BV CHALLENGES

Antifungal therapies rank in the top 10 best-selling over-the-counter (OTC) therapies in the United States (approximately $160 million in sales). Surprised? Maybe not. A recent study finds that when it comes to vaginal infections, women prefer to self-diagnose — almost 70% of women, actually.1

However, a separate study also found that of 643 women, only 11% could accurately recognize the classic symptoms for yeast infection, and only 3% could accurately identify bacterial vaginosis—the most common of the vaginal infections.2

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is traditionally characterized by a relatively low abundance of vaginal Lactobacillus sp. accompanied by polymicrobial anaerobic overgrowth.3 BV affects nearly one-third of the female population—approximately 21 million women in the U.S.—a year.4

HOW BV CAN IMPACT HER & YOU

IN HER WORDS

"...it's quite isolating, because women don't talk about it...it's that shame I suppose, embarrassment...it's all caught up in that whole fear of being judged." (Participant 7, age 39)5

"I feel unclean. I wanna shower all the time because I just feel, I don't know, I just feel dirty." (Participant 25, age 37)5

Most women will have a vaginal infection during their lifetime.6 There is little denying the social stigma that revolves around vaginal infections. We should keep in mind, though, that stigma is a result of society's response to a condition vs something inherent in the condition itself.7

The stigma of having BV can greatly impact women's social and sexual lives. Symptoms of malodor (a 'fishy' smell) or abnormal discharge are usually associated with being "unclean, sexually promiscuous, or morally unsound."7

Vaginal microbiota can play a major role in women's reproductive health. BV can also lead to late fetal loss during pregnancy, and 10% to 30% of pregnant women with BV give birth prematurely.3 BV is repeatedly linked to a higher chance of contracting STIs, HIV, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and can increase the risk of HIV transmission to male sex partners.3,6

IMPACT ON PHYSICAL HEALTH3,6

UNTREATED OR IMPROPERLY TREATED BV CAN

bacterial vaginosis influence on physical health facts

IMPACT ON HER MENTAL & EMOTIONAL HEALTH5

UNTREATED OR IMPROPERLY TREATED BV CAN

bacterial vaginosis influence on mental health facts

59% OF WOMEN

with BV find it stressful trying to manage their condition.8*

*SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Survey conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC, a Lupin Company and the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) within the United States between September 14 and 29, 2017 among 304 US women aged 18-49 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.8

SHOW REFERENCES

  • Baraia ZA, Abdallah IM, Noor SA. Impact of educational program about self-care practices on the relieving of vaginal infection among high risk women in Ismailia city. IOSR J Nurs Health Sci. 2017;6(3):73-78.
  • Nyirjesy P. Vaginitis in the adolescent patient. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1999;46(4):733-745, xi.
  • Brotman RM. Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective. J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4610-4617.
  • Bilardi J, Walker S, McNair R, et al. Women's management of recurrent bacterial vaginosis and experiences of clinical care: a qualitative study. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0151794. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151794. eCollection 2016. Accessed August 23, 2017.
  • Payne SC, Cromer PR, Stanek MK, Palmer AA. Evidence of African-American women's frustrations with chronic recurrent bacterial vaginosis. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2010;22(2):101-108.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diseases characterized by vaginal discharge. www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/vaginal-discharge.htm. Accessed September 25, 2017.
  • Bilardi JE, Walker S, Temple-Smith M, et al. The burden of bacterial vaginosis: women’s experience of the physical, emotional, sexual and social impact of living with recurrent bacterial vaginosis. PLoS One. 2013;8(9):e74378. https://doi.org.10.1371/journal.pone.0074378. Accessed August 23, 2017.
  • Data on file.