What are the symptoms? Men are usually asymptomatic (no symptoms). Women may have abnormal discharge,
which can be yellow or green and frothy, and experience
itching in and around the vagina, and a strong odour.
How is it treated? It is very treatable with metronizadole.
Vaginitis/vulvitis and bacterial
vaginosis
What is it? Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is caused by an overgrowth
of bacteria normally found in the vagina.
How is it transmitted? There is disagreement among scientists as
to whether bacterial vaginosis is strictly an STI. However, it is more
common in sexually active women.
What are the symptoms? Fifty per cent of women may show no symptoms.
However, you may have profuse vaginal discharge (usually thin gray or
white that sticks to the vagina walls) with an unpleasant fishy or musty
vaginal odour, and suffer from vaginal itching and irritation.
How is it treated? Treatment consists of an antibiotic taken orally
or vaginally. Since it is unclear whether this is sexually transmitted,
some authorities may suggest that your sexual partners need to be treated
to prevent re-infection.
Why worry about it? BV has been associated with Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease (PID).
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