Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) vs. a Yeast Infection: What's the Difference?

Bacteria have a bad reputation because we often discuss the harmful forms of the microscopic substance, but we all have billions of them in our bodies, along with fungi, viruses, and other microbes that make up our microbiomes. These are located throughout the body but are largely concentrated in the digestive tract and your vagina to help keep you in good health.

Many types of bacteria help maintain reproductive health, like the Lactobacilli species of bacteria which helps to lower your vaginal pH, but upsetting the balance can lead to conditions like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

Here, we examine signs you may have a microbial imbalance, how to distinguish between bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, and how to treat them both. If you live in the Las Vegas, Nevada area and you’re struggling with problems with either vaginal infection, Dr. Staci McHale and her award-winning staff at New Beginnings OB-GYN can help.

Signs of vaginal pH imbalance

Your normal pH balance is a measure of acidity vs alkalinity in your vagina, which is generally between 3.8-4.2 on a scale that runs from 0-14. On the general scale, over 7 is neutral, and under is acidic, so when you’re healthy the measurement is always moderately acidic and varies depending on what stage of life you’re in. 

If you’re dealing with an imbalance, you can expect to deal with changes like vaginal itching, pain or burning while trying to urinate, or pain during or after sex. It can also lead to a fishy smell, an increase in vaginal discharge, and a change in its color and texture.

Facts about bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections

Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of specific vaginal bacteria, creating more of the bad (anaerobic bacteria) than the good (lactobacilli) and leading to infection. This can happen due to douching or unprotected sex which upsets the pH balance, and causes many of the symptoms listed above, though up to 84% of women are unlikely to experience symptoms.

A yeast infection is an overgrowth of the fungus candida that can cause burning, itchiness, and redness in the vulva and vagina as well as changes to discharge. This can cause pain and unpleasantness when urinating or having sex.

As many as 75% of women have a yeast infection in their lifetime. It is caused by many factors, including hormonal imbalances which can happen during pregnancies or when using birth control, a weakened immune system, and dealing with unmanaged diabetes (high amounts of blood sugar causing bacteria in your urine).

Differences between the two

The key differences in both infections deal with the type of discharges, level of discomfort, redness, and inflammation. Both conditions can cause discomfort, vaginal itching, and changes in discharge, but some things separate them.

Bacterial vaginosis can cause a fishy odor and gray or white discharge, especially after sex, but doesn’t usually cause redness or inflammation. A yeast infection can cause thick, white, clumpy vaginal discharge, some pain and discomfort, a burning sensation during sex, and vulval inflammation, but no fishy odor.

The treatments for both are also different with antibiotics for BV and antifungals for yeast infections. It’s important to be accurately diagnosed, usually with a vaginal swab, as medications for one won’t be effective on the other. 

Regardless of which problem you’re coping with, make an appointment with Dr. McHale and her team at New Beginnings OB-GYN today to get the help you need.