16 Frequent Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (also known as BV) is a relatively common type of bacterial infection that happens when the pH balance inside the vagina measures outside of the normal range. It happens to the majority of women at some point in their lives, and it’s usually easy to treat with a simple course of antibiotics if and when it does. 

The condition cannot be sexually transmitted but is instead usually triggered when there’s anything that throws the pH balance of the vagina out from where it’s supposed to be. This can happen because of a variety of different reasons, including the use (and often overuse) of feminine hygiene products, or the use of shower gels and other products which might irritate the vagina or imbalance the pH levels. 

While it’s a minor infection, it can sometimes cause major issues – including symptoms like itching and discharge – if it’s left untreated.

Here are 8 frequent causes of bacterial vaginosis that you should know about. 

1. Changes in Your Diet

You are what you eat is the popular expression, and diet has far more to do with vaginal health than most people might have thought to consider. If you are following a healthy diet, your body will respond in kind – but if you consume anything that can affect your body’s pH levels and cause it to go completely off, then these changes in your diet can be some of the factors that help to trigger bacterial vaginosis. 

Consuming too many acidic foods and drinks through your diet every day can almost certainly have this effect, and you’ll notice BV as a recurring condition that keeps coming back every few weeks if this is the case.

Examine your diet first and try to cut out any acidic components to see if this makes any difference – and if you aren’t sure how to approach this, do your research online and download a few diet plans available on the internet, or make an appointment with a nutritional specialist.