What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

What is bacterial vaginosis (BV)?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal infection caused by bacteria. It is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge that occurs in reproductive-age women (women who have not gone through menopause yet).

Bacterial vaginosis may cause a "fishy" odor and cause vaginal irritation in some women. Others may not have any symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis is associated with poor obstetrics and gynecologic outcomes such as preterm delivery, infection after surgeries such as a hysterectomy, and may make a woman more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, especially HIV.