Bacterial Vaginosis

Key points

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) describes an overgrowth of predominately anaerobic organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis. This leads to a consequent fall in lactic acid producing aerobic lactobacilli resulting in a raised vaginal pH.
• vaginal discharge: 'fishy', offensive
• asymptomatic in 50% Amsel's criteria for diagnosis of BV - 3 of the following 4 points should be present
• thin, white homogenous discharge
• clue cells on microscopy: stippled vaginal epithelial cells