Can bacterial vaginosis occur due to poor underwear hygiene?

Question

Hello doctor,

I apologize if this is an odd question, but I am very concerned as I have been in treatment for recurrent yeast, and BV infections for over a year. Several dollar bills were accidentally washed (cold cycle, no disinfectant detergent) along with a pair of pants and a load of underwear.

The money was lost in the washing machine with my underwear during the whole cycle. I did not realize this until the next day, when I went to do another load of laundry because they were crumpled in a corner, so I had to wear a pair of underwear all day that had been washed in the same water as the money.

I know that money is absolutely covered in bacteria, and being that the underwear was washed in cold water and dried in low heat. I am wondering how likely it is that a vaginal infection will result from them having been in a wash cycle with several dirty dollar bills.

Again, I apologize if this query seems a bit paranoid; I am just very afraid of contracting any further vaginal infections, especially not from an accident like this.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. But to me, the probability of contracting infection is very less. Firstly, you are not immunocompromised. Vagina is home to millions of bacteria, and whether one will contract an infection or not depends on immunity, which I guess is intact in you.

Now, the concern remains of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) organisms, out of those, candida and BV, you already had. These organisms must already be present in your vagina in a low number, so the risk of acquiring this is low.

Also, the probability that those dollars carrying an STD organism is less because nobody will frequently touch between notes and the genitalia. And also, these infections will usually occur with sex.

Also, most of the viruses are inactivated by drying or sunlight. So overall, the risk is very low, and I think you should not be worried about it.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.