Can vaginitis lead to other health problems?

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, 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.¹ 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.² Trichomoniasis also may cause preterm labor or preterm birth.²