Chronic bacterial vaginosis is something all too many women live with. The itching and burning, the fishy odor -- these may be day-to-day life. You don't like it; it's embarrassing and uncomfortable. And no matter what medications you swallow, douches you use or topical creams you use, the vaginosis hangs around, like and unwanted relative.
Other women my have chronic bacterial vaginosis and not even realize it! You don't need to have the symptoms in order to have the infection. You may not be feeling well, intercourse hurts from time to time, but it's nothing to pinpoint. "Just stress," you might think.
Is it BV or a Yeast Infection?
All too many times, and even by health professionals, bacterial vaginosis (BV) is often mis-diagnosed as a candida yeast infection. While these two conditions have similar symptoms, they are actually very, very different. Recurring bacterial vaginosis may seem like candida albicans, but there are important differences.
And that's a problem, because the treatment for each is different! For example, antibiotics are often prescribed for BV. However, antibiotics are a no-no for a yeast infection (they can actually cause it to get worse).
Can you see how getting the wrong diagnosis won't help you and could possibly harm you (or at the very least may make you more miserable)?
Insist on an Exam or Test
Far too many health professionals, when they hear that you have itching, burning and a discharge immediately diagnose "yeast infection" and send you on your merry way. As I said before, the symptoms can be very similar, but they are entirely different conditions.
A positive diagnosis for bacterial vaginosis is made by a physical exam and/or tests. There are cells, called "Clue Cells" that make a positive diagnosis; when they are present, BV is the culprit.
There's something called a "whiff test", which is pretty much what it sounds like. A small sample of the discharge is collected an placed on a slide and a drop of hydrogen peroxide is added; the combination produces the characteristic "fishy" odor.
Chronic BV isn't something you have to live with; you can be free of this condition. But the first step is getting the proper diagnosis. And if your physician won't perform the necessary tests, find another doctor. This is your life, and you don't need to live it in misery!
Additional Reading
Here are a couple more pages you may want to check out. One is about symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, and the other is regarding possible causes of BV.