Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
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What’s the difference between bacterial vaginosis and thrush?
Thrush is a common fungal infection that can affect your vagina, making it very similar to BV in some ways. Vaginal thrush and BV have quite different symptoms, so it’s usually pretty simple to tell them apart. Here’s a rundown of the symptoms you’ll experience with each one:
| Bacterial Vaginosis | Thrush |
|---|---|
| Strong fishy smell | No noticeable smell |
| Thin, watery, grey-ish discharge | White, thick, cottage cheese-like discharge |
| No itching | Itching and irritation around the vagina |
| No soreness | Stinging or burning sensation, especially when you pee |
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis (also known as BV) is an infection in your vagina which causes an unusual, fishy-smelling discharge.
It happens when the natural balance of healthy bacteria in your vagina becomes disrupted, letting the bacteria that cause BV to grow and thrive, causing an infection.
BV usually isn’t serious, and around 50% of people who have this infection won’t experience any symptoms, but those who do will notice that their vaginal discharge looks thin, grey-ish, or watery and will have a distinct fishy smell.
Although BV isn’t an STI (sexually transmitted infection), it can be caused by sex and you may find that your symptoms are worse after having sex.
Do I have thrush or BV (bacterial vaginosis)?
If you’re not sure whether you have BV or thrush just from looking at lists of symptoms there are a couple of other things you can consider.
If you’re feeling sore, itchy, or experience a burning sensation, you probably have thrush rather than BV.
BV doesn’t typically cause any pain or irritation, whereas thrush is particularly noticeable because of those irritating symptoms.
If your vaginal discharge is greyish or watery you’re probably dealing with BV, but if it’s white and looks a bit like cottage cheese you’re dealing with thrush.
If you’re noticing a strong fishy smell, then you probably have BV, as thrush rarely causes a strong smell.
No matter what you’re dealing with, get yourself to a doctor for a formal diagnosis so you know that you’re getting the right treatment for your infection.
How should I treat bacterial vaginosis?
In order to treat your bacterial vaginosis, you’ll need to restore the acidic balance in the vagina and allow healthy bacteria to flourish.
Canesbalance Bacterial Vaginal Gel contains lactic acid and glycogen to relieve the unpleasant odour and abnormal discharge, restricting the growth of ‘bad’ bacteria and supporting the ‘good’ bacteria.
The gel is easy to insert using the hygienic single-use applicators and will treat your bacterial vaginosis in 2-3 days.
What causes bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is sometimes misunderstood to be an STI, but it isn’t - it’s caused when the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina shift, causing an overgrowth of yeast.
It’s more common in women who are sexually active, have recently changed partners, have an IUD or use perfumed products in or around your vagina.
Although BV isn’t an STI, it can be triggered by sex and can be passed to another woman during sex.
