Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
is a common mild imbalance of bacteria or germs in the vagina. The
vagina normally contains a lot of good bacteria, as well as some other types
of bacteria. Too many of the other types can cause BV.
To find out if you have
BV, you must be examined by doctor or nurse and have tests taken of your vaginal
fluid.
If you have bacterial vaginosis,
you may not have any symptoms. You may notice a change in the fluid from your
vagina, including a change in the colour or odour of the fluid. This fluid may
change to shades of grey. It may also have a fish-like odour.
While BV is more common
in women who are sexually active, it can occur in women who are not sexually
active. It is not usually spread between sexual partners.
Women who have BV that
is not causing symptoms usually are not treated. The condition tends
to go away without medication. When
there are symptoms, your doctor may prescribe treatment so the infection does
not spread into the fallopian tubes and cause more serious infections.
BV is treated with specific
antibiotic medications. Your doctor may prescribe them as either a medication
cream that is inserted into the vagina, or as pills taken by mouth. Only medications
taken by mouth are used to treat pregnant women.
It is not necessary for your sexual partner(s) to be treated.
If you have different sexual
partners, or if your partner has different partners, you should also be tested
for other STDs including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV (the virus linked
to AIDS). You should also consider getting vaccine shots to prevent hepatitis
B infection.
Please remember:
The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of getting
a STD.
Birth control pills
Birth control pills may not work very well when you are taking some antibiotic
medicines. Keep taking your birth control pills while taking any medication,
and also use a second form of birth control, such as a condom, until your next
period after completing the antibiotics.
Have sex with only
one partner who has been tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
who has been treated if necessary and who is having sex only with you. The
more partners you have, the higher your risk of getting an STD.
Use a female or male
condom every time you have sex. Condoms offer protection against STDs, but
they must be used properly.
A condom
acts like a barrier that helps prevent the exchange of body fluids, the
transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy.
A new
condom should be used each time you have sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal,
or oral sex).
Check the expiry date on the condom package.
Use
only water-based lubricants with the male latex condom. Oil-based lubricants,
such as petroleum jelly, lotion or baby oil, can weaken and destroy latex.
Female
condoms are made of polyurethane. This material can be used with any type
of lubricant, water-based or oil-based.
Some
lubricants contain chemicals called spermicides to help protect against
unwanted pregnancy. If they irritate your genitals, don't use them.
Do
not use a male condom together with a female condom as the friction created
may cause tearing of either product.
If
a condom breaks during sex remove it immediately and apply a new condom.
Remember!
Condoms do not offer 100 per cent protection from STDs and unwanted pregnancy.
It will not consistently prevent transmission of STDs passed through skin-to-skin
contact - for example, syphilis, human papilloma virus (warts) and
herpes. However, if used properly, they are very effective and can reduce
the risk of transmission of these STDs.
Place the condom on the
tip of the penis when it is hard and erect, but before it touches the partner's
body. Make sure that the rolled-up condom rim faces outward.
With the other hand,
pinch the tip of the condom to remove any trapped air, and unroll the condom
to the base of the erect penis.
After intercourse and
before the penis becomes soft, withdraw the penis carefully, holding the rim
of the condom against the penis, so that semen does not spill out.
Slide the condom gently off the penis, and knot the open end.
A condom can be inserted up to eight hours before sexual intercourse.
Open the package carefully.
Hold the small ring at the closed end of the condom between the thumb and
middle finger.
Find a comfortable position,
either lying down, sitting with your knees apart or standing with one foot
raised on a stool, squeeze the small ring and insert it into the vagina as
far as you can.
Put a finger inside the
condom and push the small ring inside as far as possible. It is also possible
to insert the condom by putting it onto the erect penis before intercourse.
Make sure that the part
of the condom with the outer ring is outside the body. The outer ring will
lie flat against the body when the penis is inside the condom.
When the penis enters
the vagina, make sure that the penis is inside the condom.
Immediately after sexual
intercourse, remove the condom by gently twisting the outer ring and pulling
the condom out, making sure that no semen is spilt and throw it in the garbage.
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