In this article we will talk about bacterial vaginosis which is a condition that is very common and more than a half million women experience it in the United States alone.
It is the result of a decrease in the amount of 'good' bacteria of the vagina and an increase in the amount of 'bad' bacteria.
One of the earliest and most common symptom for bacterial vaginosis is a type of discharge.
This can be white, gray or yellowish and often has a fish-like odor.
Generally this condition is not something to really be concerned about and it should correct itself in couple of days with the right medication.
But be aware that if the condition is left unattended and you do nothing about it, bacterial vaginosis may make the chance of getting an STD higher and even cause parts of the reproductive system to get damaged.
So, even if you feel like your symptoms are going away, it is still a good idea to see you doctor.
Early on, you could just wait and see if the condition corrects itself, if not then you will need to get some sort of medication.
It has been noticed that 25% of all the cases of bacterial vaginosis should fix themselves in few days.
That leaves three-fourths of the cases to be solved by medication.
The type of medications that can be taken for bacterial vaginosis are antibiotics and there are 3 kinds that can be taken.
The first is called metronidazole and is known by the brand names Flagyl or MetroGel.
The second antibiotic is called clindamycin and is found in the medicines called Cleocin and Clindesse.
The third antibiotic is called tinidazole and is found in the medicine Tindamax.
These medicines are either administered orally or even inserted in the vagina.
Studies have shown that vaginal medications work as well as oral medications and cause less side effects.
Although, by taking a vaginal medication, you are at an increased risk of vaginal yeast infections.