48 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • FEBRUARY 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
National survey reveals the serious impact
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) has on women
Th ough many women are reluctant
to discuss ‘embarrassing’ health issues
- especially those pertaining to gynecologic
health - many don’t understand
the impact these same issues can have
on a woman’s overall health and quality
of life.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most
prevalent gynecologic infection, aff ecting
21 million women in the U.S. ages 14
to 49 each year. Despite its prevalence,
women may not understand that the total
impact of BV can go beyond its serious
physical health implications. Th e condition
can greatly impact women’s emotional
health as well, causing feelings
of anxiety and embarrassment that can
infl uence health, sex lives, dating and personal
relationships.
A new national survey* of 304 U.S.
women ages 18 to 49 who have been diagnosed
with BV within the past two years
highlights the lack of knowledge of BV
and its associated risks as well as the serious
impact of the condition on women.
What are the risks?
Common signs and symptoms associated
with BV include unusual vaginal discharge
that may be white or gray, watery,
and may also have a strong fi sh-like
odor. It can be diffi cult to tell common
gynecologic infections from one another
because the symptoms can be similar.
However, if ignored or mistreated,
BV increases the risk of sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), including chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes, trichomoniasis
and HIV. BV also increases the risk
of pre-term birth and low birth weight,
which can negatively impact the overall
health of the baby; and pelvic infl ammatory
disease (PID).
Many women don’t understand the risk
of these serious health concerns if BV is
left untreated. In fact, according to the
national survey, 76 percent of women
with BV state they would have gone to see
a healthcare professional sooner if they
were aware of the risks associated with
BV if left untreated. Additionally, not
only did 62 percent of women mistake
BV for a yeast infection prior to diagnosis,
but 20 percent still believe that BV is a
yeast infection.
How does BV impact a
women’s overall health
and quality of life?
Th e total impact of BV goes beyond
the physical symptoms. BV can greatly
impact women’s emotional health as well,
infl uencing healthy sex lives, dating and
personal relationships. Results from the
national survey found that most women
with BV feel self-conscious (68 percent)
and embarrassed (66 percent) due to their
condition. Furthermore, women with BV
admit they have avoided certain everyday
activities that may oft en be taken for
granted, including being intimate with
their spouse/partner (79 percent); working
out (27 percent); going on a fi rst date
(17 percent); performing everyday activities
(e.g., running errands, doing chores)
(16 percent); and spending time with
family/friends (15 percent).
A new online resource
A new online resource, www.
KeepHerAwesome.com, features additional
results from the Harris Poll
national survey that was sponsored by
Symbiomix Th erapeutics, LLC, a Lupin
Company, and the American Sexual
Health Association (ASHA). Th e website
also provides women and healthcare
professionals with information on
BV including downloadable resources,
such as a BV fact sheet, discussion guides
on how to talk with your partner and
healthcare provider about BV, and Do’s
and Don’ts for healthcare professionals to
share with their patients.
*Th e survey was conducted online
by Harris Poll on behalf of Symbiomix
Th erapeutics, LLC, a Lupin Company,
and the American Sexual Health
Association (ASHA) within the United
States between September 14 and 29, 2017
among 304 U.S. women aged 18 to 49
who have been diagnosed by a healthcare
professional with bacterial vaginosis (BV)
within the past 2 years (“women with bacterial
vaginosis”). Figures for age, income,
race/ethnicity, region, education, and size
of household were weighted where necessary
to bring them into line with their
actual proportions in the population.
Courtesy BPT
According to a new national survey, 68 percent of women with BV feel self-conscious and 66 percent feel embarrassed due to their condition.
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