The short explanation
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a change in the balance of vaginal bacteria. It does not usually stop a woman from getting pregnant, but it is worth treating when you are trying to conceive and during pregnancy. BV has been linked with a higher chance of some pregnancy complications, such as early labour, so doctors prefer to treat it. Because BV often comes back, it helps to see a gynaecologist who can confirm it with a test, treat it, and talk about what may be triggering it. Douching, perfumed washes and smoking can make it more likely, so stopping those may help.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Recurrent BV is common and does not mean anything is seriously wrong. Sometimes a longer treatment plan is suggested; your doctor will decide that.
- Tell your doctor that you are trying to conceive, as it affects which treatment is chosen and when.
- Your husband usually does not need treatment for BV, but testing for other infections may be suggested for both of you as part of fertility planning.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether BV is affecting your chances of pregnancy. Your gynaecologist can look at your full situation.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is my BV confirmed by a test?
- Does it affect my chances of conceiving?
- Which treatment is suitable while we are trying for a baby?
- Should either of us be tested for other infections?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a clinician within a few days when symptoms return, so a swab can be done before treatment.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine visit to review recurrent BV as part of pregnancy planning. You can ask for a woman doctor, and you can bring a friend or relative into the room with you if that helps.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Bacterial vaginosis NHS
- Vaginal discharge NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
Did this answer your question?
Whatever you choose is filed against this version of the answer, never against you, and it is never shown as a count.
“Explain more simply” asks you which part was hard to follow, so the author knows what to rewrite. “My question is different” opens a private follow-up with this answer attached.
Saving, following up and reporting are all private. Nothing you do on this page is visible to other readers or to the doctor who wrote it, unless you ask a question.