It’s not something women often talk about; anything to do with downstairs is often a top secret topic... And yet, all women have a vagina. That’s right, we said it, vagina.
It would seem that women’s intimate health is a secretive topic with over a third of women admitting they would feel more comfortable getting health advice online and a fifth saying they were too embarrassed to speak to a GP.
So, have you ever heard of BV? Or, more to the point, have you ever had Bacterial Vaginosis? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Over 61% of women in the UK are not aware of this common and easily treatable condition, and yet it is the most usual cause of abnormal vaginal discharge.
Reports show an estimated one in three women in the UK are affected by BV, twice as many as Thrush, but two thirds misdiagnose their symptoms
So let’s talk about the symptoms and causes of BV. BV Symptoms include:
* a fishy odour not found with Thrush
* abnormal discharge usually thin and grey
* vaginal discomfort caused by increased moisture/discharge
BV is caused by a disruption in the pH of the vagina, when this happens the number of good lactic acid bacteria decreases and the bad bacteria multiply creating the odour, discharge and discomfort found with BV. Put simply, BV is an imbalance in your pH levels and is easily treated.
So what causes BV? Contrary to popular belief, BV is not from poor hygiene, but can be caused by a number of everyday things, which means experiencing regular reoccurrences of BV is very common. Causes of BV include:
* having the IUD inserted
* excessive washing
* the use of perfumed intimate products
* antibiotics
* your period
* vaginal douching
* washing with strong scented or fragranced soaps/gels/bubble baths
* and even semen
No need to worry though, the good news is BV is easily treatable. BV can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Also Balance Activ gel is easy to use and clinically proven to treat and prevent BV. It mimics what the body does naturally to effectively restore and preserve your vaginal pH balance.
This special #NationalBVDay day was created to help increase awareness of BV, educating women about the facts and removing the taboos surrounding women’s health. Every year on the 16th April, women are encouraged to talk about intimate health issues and fertility repercussions, coming together to openly discuss and share something which is normally a subject of avoidance.
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