Does bacterial vaginitis affect menstruation?

Written by Ding Ying Bo
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 17, 2025
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Most bacterial vaginitis has no significant effect on menstruation.

Because when women have bacterial vaginitis, it does not affect the ovarian secretion of estrogen, so it does not affect menstruation. Sometimes women develop bacterial vaginitis before menstruation and choose vaginal medication. Because the endometrial lining is relatively thick and menstruation is approaching, local medication may cause irritation, leading to the shedding of the endometrium. This is caused by local medication stimulation, not by affecting women's menstruation.

Most cases of bacterial vaginitis are likely to recur after menstruation is over, so it is recommended that women undergo consolidation treatment for bacterial vaginitis after their periods are clean. In some women with bacterial vaginitis, particularly those with poor immunity, it might lead to acute cervicitis, and potentially further develop into endometritis. These conditions may cause women to experience prolonged menstrual bleeding, although this is relatively rare.

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Has bacterial vaginitis that doesn't smell gone away?

Bacterial vaginosis often does not have an abnormal smell when it is likely improving. Bacterial vaginosis occurs due to a change in the pH level of the vagina, which disrupts the microecological balance, leading to mixed infections. These infections can result in an increase in vaginal discharge and itching in the vulva, although these symptoms are often not very obvious. However, a fishy odor of the discharge is a typical characteristic of this condition. After treatment for bacterial vaginosis, the disappearance of the unpleasant fishy smell indicates a significant improvement in symptoms. The primary treatment for bacterial vaginosis involves local medication in the vagina or oral medication, mainly using metronidazole. It is crucial to treat bacterial vaginosis promptly to prevent complications such as endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect women's reproductive and overall health.

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Why does bacterial vaginitis turn into fungal vaginitis?

Women with bacterial vaginitis need to be treated with metronidazole, which can be either taken orally or applied as metronidazole vaginal effervescent tablets. Some women may experience recurrent bacterial vaginitis, which leads to a longer duration of medication use, potentially causing an imbalance in the vaginal flora. Yeast naturally exists in the vagina, but the environment is usually stable due to the predominance of lactobacillus, which inhibits the growth of yeast. However, if the treatment period for vaginitis is extended, it can disrupt the vaginal environment, reduce the amount of lactobacillus, and consequently, yeast can proliferate and lead to yeast-based vaginitis.

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Can bacterial vaginitis affect conception?

Bacterial vaginosis generally does not have a particularly large or obvious impact on conception, but it can indeed potentially affect the process of conception. This is primarily because when bacterial vaginosis occurs, there are usually a significant number of inflammatory cells in the vagina or the cervix. These inflammatory cells may affect sperm, thereby potentially impacting the process of conception. Of course, when bacterial vaginosis is present, it is generally recommended to treat it before pregnancy. This is mainly because if bacterial vaginosis exists during pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of bleeding, miscarriage, or premature birth. Therefore, it is usually advised to treat bacterial vaginosis before planning to conceive.

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Can bacterial vaginitis lead to pelvic inflammatory disease?

Bacterial vaginitis can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. Bacterial vaginosis is a mixed infection caused by the imbalance of normal vaginal flora. When bacterial vaginosis occurs, the predominance of lactobacilli in the vagina decreases, leading to the overgrowth of other microorganisms such as Gardnerella, anaerobes, and some staphylococci. The proliferation of these pathogens can compromise the host's defense mechanisms. These pathogens can travel from the vagina to the uterine cavity and then to the pelvic cavity, leading to disturbances in the microecological environment of the pelvis and resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease.

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Can bacterial vaginitis be treated during menstruation?

Bacterial vaginitis can only be treated with oral metronidazole during menstruation, and external genitalia can be cleaned with a wash, but vaginal suppositories cannot be used during bleeding periods to avoid causing infections. However, the standard treatment for bacterial vaginitis is recommended to better start after the menstruation ends. At that time, you can choose the appropriate external washes and vaginal suppositories for combined treatment, which will be more effective. During the treatment, avoid intercourse, frequently change underwear, maintain genital hygiene, avoid wearing tight clothing, consume fresh vegetables and fruits, exercise more, and enhance resistance.