Can BV Cause Infertility? 

Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is so common that it’s easy to think it’s no big deal. Sure, it’s a nuisance, and the symptoms can be uncomfortable and even embarrassing, but beyond that, it’s not actually harmful. Is it? 

While we never want to play on scare tactics, it is our mission to share the scientific truth about vaginal health, and the truth about BV is that, especially if left untreated, it can lead to long-term health consequences, including infertility. Let’s dive into why that is and how you can prevent it.

Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

To understand how BV can lead to infertility, we need to understand how it impacts your vaginal health more generally. What is BV?

Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina. Basically, bad bacteria have overtaken your vaginal microbiome, causing infection¹, and generally, the reason the bad bacteria were able to overtake your vaginal microbiome is because, for some reason, there was not enough good Lactobacillus bacteria to stop it. In a healthy vagina, Lactobacillus is responsible for maintaining the acidic pH of your vagina, which allows good bacteria to thrive but kills bad bacteria before they can multiply and cause infection². 

Without enough Lactobacillus, your vaginal pH can become too high, making you more prone to infections like BV, which include symptoms like: 

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Discharge that’s thin, gray-ish, and often has a “fishy” smell
• Itchiness
• Burning during urination or intercourse³

While BV is not considered a sexually transmitted infection or STI, sexual activity, particularly unprotected sex and/or sex with multiple partners, can increase your likelihood of infection. As you’ll see, too, chronic or untreated BV can also have an impact on your reproductive health and even your pregnancy outcomes.

Diagnosis and Treatment of BV

You know those symptoms we just mentioned? They actually aren’t even noticed in a majority of BV cases. In fact, most people with BV don’t even know they have it. But these asymptomatic infections can still lead to health consequences down the road, which is why it’s so important to maintain regular appointments with your healthcare provider so they can screen you for infections, even ones you don’t know you have! And if you are experiencing symptoms of BV, definitely make a call to your doctor to be seen ASAP. 

To confirm your diagnosis, your doctor will typically perform a pelvic exam and test a sample of vaginal fluid to look for the presence of bacterial overgrowth. If they do determine you have BV, they will likely prescribe antibiotics like metronidazole or clindamycin. 

While antibiotics are safe, they are not without side effects, the biggest one being that they can further deplete the levels of Lactobacillus within your vagina, leaving you even more prone to secondary infections like yeast infections following treatment. To help prevent this, try taking antibiotics in conjunction with a daily probiotic like Happy V’s Prebiotic + Probiotic. It’s doctor-formulated to include only clinically proven strains of Lactobacillus, so you can make sure you are replenishing your vaginal microbiome with the healthy bacteria it needs. 

BV and Its Impact on Fertility

Even though BV is super common and easily treated, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously. Though more research still needs to be done to understand the exact link between BV and infertility, there is a link between the two. 

As for why it happens, science currently has a few theories. Some have proposed that the inflammation caused by BV can interfere with sperm function and motility, which can prevent fetilization, while others have proposed that BV can alter the cervical mucus, making it less conducive to sperm transport. Untreated BV can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can damage the fallopian tubes, leading to infertility.

You might be asking yourself, “Well, how long does it take for BV to cause infertility?” And the answer is that we really don’t know, but when it comes to your reproductive health, you really don’t want to try to “run out the clock.” As with any infection, the sooner you treat it, the better!

And if you are currently struggling with infertility, reach out to your OB-GYN or healthcare provider for their help targeting a cause and finding a solution.

The Connections Between BV, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

If you are currently pregnant, you may not be all that worried about how or if BV can prevent pregnancy, but know that untreated BV during pregnancy is considered very serious and has been associated with all kinds of risks, including:

• Increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight
• Higher likelihood of postpartum endometritis or an infection of the uterine lining
• Possible transmission of BV to the newborn during delivery, which can cause health complications in your baby 

And while no pregnant person wants to hear the word “miscarriage,” it’s important to know that though more research is needed to establish a definitive causal relationship, there is a potential correlation between BV and miscarriage. 
This is why it’s so important to attend all your prenatal appointments, even the early ones when your baby is barely the size of a pea. During these appointments, your doctor will screen you for infections like BV so you can treat them before they lead to bad outcomes. You should also call your doctor between appointments if you ever experience bleeding or cramping.

Good Practices for Vaginal Health

Your vagina is part of your reproductive system, and the female reproductive system is amazing! You can support all its amazing-ness by not only monitoring for and treating any infections but living a lifestyle conducive to vaginal health. This includes: 

• Practicing safe sex
• Cleaning sex toys properly after every use
• Attending regular appointments with your gynecologist or other healthcare provider
• Not douching
• Not using scented soaps or washes
• Wearing cotton, breathable underwear
• Using the bathroom after sexual activity
• Wiping from front to back after using the bathroom
• Changing promptly after working out or swimming 

Probiotics for Vaginal Health: HappyV’s Solution

If you are struggling with recurrent BV infections or wanting to protect your reproductive health, daily probiotics can be one of your greatest allies, but only if you buy ones that are formulated with vaginal health in mind.

At Happy V, vaginal health is kind of our jam, and our Prebiotic + Probiotic reflects that. It’s formula contains only clinically proven strains of Lactobacillus at clinically proven doses, without any fillers or fluff, making them a powerful way to maintain your vaginal health and keep infections like BV, yeast infections, and UTIs at bay.