Have you recently noticed something feels off with your vagina? Maybe you’re experiencing slight itchiness, skin irritation, or a burning sensation when you urinate. Perhaps you’ve observed an unusual discharge.

You’re not alone—these symptoms are more common than you might think. In fact, up to 75% of women will experience some form of vaginitis, or vaginal inflammation, at some point in their lives. Vaginitis can have many different causes, and while some forms are more serious than others, it is important to remember that many women have faced these issues and found effective ways to manage them.

Let’s explore the two most common culprits of vaginitis: bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections are very common vaginal conditions. Approximately three out of four women will have a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, and one in three women will get BV each year. If you’ve experienced one or the other (or both), you know they can cause a host of symptoms, including discomfort during intercourse, itching, and abnormal discharge or odor.

What Is the Difference Between Yeast Infection and BV?

The fundamental difference between BV and a vaginal yeast infection lies in their causes. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina, leading to an imbalance in vaginal flora. Often, BV has no symptoms, but when it does, typical signs include vaginal itchiness, a grayish discharge, and a fishy odor.

A vaginal yeast infection, on the other hand, is a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast, specifically Candida, in the vagina. Vaginal yeast infections frequently occur after taking antibiotics, which can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and yeast. Although BV and yeast infections can present with similar symptoms, they do have distinct differences.

Here are a few pointers to help you differentiate between BV and a yeast infection:

Odor

If you have BV, you might notice an odor reminiscent of bad fish. Yeast infections, on the other hand, don’t usually have much of a smell, and if they do it’s ... well, yeasty. When you are judging odor, remember that even a healthy vagina has a natural scent to it. The question is not whether you smell like anything, but whether you smell different than usual.

Vaginal Discharge Types

BV can produce a discharge that is thin, gray, and foamy. The discharge from a yeast infection is instead likely to be white or cream colored, and it will be thicker, with the consistency of cottage cheese. As with odor, the key is to look for discharge that’s unusual for you.

Discomfort During Intercorse

Both BV and yeast infections can itch, and both can give you a burning feeling when you urinate. Discomfort from BV is usually mild, whereas yeast infections can make your vagina sore and painful, especially during sex. A yeast infection can also result in redness or a rash.

What Are Common Causes of These Infections?

To understand how you get BV and yeast infections, it is important to understand the vaginal microbiome. The vagina naturally has a fairly acidic internal environment in which good bacteria called lactobacilli can thrive. These lactobacilli have an important job — to create enough lactic acid to maintain that healthy acidic pH of 3.5 to 4.5. Your lactobacilli and the low-pH environment they create are what prevent infections from getting a foothold. Unfortunately, maintaining that environment is a delicate balancing act, and a lot of different things can throw off the vaginal ecosystem, raising the pH level and disrupting the normal levels of lactobacilli, thus leaving you open to vaginitis.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

One of the most common causes of BV is douching, which involves rinsing the vagina using water and a cleaning agent like vinegar. Douching can easily disrupt the healthy vagina by killing the lactobacilli, which raises the risk for BV. Additionally, douching affects the natural balance of vaginal flora, leading to various symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge types and vaginal itching causes.

However, douching is not the only cause of BV. Anything that changes the pH of the vagina can cause an imbalance in vaginal flora, leaving the door open to harmful bacteria. Common hormonal changes, like menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause, can also impact vaginal health. Sex can contribute as well; while BV is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, semen’s pH is much higher than the vagina’s, so unprotected sex can raise your overall vaginal pH and potentially introduce new bacteria. This imbalance can lead to discomfort during intercourse and other symptoms that affect overall vaginal health.

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections also take advantage of disruptions in your vaginal ecosystem. The difference is that while BV is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast. Vaginal yeast infections also commonly strike during normal hormonal changes, and in particular during pregnancy. In addition, they can be caused by certain medical conditions and often follow antibiotic treatment, even when you’re taking antibiotics for something entirely unrelated.

What Are the Risks If Left Untreated?

While BV and yeast infections might not seem serious at the outset, it is important to treat them as soon as you start noticing symptoms. If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, BV can cause preterm labor or miscarriages if left untreated.

Untreated yeast infections are not quite as concerning to healthcare practitioners for an average, healthy woman who is not pregnant. While they are irritating and uncomfortable, they won’t cause permanent damage. However, if you are trying to get pregnant and you have a yeast infection, it’s important to treat it, since yeast infections can prevent pregnancy.

For non-pregnant women, BV can increase the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by leaving the vagina more vulnerable to harmful bacteria. If BV is left untreated for extended periods, it can lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may impact fertility and reproductive health. Additionally, these infections can cause severe symptoms, including pain, discomfort, and chronic issues. Whether or not you plan to have children, taking prompt action to treat these infections is essential for maintaining your overall well-being and minimizing the distressing symptoms.

Importance of Proper Diagnosis to Ensure Proper Treatment

If you’ve had BV or a vaginal yeast infection before, you might think you can just treat it yourself and not worry about checking in with your doctor. However, because BV and yeast infections sometimes show similar symptoms, it is easy to start treating the wrong thing and have to backtrack when the infection doesn’t go away, gets worse, or comes back soon after treatment.

Self-diagnoses are challenging; one study found that self-diagnoses of BV were correct only 56% of the time, while 69% of those who thought they had a yeast infection actually had something else. Another study showed that only about a third of individuals were correct in diagnosing themselves with a yeast infection.

OB-GYN Ruth Arumala says, “It’s important to have a good relationship with your OB, so that you can always ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.” Moreover, while a yeast infection, properly diagnosed, can be treated over-the-counter, BV cannot.

Another reason why it is so important to get proper diagnosis is that while vaginitis is not sexually transmitted, some STIs can show similar symptoms, like itching and burning. If those are your symptoms, it’s not just a matter of telling whether you have BV or a yeast infection — it is determining if you have an STI instead.

Over-the-Counter Options for Yeast Infection Treatment

Since yeast infections are fungal infections, they can normally be treated in a few days with an effective, targeted anti-fungal medication. Companies like Monistat create various creams and suppositories that can get rid of your yeast infection within a week or less.

Your doctor may also prescribe a single pill to get rid of your yeast infection. Common prescriptions for yeast infections include antifungals like diflucan or fluconazole. When you’re treating a yeast infection, whether you use your doctor’s prescription or an OTC treatment like Monistat, it is important to follow the directions and take the medication in its entirety, even if your symptoms go away earlier. When your symptoms first go away, there may still be some yeast left. If you stop treatment, it can come back stronger than ever. It is also important to avoid sex and not insert anything into the vagina while you are healing.

How to Treat BV

Since BV is caused by a bacterial imbalance that thrives in an out-of-balance pH environment, experiencing recurring BV might indicate that it's time to focus on maintaining an optimal pH balance in your vagina. Rebalancing the pH helps promote the growth of beneficial vaginal bacteria like lactobacilli, which are crucial for a healthy vaginal ecosystem.

To support this balance, consider incorporating a healthy diet rich in probiotic foods, such as fermented foods and yogurt. These foods can naturally boost the levels of good bacteria in your body. Additionally, you might want to explore a vaginal probiotic, like Good Clean Love’s BiopHresh Vaginal Probiotic Suppository. This product includes several strains of beneficial lactobacilli designed to provide your vaginal ecosystem with the healthy bacteria needed to maintain a balanced pH level.

For addressing symptoms related to BV, we recommend Good Clean Love’s other Bio-Matched products, Restore Moisturizing Vaginal Gel and Balance Moisturizing Personal Wash. Both products are designed to support healthy vaginal conditions and are important tools in your pH-balancing arsenal.

Can You Have BV and a Yeast Infection at the Same Time?

Yes, it is possible to have both BV and a yeast infection at the same time. This is another reason why it is so important to get a proper diagnosis from a doctor when you notice symptoms. If you’ve had a yeast infection before, you might recognize the signs and get an over-the-counter treatment — but, your yeast infection might conceal a separate case of BV, which your yeast medicine won’t do anything for. If you go to your doctor instead, they’ll be able to detect both infections, and give you the right medicines.

Tips and Hygiene Practices for Avoiding BV and Yeast Infections

While it is impossible to completely prevent vaginitis, as some factors are beyond our control, there are proactive steps you can take to lower your risk.

Avoid Douching

Douching gets rid of all of the bacteria in your vagina, both good and bad. This leaves your vagina more susceptible to foreign agents, which can throw off your vaginal pH and create an environment that is less hospitable to the good bacteria that keep your vagina healthy. In fact, your vagina (that’s the internal portion of your lady parts) is entirely self-cleaning, and you shouldn’t put any kind of soap or wash in there at all. On the other hand, the vulva (that’s the external part) can be washed with a mild, unscented feminine wash, such as Good Clean Love’s Balance Personal Moisturizing Wash.

Practice Good Vaginal Hygiene

Maintaining good vaginal hygiene is as much about what you avoid as it is about what you do. Steer clear of scented vaginal products, including scented pads, tampons, and soaps. The fragrances in these products can irritate your sensitive vaginal environment and disrupt your pH balance, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. Additionally, since bacteria and yeast thrive in moist environments, keeping your vaginal area dry is key to preventing vaginitis. Opt for breathable fabrics like cotton panties, and promptly change out of sweaty or wet underwear or bikini bottoms to maintain a healthy, balanced environment.

Take Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial to your body in all kinds of ways, including supporting an environment of strong lactobacilli in the vagina. We recommend including probiotic-rich foods such as kimchi and yogurt in your diet, as well as taking a quality vaginal probiotic, like Good Clean Love’s BiopHresh Vaginal Probiotic Suppository. A probiotic specifically designed for women will ensure that lactobacilli strains that are specific to the vagina, such as lactobacillus crispatus, are being replenished regularly.

Vaginitis Happens to the Best of Us

Vaginitis is an incredibly common condition, touching the lives of women across all ages and backgrounds. If you’re dealing with it, know that you are far from alone. It is essential to understand that experiencing vaginitis is nothing to be ashamed of—it happens to the best of us. This condition does not reflect on your hygiene or lifestyle; it is simply a part of life for many women. Embracing this perspective allows you to approach your health with greater compassion and understanding, fostering a more nurturing relationship with your body.