Disease Database Drug Database Alt. Bacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection. Normally, many types of healthy bacteria live inside the vagina in small amounts. These bacteria keep each other in balance. Bacterial vaginosis may be spread during vaginal sex.
Many women have no symptoms.
Some women may have more discharge from the vagina. This discharge is greyish-white in colour with a fishy odour. The doctor can often tell if a woman has bacterial vaginosis by looking at the discharge from her vagina. At some clinics, the doctor may be able to look at the discharge under a microscope. A sample of the discharge is also sent to the laboratory for testing.