What is a bacterial vaginosis (BV) test?Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection of the vagina. A healthy vagina contains a balance of both "good" (healthy) and "bad" (unhealthy) bacteria. Normally, the good type of bacteria keeps the bad type under control. A BV infection happens when the normal balance is upset and more bad bacteria grow than good bacteria.Most BV infections are mild and sometimes go away on their own. Some women get BV and recover without even knowing they were infected. But BV infections can be more serious and may not clear up without treatment. Untreated BV may increase your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HIV.If you are pregnant and have a BV infection, it can increase your risk of having a premature (early) delivery or having a baby with a lower than normal birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth). Low birth weight can cause serious health problems in a baby, including infections, breathing difficulties, and troubles with feeding and gaining weight.A BV test can help you get diagnosed and treated so you can avoid these serious health problems.Other names: vaginal pH test, KOH test, wet mount test
