change in pH levels which can result in embarrassing odour (sometimes described as ‘fishy’), abnormal discharge (thin and white-grey in colour) and discomfort in the vagina.
In addition to the physical discomfort, BV can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life as Dr Philip Hay, Consultant in Genitourinary (GU) Medicine, describes: "In my personal experience I have seen many women with BV who are affected emotionally by the physical symptoms that the condition brings. It affects their everyday lives, in work and at home, for example, it is not uncommon for women to avoid having a sexual relationship if they have recurrent BV, even if they are in a long-term relationship."
Dr Dawn Harper from TV’s Embarrassing Illnesses explains that BV is not caused by poor hygiene. In fact, excessive washing of the vagina may alter the normal balance of bacteria, which may make BV more likely to develop.
She says: "If you have untreated BV, you may be at an increased risk of contracting pelvic inflammatory disease and certain STIs such as HIV. The chance of developing an infection of the uterus is also higher after certain operations such as a pregnancy termination. If you have untreated BV during pregnancy you have an increased risk of developing complications such as early labour or miscarriage."
Balance Activ Vaginal Gel is a treatment which restores and preserves the natural pH balance in the vagina, neutralising the embarrassing odour, and effectively relieving abnormal discharge and discomfort. It can also be used as part of a woman’s normal health routine, to maintain the natural pH balance and prevent the recurrence of symptoms. BV recurrence rates can be as high as 72% following use of traditional antibiotic treatments.
www.regainyourbalance.com is an informative online resource for people interested in understanding the symptoms of BV and discovering practical lifestyle advice and treatment solutions.