As any fan of detective movies knows, any time there’s been a crime, the lead detective has to say “Round up the usual suspects”. It’s in the movie-making bylaws, look it up. One of the tests I had yesterday was a vaginal culture, to see if any of the usual suspects could explain, in whole or part, what’s been going on. I got the call today that I am indeed a victim of sorts, of something called bacterial vaginosis, or BV for short. In the interest of furthering education, here’s some solid information on BV taken from the Baby Center website:
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis (commonly known as BV) — the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age — is an infection caused by an imbalance among the bacteria that live in your vagina. . Normally, “good” bacteria, called lactobacilli, are in the majority and keep other kinds of bacteria in check. You end up with BV when there are too few lactobacilli, which allows other bacteria to grow out of control. No one knows for sure what causes the balance of bacteria to change. About 1 in 5 women have this infection at some point during pregnancy, though estimates vary widely.
How does having BV affect my pregnancy?
BV when you’re pregnant may raise your risk for preterm labor and birth. Some studies have also linked the infection to a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm premature rupture of the amniotic membranes (PPROM), and uterine infection after delivery.That said, many women with BV have perfectly normal pregnancies. Experts don’t yet know why only some women with BV end up delivering prematurely. Some researchers think that BV may be just a sign of other infections or problems that lead to preterm birth. They do know that women who are diagnosed with BV early in pregnancy are at a significantly higher risk for problems than those who get the infection later in pregnancy.Having BV also makes you more susceptible to certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV, if you’re exposed to them.
What are the symptoms of BV?
At least half the women who get BV have no symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, you might notice a thin, white or gray discharge with a foul or fishy smell. This odor is most apparent after sex, when the discharge mixes with semen. You may also have burning when you pee or irritation in your genital area, though it’s not common. Let your healthcare provider know if you have these symptoms. Before prescribing any medication for you, she’ll examine a sample of your vaginal fluid and cervical secretions to see if you have BV or another infection.
Like many women, I had absolutely no symptoms. Fortunately, the screen for this is simple. There’s actually one test that screens for yeast infection, trichomonas, and gardnerella at the same time. I’ve already gotten started on the antibiotic and I’m hoping this takes care of things.
I’m continuing to feel better today. I’ve not had any pain or cramps, and the only spotting is the 
familiar brown when I wipe. I’ve also had a pretty relaxing day. I was up around 8:30 but was still tired, so I went back upstairs and crawled into bed with Coz around 10:30. I must’ve dozed off to sleep because when I woke up it was 1:45 in the afternoon. I’m glad I managed to get some decent sleep. I’m hoping I won’t have any trouble falling asleep tonight. On another pleasant note, I’ve finished the first of many projects for the baby, a blanket I started some years back. Coz says it’s very non-committal, genderwise. My grandmother says we’re having a boy. Coz says he always felt if he had another, it would be a girl. Either way, I can’t wait to find out.
