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Vaginal Discharge and Odor - The Primary and Secondary Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis Described
by Leslie V Dibben
When determining if you have bacterial vaginosis there are two sets of symptoms to keep an eye out for, primary and secondary symptoms. Your primary symptoms consist of vaginal discharge and odor and your secondary symptoms consist of redness, itching, and painful urination and intercourse. Below I review these two categories a little deeper.
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The primary symptoms will present in the majority of cases of vaginosis. You will generally experience a white and grayish vaginal discharge that is intensified directly after sexual intercourse. The second primary symptom that tends to be a little more embarrassing is a fishy or musty vaginal odor. This distinct smell is also more noticeable and more pungent directly after intercourse.
The secondary symptoms that one may experience are symptoms that can also occur in other infections such as a yeast infection. The secondary symptoms that you may have are redness and itching of the vaginal area. You may also experience painful urinations as well as painful intercourse. These symptoms are less frequent in BV sufferers but if they occur can tip you off that you need to get checked out.
The above symptoms will not occur in all cases, you may only experience 1 or 2 of them. If you are experiencing any of the above you should get yourself into your doctor so he can confirm your diagnose and suggest appropriate treatment. Most likely he will prescribe antibiotics; I would suggest you research alternate options as antibiotics don't tend to cure BV for the long term.
As you can see, vaginal discharge and odor are the primary symptoms but there are other secondary symptoms that may present first and could suggest that you have a case of bacterial vaginosis. You are not alone if this is the case, 1 in 3 women will experience this vaginal inflammation in their lifetime so don't feel embarrassed or ashamed, just get yourself into the doctor and work towards a healthy resolution.
