Are You Vulnerable to the Risk of Bacterial Vaginosis?
Make no mistake - bacterial vaginosis is no joke. Not only is it a condition that plagues many women (approximately 1 in 400 according to the latest statistics), but it can also cause immense discomfort, and also an 'unclean' feeling. In many cases it actually leads to further problems involving depression and a loss of self confidence due to its unseemly appearance and smell. Part of the problem also lies in the misconception that this condition is linked to promiscuity - which is not the case.
In fact, while the causes of bacterial vaginosis are numerous, the truth is that there are several groups of people who are more vulnerable to it than others. Knowing whether or not you fall within a category that has a higher risk of contracting this condition is helpful as it could enable you to keep your eyes peeled for early warning signs.
On the whole, there seems to be a distinct breakdown alone racial lines whereby the statistics show that African Americans are most likely to contract it (nearly 24% of them do). This is followed closely by Hispanics at 15%, Whites at 9% and Asians at 5%. Although there is a certain racial predisposition to contracting the disease, it is by no means the only risk factor that you should look at.
Truth be told, a far more compelling risk factor would be the presence of certain conditions that put you in a high risk category. Most notably, if you have Lupus, then you're at an extremely high risk of contracting other infections - including bacterial vaginosis. Needless to say, anyone who has Lupus needs to be very careful indeed.
Another condition that has been directly linked to the risk of bacterial vaginosis is having low estrogen levels. Women who have low estrogen levels tend to have vaginal linings that are more fragile and thus more susceptible to bacterial infections. Likewise, women with extremely high estrogen levels are also at increased risk due to changes in the vaginal lining.
All said and done, the latter condition (i.e. high estrogen levels) is far more common, especially for those on birth control.
Keep all this in mind, and if you feel that you fall under a risk category for bacterial vaginosis you might want to see if you can take steps to rectify it. Granted, most of the categories involve conditions that are going to be largely beyond your control - however if there is any avenue by which you can reduce your risk, you should definitely take it!
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