BLACK AMERICAN WOMEN MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

Written by Michael Thervil

BLACK AMERICAN WOMEN MOSTLY TO HAVE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS | WRITTEN BY MICHAEL THERVIL

[Black American women Bacterial Vaginosis] According to studies it was found that Black American women and women of African American decent appear to have a higher Ph balance (more acidic) than their Latino, white American and European counterparts – putting them at a higher risk of developing Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s). According to statistics Black American women and women of African descent stand at 51% chance of developing Bacterial Vaginosis while white American and European women develop Bacterial Vaginosis at a rate of roughly23%. Latino women develop Bacterial Vaginosis at a rate of 32%. It should be noted that the ph. balance of an adult woman’s vagina should stand between 3.8 - 4.5.  For younger women (late teens) it was revealed that they should typically have a ph. balance that lies between 3.8 - 4.2.

According to the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Black American women have a vaginal ph. balance of 4.7 – 5.3, while white American women tend to have an average ph. balance of 4.0-4.7. While it’s one thing to observe the numbers, it’s more important to understand the health ramifications of having a higher vaginal ph. balance. Some adverse health issues that stem from Black American women and women of African descent beyond being predisposed to, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) is the fact that it's easier for them to experience preterm birth and the increased risk of contracting HIV.

There are additional factors that have been discovered which increases the likelihood of Black American women and women of Africa decent developing and/or contracting BV and STI’s and some of the catalysts that increase the risk of women developing BV are attributed to smoking, promiscuity (protected or unprotected sex), history of STI infections, poor health behavioral, hormonal contractive use, alcohol consumptions, douching (more common with Black women), and poor sexual hygiene. It was also discovered that there is a noticeable difference in the bacterial profiles between Black American women and women of African descent in terms of whether they come from a developed country or not. The percentage rate between Black American women and Mexican women stood at 51.6 % and 32.1%, a 19.5% difference.

BV is typically caused by the overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the vagina. Some of the associated symptoms of a woman having high ph. balance is the experiencing of vaginal dryness, vaginal itching, vaginal burning, a “fishy” odor emanating from the vagina, painful intercourse, painful urination, and a cottage cheese discharge. Other symptoms include producing an unusual discharge color such as grey, white, or green. In terms of intimate relationships, many men that have encountered women, especially Black American women who have higher ph. levels, secretly have expressed that they sought intimate relationships, or opted to date, or marry non-Black women to avoid having to experience women who chronically have high ph. balances.

In short, what they were complaining about was the off-putting smell that many women, especially a significant portion of Black American women who fall into this category, emanate. Men have also expressed that they tend to date and become sexually involved with younger women as the vaginal acidity in most women tends to increase with age. It should also be noted that vaginal acidity decreases as women begin to experience and go through menopause and [acidity] picks up slightly thereafter. This is due to the body producing less estrogen.