What are the symptoms of BV?

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Once a BV infection begins, many women will experience most or all of these common symptoms:1,2

  • An abnormal discharge that is thin, off-white or gray in color, and homogenous (uniform) in appearance
  • A "fishy" vaginal odor that becomes worse after unprotected intercourse
  • Discomfort or pain during urination
  • Itching in the genital area

However, BV can sometimes be confused with other vaginal infections, including trichomoniasis and yeast infections, because these diseases can share some similar symptoms.

Some women have BV but do not experience symptoms. If you think you may be at risk, it is important to be tested and treated.3 Left untreated, BV can lead to serious health complications in both nonpregnant and pregnant women.

Men may be carriers for BV without experiencing symptoms. As a result, they may unknowingly pass the infection on to their partners.

  1. Vaginitis. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 72. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107:1195-206.
  2. Beers MH, Berkow R, eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories;1999:1254-8.
  3. Sweet RL. Gynecologic conditions and bacterial vaginosis: implications for the non-pregnant patient. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2000;8(3-4):184-90.

Only Tindamax® is approved to treat both bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis (TV).

Clinical Insight

Oral vs vaginal cream therapy: Patient preference for oral dosing is demonstrated to be 84%. More»

Beyond BV

Tindamax® may be prescribed for other infections including: