<unk>  <unk>  is a syndrome that results from an imbalance in the different types of<unk> in the vagina (also known as vaginal "flora").
Lactobacilli play an important role in maintaining the female genital tract health by keeping the vagina's pH at normal levels.
When the pH levels of the vagina become unbalanced, certain microorganisms may overtake the normal flora, which can cause a low-grade infection that often produces an abnormal vaginal discharge.<unk>  must be differentiated from other diseases that cause purulent, malodorous, thin vaginal discharge with elevated vaginal pH (<4.5), such as trichomoniasis, atrophic vaginitis, and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis. Additionally,<unk>  must also be differentiated from such other conditions as vaginal candidiasis, vaginitis, and cervicitis.<unk>  is the most common cause of vaginal symptoms among women; it is not clear what role sexual activity plays in the development of<unk> . The prevalence of<unk>  in the United States is estimated to be 21.2 million (29.2%) among women ages 14–49.
Untreated<unk>  can lead to premature delivery, postpartum infections, clinically apparent and subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), post-surgical complications (after abortion, hysterectomy, cesarean section, and other reproductive procedures), increased vulnerability to HIV infection and, sometimes, infertility.
Antimicrobial therapy is recommended for all symptomatic women and high-risk, asymptomatic pregnant women with<unk> . Metronidazole is the drug of choice for pregnant patients.
Basic effective measures for the primary prevention of<unk>  include limiting the number of sexual partners, avoiding douching, and using condoms and estrogen-containing contraceptives while sexually active.
Bacterial vaginosis
Atrophic vaginitis
Leukorrhea
Rhinorrhea
Gonorrhea
Trichomoniasis
Genital herpes
Trichiasis