bacterial vaginosis
noun
: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of excessive amounts of some bacteria (especially Gardnerella vaginalis)
called also nonspecific vaginitis
Examples of bacterial vaginosis in a Sentence
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This allows other organisms to set up shop and overproduce—like yeast, for instance, or a bunch of bad-guy bacteria, the latter of which paves the way for bacterial vaginosis and symptoms like irritation, burning, fishy odor, and discharge in some people.
—
Erica Sloan, SELF, 7 July 2025
If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can progress to pelvic inflammatory disease and may increase the risk of preterm labor.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Discharge that develops because of bacterial vaginosis can have the following characteristics:89
Thin
Watery
Gray
Green
Have a fishy odor
Bacterial vaginosis discharge is not typically white.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025
The 'silent illness' goes undiagnosed for decades Male partner treatment for bacterial vaginosis is a ‘huge breakthrough’
At Wisp, demand for the BV treatment grows at high rates year-over-year.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
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Erica Sloan, SELF, 7 July 2025
If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can progress to pelvic inflammatory disease and may increase the risk of preterm labor.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Discharge that develops because of bacterial vaginosis can have the following characteristics:89
Thin
Watery
Gray
Green
Have a fishy odor
Bacterial vaginosis discharge is not typically white.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025
The 'silent illness' goes undiagnosed for decades Male partner treatment for bacterial vaginosis is a ‘huge breakthrough’
At Wisp, demand for the BV treatment grows at high rates year-over-year.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bacterial vaginosis
Cite this Entry
“Bacterial vaginosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacterial%20vaginosis. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
bacterial vaginosis
noun
bacterial vag·i·no·sis
-ˌvaj-ə-ˈnō-səs 
: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of a bacterium especially of the genus Gardnerella (G. vaginalis synonym Haemophilus vaginalis)
—abbreviation BV
called also nonspecific vaginitis
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