What causes the fishy vaginal odor?
It is caused by the production of a compound known as amines by the anaerobic bacteria. Amines become unstable as the pH increases, which occurs in BV due to a decrease in the number of lactobacilli bacteria (vaginal pH is over 4.5 in BV). The symptom gets worse when vaginal alkalinity is enhanced, such as after sex (due to the presence of semen) and during menses (due to the presence of blood). Complications that may arise from bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis symptoms are very disconcerting, but are not the only concern for the affected women. BV has been reported to be related to a number of complications. • Higher susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections and HIV. • More likely to acquire chlamydial cervicitis, trichomoniasis, herpes simplex infection. • Enhanced risk of infection after pelvic surgery, i.e. pelvic inflammatory disease. • 6-time increase in postpartum endometritis if there was BV before cesarean delivery. • Decreased success of in-vitro fertiliz