Short answer
Bacterial vaginosis is not established as a direct cause of infertility. It is associated with a higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can affect the fallopian tubes, and with preterm birth. Most people who have had BV conceive without difficulty — but recurrent or untreated BV is worth a proper plan.
This is a worrying question to be searching, so here is the measured answer first: bacterial vaginosis is not established as a direct cause of infertility, but it is associated with several conditions that can affect reproductive health. Those are different claims, and the difference matters.
What the association actually is
BV is linked in research to a higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, and PID can damage the fallopian tubes in a way that affects fertility. BV is also associated with increased risk of preterm birth and of acquiring some sexually transmitted infections. So the concern is not imaginary — but the chain runs through complications, not through BV itself sterilising anyone.
Most people who have had BV go on to conceive without difficulty. It is extremely common, and having had it is not a reason to assume a problem exists.
Why untreated and recurrent BV is worth taking seriously
The reason clinicians want BV diagnosed and treated is precisely to avoid the downstream associations above. Recurrence is common — a substantial share of people see it return within a year — and repeated episodes are more of a reason to get a proper plan than to keep self-managing.
If you are actively trying to conceive, or undergoing fertility treatment, tell that team about any history of BV. It changes what they screen for and when.
What a probiotic can and cannot do here
A vaginal probiotic is a daily routine product. It is not a treatment for BV, it does not resolve an active infection, and it should not be used in place of seeing someone when you have symptoms or are worried about fertility. BV is usually treated with prescribed antibiotics.
When to make an appointment
Book if BV keeps coming back, if you have pelvic pain, fever, pain during sex or bleeding between periods, or if you have been trying to conceive for twelve months without success — six months if you are over 35. Those are the thresholds worth acting on rather than reading about.
This article is general information, not medical advice.
References & further reading
More on this topic: Vaginal & Intimate Health — 21 articles, each sourced.
Sources
- Office on Women’s Health — Bacterial Vaginosis
- MedlinePlus — Vaginal Diseases
- Office on Women’s Health — Menstrual Cycle
This article is general information, not medical advice. See our editorial standards.