How Do You Know If You Have a Vaginal Bacterial Infection?

 The most common vaginal bacterial infection is bacterial vaginosis (BV). Here’s how to recognize it.

Main symptoms of BV:

• Thin, watery discharge – grayish-white or sometimes yellowish
• A fishy smell, often stronger after sex (semen raises vaginal pH, intensifying the odor)
• Mild itching or burning – some women have no itch at all
• More discharge than usual

BV vs. yeast infection: Yeast infections produce thick, cottage-cheese-like discharge with intense itching and usually no odor. BV is thin, has odor, and tends not to itch as severely. Confusing the two is very common.

Does it go away on its own? Sometimes. But often it doesn’t, and untreated BV increases risk of STIs and, in pregnancy, preterm birth. It also tends to recur.