You have a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). Both good and bad bacteria are present in a healthy vagina. BV occurs when these bacteria get out of balance. The number of bad bacteria increase. And the number of good bacteria decrease. BV is linked with sexual activity, but it's not a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
BV may or may not cause symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Thin, gray, milky-white, or sometimes green discharge.
- Unpleasant odor or “fishy” smell.
- Itching, burning, or pain in or around the vagina.
It's not known what causes BV, but certain factors can make the problem more likely. These can include:
- Douching.
- Spermicides.
- Use of antibiotics.
- Change in hormone levels with pregnancy, breastfeeding, or menopause.
- Having sex with a new partner.
- Having sex with more than one partner.
BV will sometimes go away on its own. But treatment is often advised. This is because untreated BV can raise the risk of more serious health problems, such as:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- Preterm delivery (giving birth to a baby early if you're pregnant).
- HIV and some other STIs.
- Infection after surgery on the reproductive organs.