If there was an Olympic gold medal handed out for vaginal infections, this one would be the clear winner.
According to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent vaginal infection amongst women of reproductive age.
Characterized by a fishy odour that becomes particularly foul after intercourse or during your period (assuming, of course, that you actually get any symptoms), BV is caused by an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria in the vagina.
It can be treated with antibiotics and/or topical creams and gels. But, of course, your best bet is to avoid getting BV in the first place. That means washing your V-zone at least once a day; keeping all your birth control paraphernalia (diaphragms, cervical caps, spermicide applicators, and the like) spotlessly clean, and avoiding feminine hygiene sprays or scented tampons.
While doctors aren’t sure whether or not BV can be sexually transmitted, they do know that it can cause you plenty of grief on the reproductive front: It’s been linked with both pelvic inflammatory disease and premature labour. So you’ll want to get it under control sooner rather than later.
