From the Guidelines
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) does not directly cause kidney pain, but if left untreated, it may lead to more serious infections that could potentially affect the kidneys. BV is a vaginal infection characterized by an imbalance of normal vaginal bacteria, usually causing symptoms like unusual vaginal discharge with a fishy odor, itching, and sometimes burning during urination 1. Kidney pain, which typically manifests as discomfort in your back or sides below your ribs, is not a common symptom of BV. However, if BV is left untreated, there is a small possibility that bacteria could ascend through the reproductive tract and potentially lead to more serious infections like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In rare cases, these infections might spread further and affect the kidneys, but this progression is uncommon.
Key Points to Consider
- BV symptoms include unusual vaginal discharge, itching, and burning during urination 1
- Treatment for BV typically involves antibiotics like metronidazole or clindamycin 1
- If you're experiencing kidney pain along with vaginal symptoms, it's essential to see a healthcare provider promptly as you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney infection (pyelonephritis) in addition to or instead of BV Some important considerations for treatment and management include:
- All symptomatic women should be treated to relieve vaginal symptoms and signs of infection, and reduce the risk for infectious complications 1
- Follow-up visits are unnecessary if symptoms resolve, but recurrence is not unusual, and patients should return for additional treatment if symptoms recur 1
From the Research
Bacterial Vaginosis and Kidney Pain
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that bacterial vaginosis (BV) causes kidney pain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies focus on the treatment and recurrence of BV, as well as its complications, but do not mention kidney pain as a symptom or consequence of the condition.
- BV is characterized by an imbalance of the vaginal flora, with an overgrowth of anaerobic and other micro-organisms, and is associated with symptoms such as abnormal vaginal discharge and odor 6.
- The provided studies discuss the treatment options for BV, including oral metronidazole, metronidazole vaginal gel, and clindamycin vaginal cream, but do not address the topic of kidney pain 2, 3, 4, 5.