Bacterial Vaginosis: Why Vaginal Discharge Fit dey Smell Fishy
Read in: English | Pidgin English
🩺 Medically reviewed by the HDG Medical Editorial Team
🔍 Quick Breakdown
Bacterial vaginosis, wey people dey call BV, happen when the normal bacteria balance inside vagina change.
Normally, vagina get good bacteria wey help protect am.
But if that balance scatter:
• some bacteria fit grow pass normal
• discharge fit change
• fishy smell fit start
👉🏾 BV common, and e no mean say person dirty.
🟧 Wetin dey happen for the body?
The vagina no suppose be completely “empty” or sterile.
E naturally get bacteria wey help keep the environment balanced.
When protective bacteria reduce:
• other bacteria fit increase
• vagina smell fit change
• discharge fit become more watery
Sometimes the smell dey stronger:
• after sex
• during period
• after washing inside vagina
👉🏾 BV na balance problem, no be shame problem.
🟧 Why BV fit happen?
• douching or washing inside vagina
→ this fit remove good bacteria and disturb natural balance
• scented soaps or vaginal sprays
→ sensitive vaginal area fit react
• new sexual partner or multiple partners
→ this fit affect vaginal bacteria balance
• natural body changes
→ hormones and menstrual cycle fit also affect discharge
👉🏾 BV fit happen even if person dey clean well.
🟧 How you fit notice am
Some women get BV and no notice any symptom.
But when symptoms show, person fit notice:
• thin watery discharge
→ e fit look gray-white or light
• fishy smell
→ this smell fit stronger after sex or during period
• mild irritation
→ itching no always dey strong like yeast infection
• burning when urinating sometimes
→ especially if the area already dey irritated
👉🏾 Strong fishy smell with watery discharge fit point toward BV.
🟧 BV vs yeast infection
BV and yeast infection no be the same thing.
• BV
→ watery discharge
→ fishy smell
→ itching fit mild or no dey
• Yeast infection
→ thick white discharge
→ serious itching
→ usually no get strong fishy smell
👉🏾 This na why correct diagnosis important before treatment.
🟧 Real life example
Zainab notice say:
• her discharge become watery
• fishy smell dey come, especially after sex
• itching no too much, but the smell dey worry her
At first:
• she think say maybe na poor hygiene
So she begin wash inside vagina with scented soap.
But instead:
• the smell no stop
• irritation increase small
When she go clinic:
• healthcare worker explain say na bacterial vaginosis
• the washing inside vagina don even disturb the natural balance more
After treatment:
• the smell and discharge improve gradually
👉🏾 BV no mean say person dirty. Too much washing inside vagina fit even worsen am.
🟧 Wetin fit help
• see healthcare worker if symptoms continue
→ BV need correct diagnosis and treatment
• avoid douching
→ vagina fit clean itself naturally
• avoid scented vaginal products
→ dem fit disturb the natural balance
• complete prescribed treatment
→ stopping early fit make symptoms return
👉🏾 Treatment dey available, but BV fit return for some women.
🟧 When you gats go hospital 🚨
• pelvic pain
• fever
• discharge with bleeding
• symptoms during pregnancy
• severe pain or bad-smelling discharge
👉🏾 These signs fit mean another infection or complication wey need urgent medical check.
🟢 Final reassurance
Bacterial vaginosis common and treatable.
E no mean say woman dirty, careless, or do something wrong.
👉🏾 If discharge smell change or symptoms no go, medical check fit help you get the right treatment.
📚 Reference
For full medical references, see English version of this article.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article na for education only.
E no replace advice from doctor.
If symptoms serious or no go, abeg see qualified healthcare professional.
🔗Related Health Topics
• Vaginal Discharge
• Vaginal Yeast Infection
• Trichomoniasis
• Vaginal Itching
• Practicing Safe Sex and Protecting Your Reproductive Health