Without treatment, symptoms of vaginitis can worsen. Some types of vaginitis can increase a woman's risk of other health problems.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) increases a woman's risk of getting other sexually transmitted diseases [LINK to A-Z topic], including HIV, if she is exposed to the pathogens that cause them.1 BV also is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious disease that can harm a woman's reproductive organs and cause infertility.2 Having BV increases a woman's risk of preterm labor and preterm birth. Women who have it also are more likely to get an infection after having surgery such as an abortion or hysterectomy.1
Trichomoniasis increases a woman's risk of getting or spreading other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.3 Trichomoniasis also may cause preterm labor or preterm birth.4
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Bacterial vaginosis—CDC fact sheet. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm [top]
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2008). Bacterial vaginosis. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/bacterialVaginosis/Pages/default.aspx [top]
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Trichomoniasis—CDC fact sheet. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/STDFact-Trichomoniasis.htm [top]
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2009). Trichomoniasis. Retrieved March 27, 2012, from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/trichomoniasis/Pages/default.aspx [top]