Risk Factors. There are several risk factors that strongly contribute to a woman’s risk of getting bacterial vaginosis. Having a new or multiple sex partners is one such risk. While doctors don’t exactly understand the relationship between sexual activity and bacterial vaginosis, they do know that it exists and that women who have multiple partners experience the infection more frequently. This infection is also more common in women who have sex with other women. Douching is another big risk factors, as the unhealthy practice wipes the healthy bacteria from the vagina and can stimulate an overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria. Some risk factors, though, are completely out of the control of the woman. For example, some women are naturally lacking lactobacilli bacteria, which produces a vaginal environment that is more susceptible to bacterial vaginosis.
