Bacterial Vaginosis: What Happens

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What Happens

Bacterial vaginosis often clears up on its own. But in some women it doesn't go away on its own, and for many women it comes back after it has cleared up. Antibiotic treatment works for some women but not others.

• About 1 out of 4 women find that bacterial vaginosis clears up without medicine after a week.¹
• Bacterial vaginosis recurs in about 1 out of 3 treated women.²

Complications

Your risk of complications from bacterial vaginosis is higher:

• During pregnancy. Compared to pregnant women who don't have it, women who have bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy have a higher risk of early (preterm) delivery, or uterine infection after pregnancy. Also, pregnant women may have an increased risk of miscarriage.
• After gynecological surgery. Women with bacterial vaginosis at the time of an invasive vaginal procedure have an increased risk of developing more serious infection or inflammation, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or endometritis. Surgical procedures linked to bacterial vaginosis-related infection include endometrial biopsy, surgical abortion, hysterectomy, intrauterine device (IUD) placement, cesarean section, dilation and curettage (D&C), and an X-ray test that examines the inside of the uterus, the fallopian tubes, and surrounding area (hysterosalpingography).⁴
• When exposed to HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Women who have bacterial vaginosis when they are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV) have an increased risk of becoming infected with the sexually transmitted disease.¹

Last updated:	March 17, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC