Around 75% of women suffer from Thrush at some point in their lives and there are huge campaigns to notice to the symptoms.
However, there are other conditions that are often mistaken for the infection and it’s important that women know the difference.
One of these conditions is Bacterial Vaginosis, and although it is not as common as Thrush it is important to recognise it.
Between 12% and 29% of women will suffer from Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) in their lifetime, which changes the natural acidity of the vagina.
Up to 32,000 Irish women could be affected by the infection at some point in their life.
The symptoms of BV are easy to spot, which include a strong odour and increased discharge from the vagina.
These can easily be confused with thrush which is a yeast infection, or trichomoniasis, which is caused by a parasite.
While sporadic BV infection is typically treated with antibiotics and lactate vaginal gel to restore pH levels, recurrent BV does need careful management.
Recurrent BV infection can cause increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease.
And is more damaging for pregnant women, as the infection can lead to preterm birth, postpartum endometriosis, and also late miscarriage.
Unfortunately, the recurrence rates with BV can be as high as 60% after 12 months and the infection is particularly common after antibiotic therapy which upsets the natural acidity of the vagina.
More normally, BV is brought about by physiological and external factors such as falling oestrogen levels at menopause or during pregnancy, by the use of antibiotics, detergents and douching, particularly with perfumed intimate products.
It can also be brought on by smoking, stress, sexual activity and by the use of an intrauterine device
Intervention with a vaginal lactate gel, like Relactagel from Kora Healthcare, can be used to prevent BV as well as treating it.
Relactagel ensures vaginal acidity is maintained at pH 4.5, and so any overgrowth of BV-associated bacteria is prevented, and levels of the healthy lactobacilli bacteria are maintained.