Can You Go to Urgent Care For Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

Written by

Jessica Guht

Jessica is a medical writer with an unquenched thirst to discover something new. She believes that medical content should be accessible to everyone and strives to write content that every single person can understand. When Jessica isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading a book with a dog cuddled in her lap. Jessica has a Masters of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Medically reviewed by

Amy Dougherty, FNP-BC, AGAC

Amy is a Board Certified Family Health Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with over 15 years of experience working in Hospital Medicine, Urgent Care and Primary Care practices. Amy graduated Thomas Jefferson University with high distinction earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008, a Master of Science in Nursing in 2010 and a Post Master's Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care (AGAC) in 2014. She was recognized by the Elite American Nurses Association in 2013 for her dedication, achievements and leadership in the field Nursing. She served as a clinical preceptor for a number of Nurse Practitioner students and enjoys teaching the bright minds of future NPs.

Bacterial Vaginosis is one of the most common causes of vaginal complaints. Its prevalence means that there are a wide variety of treatment options are available, meaning many of those dealing with BV do not need to attend urgent care.

However, if you are in considerable amounts of pain/discomfort, an urgent care facility will be able to provide you with easy access to treatments that are more effective than over-the-counter or home remedies. 

Table of Contents

• About Bacterial Vaginosis
• Can You Go to Urgent Care For Bacterial Vaginosis?
• What to Expect When Visiting Urgent Care For BV?
• How to Prepare for Your Visit to an Urgent Care Center?
• When to See a Specialist?
• What Other Treatment Options Are There?
• Use Virtual Urgent Care Instead!
• How Can DrHouse Help You?
• Key Takeaways

About Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial Vaginosis is the result of a disturbance in the vaginal ecosystem caused by the overgrowth of naturally occurring bacteria in the area. While it can often be symptomless, some signs of BV include

• A change in vaginal discharge (color, consistency etc.)  
• Strong-smelling vaginal discharge 
• Itching and inflammation 
• Burning sensation during urination 

There is no known, direct cause of BV, but you may be more likely to experience the condition if: 

• You are sexually active
• You ‘douche’ or use scented products around the vagina 
• You have contracted an STD
• You have an IUD
• You are pregnant 
• You have recently changed sexual partners

Studies have found that many of those who experience BV deal with this issue recurrently, often within a few months of diagnosis. This can quickly become frustrating, especially if the treatment options you have tried are not working in your favor. 

 If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you must seek out help from a gynecologist or health professional.

Can You Go to Urgent Care For Bacterial Vaginosis?

Many women are worried about going to urgent care for gynecological issues, however, it’s important to note that these facilities are there for a reason – and that is to provide people with easy access to treatments and healthcare support. 

As a result, if you are dealing with the symptoms of BV and feel as though you are in considerable pain or discomfort, you should seek medical treatment sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that healthcare facilities can provide you with more treatment options than you can buy over the counter, which means that you can get back into your normal routine quickly. 

What to Expect When Visiting Urgent Care For BV?

When visiting urgent care for BV, they will carry out similar tests to those carried out by your gynecologist at routine appointments. For example, they may take a swab from the inside and outside of your vagina or take a sample of vaginal discharge to study further. 

While they may be a little uncomfortable, the tests are not painful in any way. You can ask your physician to describe each test in detail ahead of time if you are worried about the tests, giving you a much better idea of what to expect. 

Tests will be carried out discreetly and in a private room so that you can maintain your privacy.  You will often be given the chance to request a female physician if you would prefer this, and do not be afraid to advocate for yourself should this be the case. 

Furthermore, once the tests have been carried out, you will get the results quickly and can begin to discuss potential treatments with your physician. They will write out a prescription and discuss methods of pain relief, alongside lifestyle changes you may want to make. For example, they may recommend that you stop using certain hygiene products, especially if they are scented or could disrupt your pH balance.

How to Prepare for Your Visit to an Urgent Care Center?

The most important thing to remember before visiting an urgent care center is the fact that they can often be quite busy. This means you may have to wait a little while to be seen by a physician. 

When you arrive, register your attendance with the receptionist, who may be able to give you some idea about your wait time. Some facilities will allow you to check in online rather than in-person, which can be a great time-saving measure. As such, you should check out the website of your nearest urgent care facilities ahead of time. 

When your name is called, you will be seen by a physician who will talk to you about your symptoms and carry out routine tests, as discussed above. You may want to wear comfortable clothes, especially as you may have to remove them as part of your test. 

As you can expect to deal with long wait times, you should ensure that your phone is fully charged and that you bring along a bottle of water too in order to stay hydrated.

When to See a Specialist?

The prevalence of BV among adult women means that over-the-counter tests are now available to test for bacterial vaginosis. This is a simple pH test that tests the level of acidity/alkalinity in vaginal discharge – this information can be used to determine whether or not you have contracted bacterial vaginosis.  However, studies have found that many young women prefer to rely on clinicians for more thorough testing. 

You should see a specialist if: 

• You are in considerable amounts of pain or discomfort
• You are experiencing some/all of the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, as discussed above.
• You want to see what treatment methods are available for BV, or other similar conditions  
• You are dealing with recurrent/persistent BV and it is impacting your quality of life
• You have any questions about vaginal health/care

What Other Treatment Options Are There?

As discussed above, there are many different forms of treatment available for BV. For example, you can buy over-the-counter gels, which is said to help remove odors and reduce discharge. Studies have also shown that many women try their own self-help remedies and lifestyle modifications to prevent recurrences, often with little effect.

When you receive a formal diagnosis of BV, you will gain access to prescription medications and antibiotics. Typically, international guidelines recommend the administration of metronidazole, clindamycin, or tinidazole orally or intravaginally as the standard treatment.

Use Virtual Urgent Care Instead!

If you want to receive help for BV, but don’t have the time to sit for hours on end at urgent care, you might want to consider virtual urgent care services. After all, one of the biggest benefits of telemedicine is the fact that you receive the same level of care and support you would in a typical healthcare facility, from the comfort of your own home.

This means that you can receive easier, quicker access to the care you deserve. 

How Can DrHouse Help You?

At DrHouse, we provide quality telemedicine services for anyone who needs them. We can help you receive the diagnosis and treatment you need at a fraction of the time and cost.

Our online doctors are highly skilled and experienced, so you can rest assured that they will provide you with quality care. Plus, our service is available 24/7 and you can see a doctor within minutes.

So, if you think you’re suffering from BV and want to get the help you need quickly and conveniently, then start a virtual visit with us today and let DrHouse take care of you. We’ll make sure you get the best possible care – all from your own home!

FAQ:

Key Takeaways

According to a study from Cleveland Clinic, approximately 35% of people with a vagina will contract bacterial vaginosis at some point in their lives. Fortunately, testing is quick and painless and allows for easy access to treatment options.

If you have been dealing with some of the symptoms of BV or repeat reinfection, we offer virtual urgent care services. These services are available 24/7, and you will receive the same level of professional support and care virtually as you would in an in-person facility. Not only will this mean you can seek out treatment sooner, rather than later but it will also give you greater peace of mind.

Sources:

• Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Basic Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available from:https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm 
• Bacterial Vaginosis. Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3963-bacterial-vaginosis 
• Resat Ozaras & Veysel Tahan (2009) Acute hepatitis C: prevention and treatment, Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 7:3, 351-361, DOI: 10.1586/eri.09.8
• Abou Chacra Linda, Fenollar Florence, Diop Khoudia. Bacterial Vaginosis: What Do We Currently Know? Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2022, Volume 11. DoI: https://www.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.672429 
• Jill S. Huppert, Elizabeth A. Hesse, Marianne Claire Bernard, Justin R. Bates, Charlotte A. Gaydos, Jessica A. Kahn. Accuracy and Trust of Self-Testing for Bacterial Vaginosis. Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 51, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 400-405, ISSN 1054-139X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.01.017. 
• Bilardi J, Walker S, McNair R, Mooney-Somers J, Temple-Smith M, et al. (2016) Women’s Management of Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis and Experiences of Clinical Care: A Qualitative Study. PLOS ONE 11(3): e0151794. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151794
• Mariana Tomás, Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira, Sérgio Simões, José Martinez-de-Oliveira, Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira. Bacterial vaginosis: Standard treatments and alternative strategies. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 587, 2020, 119659, ISSN 0378-5173, Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119659 
• Bacterial Vaginosis – Women’s Health Guide. U.S Department of Veteran Affairs. Available from: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/infectiondontpassiton/womens-health-guide/bacterial-vaginosis.asp