How to know if im colonized with strep b bacteria? is it contagious? are we all colonized with it? is it permanent? what is gbs - is it same as strep b?

Group b strep is a common germ in nature & found at any one moment in the genital tract of ~1/3 of women. In most cases it often causes no harm, although it sometimes can cause a UTI. It can be there one week & gone the next however, if passed to a newborn during labor or delivery, a fraction will get very sick. The OB's monitor the situation during pregnancy.