Most women will experience a yeast infection or a bacterial vaginosis infection at least once in their lifetime. It happens to everyone, and you aren’t exempt. When it does happen though, knowing which one it is, how to treat it and what you can do to prevent the recurrence are essential pieces of information that every woman should know and should remember. If you think you have one and you actually have the other, buying products that don’t work won’t cure the problem and could lead to you having more complications. So the main question is, what is the difference between a bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection?
Yeast Infection
Let’s start with the yeast infection. Have you ever been in the shower or using the restroom and noticed that you have a little odor or discharge, or have you been experiencing some itching or burning? You may be thinking right away that you have a yeast infection. What is a yeast infection? Yeast is commonly found in the vagina, but an overgrowth can cause an infection. Yeast is a fungus (sounds bad right?) that is naturally occurring in the body.
The Need for Good Vaginal Bacteria
Good vaginal bacteria help to regulate the amount of yeast that is in the vaginal area. When that good bacteria cannot keep things under control, yeast can overgrow and can cause an infection. What mostly differentiates the difference between bacterial vaginosis and a yeast infection is that with a yeast infection you will most likely have an itching or burning sensation in the vagina and the vulva. The most common association is a white discharge that looks like cottage cheese or grits that may or may not have a smell like beer or bread.
Bacterial Vaginosis
So if that’s what a yeast infection is, what is bacterial vaginosis? First, it is the most common vaginal infection that a woman can get (you thought it was a yeast infection, didn’t you?). These kinds of infections are caused when there are too many pathogenic bacteria’s in the vagina. While very similar to how you get a yeast infection, the bad bacteria overpowers the good bacteria that keeps you clean inside. It is often accompanied by your PH balance being off because the infection is changing the PH levels to elevate, whereas good bacteria in a healthy vagina thrives on good PH levels.
Symptoms of Yeast Infection
As with a yeast infection, you will notice a discharge but unlike the cottage cheese look, it is most commonly a grayish color that looks a little like very runny clay. It is also accompanied by a very powerful fish smell or odor and a high level of PH. Many people compare it to yogurt. Some women will also experience itching, burning or other irritations.
Staying in Good Health
If you are unsure of which one you have from these, talk to your gynecologist to be sure. They will be able to tell you much better than you can guess and will have remedies for you to treat them.
Why is the PH balance of the body so important? PH levels are the levels of acidity within the mucous in the body. When these levels are altered, they become unbalanced which can cause infections.
Medical studies have proven that a woman’s ideal PH level when it comes to the environment inside the vagina is around 3.5 to 4.5. When your PH level rises, your vaginal environment changes and the pathogenic (bad) bacteria can thrive. This allows for the bad bacteria to multiply rapidly, causing infections, odor, discharge and other problems. Don’t always assume, though a higher PH level is bad and that you have an infection. There are many other things that can change the PH level when you don’t have an infection.
Common Causes to an Unbalanced PH Level
Examples of this include an unbalanced PH level during your cycle, after intercourse and for the next day or so after intercourse, if you have been swimming in a highly chlorinated pool, or if you have exercised very hard. Hormone fluctuations throughout the month can also upset that balance.
Managing Complications
Now that you know how your levels can be affected, what should you do if you think that you have either of these complications? The first thing to do it not panic. It happens to every woman and you aren’t the first person to ever get it. It doesn’t mean that you are dirty, unclean or sick, it just means that your body balance is a little off. You should make an appointment to see your doctor or gynecologist. Your doctor will want to do a PH balance test to evaluate your symptoms and may want to swab for a microscopic test.
If you do have either complication, they are both rather easily treated. Your doctor may recommend an oral treatment to help clear up the infection and help get your body back to a good PH level. Other treatments include vaginal medications that are meant to go inside the body to clear the infection. If you are suffering from a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic medication to clear it up. Always follow the directions on the packaging and what your doctor tells you. Don’t miss or skip a dose and go through the full treatment even if you are feeling better because reoccurrence is possible if you don’t do all the days necessary for treatment.
Once you have taken care of your infection, your doctor may prescribe you a probiotic to help you maintain ideal PH levels. They may also want you to use certain body washes or cleansing cloths that are designed to help wipe away or clean away bad bacteria and not attack the good bacteria. Also try to wear comfortable, breathable clothing as sweat and dead skin cells too close to these areas for long periods of time can cause a recurrence. Make sure to use unscented or “female friendly” soaps to avoid irritation and infections as well. Remember, a healthy vagina is a happy vagina and a healthy vagina leads to an overall healthier you.