Gardnerella?

Gardnerella is another name for bacterial vaginosis. It is not usually considered to be a sexually transmitted infection and it is treated by antibiotics. It indicates an imbalance in normal vaginal flora (healthy bacteria) and it can cause irritation and a slight fishy odor. Sometimes spermicides, douching, condom use or even tampon use can contribute to it's development. If the symptoms bother you, get treated, if not you may wait and see if your body will naturally restore a healthy balance of good bacteria inside the vagina. Relax, this is a very common condition with little cause for concern. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3

It's just a bacterial infection... which can come from many different places.

Whomever designed the playground between the sewers hadn't had their coffee that morning. Most bacterial infections in that region stem from contamination via the sewers, but hardly all. The vagina is a moist warm environment that is ripe for infection. Our kick butt immune systems (and the natural flushing system of the vagina) help keep it healthy, but they do pick up infections regardless.

About prevention... it's all about not introducing microbes into it / cross contamination as much as possible

- Wash your hands BEFORE you pee
- Wash your hands BEFORE inserting a tampon
- Wipe in a way that means the tissue never touches your bum then your vajayjay
- Don't poke a tampon "up" if it's sliding out
- Change your tampons regularly and often
- Wash with soap daily
- Don't use washcloths (washcloths and sponges = havens of creepy nasties), or only use once and then wash / aka new wash cloth every shower or bath.
- If you have anal sex, use a condom (never ever go from back to front without stripping off that condom, and ideally, just don't go back to front, period... as fecal matter can get on other areas of your partner not covered by the condom and cross contaminate)
- Before hands go into the vulva/vagina... make sure fingernails are cut short AND scrubbed (fingernails are reeeeeeally filthy havens for bacteria, viruses, and fungus).

May be sexually transmitted but can also have other causes. It's usually in our bodies anyway, so it could be caused by an imbalance. I am pretty sure this is something I had in my early 20s (I don't recall for sure). At the time, the docs insisted it was an STD, but it could not have been (I told them that but they did not believe me).

This may be useful: http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_causes-gardnerella...

It's probably sexually transmitted, but not sure. I had it once, took the med. and it went away. Much better than smelling like a fish.