BV treatment online
A fishy smell and thin gray discharge are the typical signs of bacterial vaginosis (BV). It is common, easy to treat and nothing to be embarrassed about – talk to a licensed provider privately online.
- Licensed providers
- Same-day visits, usually
- Video or phone
Get started Members: request a visit
Written by the CheckMD care team · Updated
What is BV?
Bacterial vaginosis happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina shifts. It is the most common cause of unusual discharge in women of reproductive age. Signs include:
- Thin, gray or white discharge
- A fishy smell, often stronger after sex or during a period
- Sometimes itching or burning when peeing
Some people with BV have no symptoms at all. BV is not the same as a yeast infection, and the treatments are different.
How a virtual BV visit works
Your provider asks about your symptoms and health history. If BV is likely, treatment is usually a short course of antibiotic pills or gel, sent to your pharmacy. Avoid alcohol with some of these medicines – your provider will tell you.
If your symptoms could also be an STI, or BV keeps coming back, your provider may recommend a test and explain where to have it.
Medicines your provider may prescribe
- Metronidazole tablets or gel
- Clindamycin cream, or tinidazole / secnidazole as alternatives
Only when it is right for you: your provider checks your symptoms, allergies, other medicines and health history first. Prescriptions go to the pharmacy you choose.
What you can do at home right now
- Avoid douching and scented soaps or wipes
- Use condoms with new partners
- Finish the full course of treatment
When to be seen in person
- You are pregnant (BV in pregnancy needs care from your own clinician)
- Fever, pelvic or belly pain
- Sores, blisters or bleeding that is not your period
- BV that returns again and again
A virtual visit is not an emergency service. For chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time.
Get help in three steps
Request a visit
Tell us what is going on and choose video or phone.
Talk to a provider
Usually the same day, often within hours.
Start feeling better
Get your care plan and any prescription at your pharmacy.
Questions about BV
Is BV a sexually transmitted infection?
No, but having a new partner or several partners raises the chance of BV, and BV can make it easier to catch an STI.
Will BV go away on its own?
Sometimes, but treatment clears symptoms faster and lowers the risk of complications.
Why does BV keep coming back?
Recurrence is common. Avoiding douching and scented products helps. If it returns often, your provider can discuss a longer treatment plan.
How much does an online visit cost?
Visits are part of your CheckMD membership – one yearly price, and you don't need insurance. You pay the pharmacy for any medicine. See the current plans on our pricing page or read about telehealth without insurance.
Can I be seen today?
Most visits happen the same day. Request a visit, choose video or phone and pick the earliest time.
What if I don't get better?
Book a follow-up visit. Your provider can adjust your treatment or tell you where to be seen in person. If you get worse quickly, don't wait – get urgent care.
Feeling unwell? Talk to a provider today.
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