Bacterial vaginosis or BV is caused when the environment inside your vagina is out of balance. There is a system of millions of micro-organisms keeping your vaginal health in perfect balance. One of these organisms, Lactobacillus, creates lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which keep the vaginal pH slightly acidic and help prevent harmful bacteria from getting out of hand.
If your BV comes back, try to take note of what may have triggered it. Your vagina is delicately balanced and does not take kindly to having water and vinegar or anything else forced into it with a douche! If you have a female partner then it does appear that treating her for BV at the same time as you - even if she doesn't have symptoms - will prevent recurrence in either of you. After treatment, you do not need any further tests to ensure that BV has cleared a test of cure provided that your symptoms have gone.
If you are pregnant, it is suggested that you do have a test one month after treatment to ensure that BV is no longer present. A sample a swab of the discharge in your vagina is taken.
This is tested to check you no longer have BV. If you have persistent BV ie it does not settle down with the first treatment you try then your doctor may want to take further vaginal swabs to check whether there is another cause of the discharge. They will usually suggest that you use the seven-day course of metronidazole if you have not had this before. Another treatment which may be tried is using metronidazole gel twice a week for up to six months.
If you have a persistent BV infection which does not respond to treatment, and you have an intrauterine contraceptive device IUCD then your doctor may advise removing the device until things settle down, as there is some evidence that IUCDs can contribute to persistent BV. If you have persistent BV and a same-sex partner then treating both of you at the same time is likely to be helpful in preventing persistence and recurrence - even if your partner does not have symptoms.
Most episodes of bacterial vaginosis BV occur for no apparent reason and they cannot be prevented. The following are thought to help prevent some episodes of bacterial vaginosis BV. The logic behind these tips is to try not to upset the normal balance of germs bacteria in the vagina:.
BV often recurs, usually within a few months of treatment - although if any of the behaviours which can trigger it such as using douches apply to you then it may be less likely to recur if you avoid these things. BV often returns after it has been treated. No good way has been found yet of preventing this from happening. If you keep getting BV symptoms, your doctor will do some tests to be absolutely sure you have got BV and not any other infection.
If it turns out to be definitely BV, a different antibiotic to the one you have taken previously may be tried. Occasionally regular preventative use of an antibiotic vaginal gel may be advised. If you are using an intrauterine contraceptive device IUCD for contraception, it may be advised that you consider having this removed. If your symptoms come back and you did not have a test using a sample a swab of your vaginal discharge taken initially, your doctor or nurse may suggest that they take swab tests now.
This is to confirm that it is BV causing your symptoms. BV may return if you did not complete your course of antibiotics. However, even if you have completed a full course of antibiotics, BV returns within three months in many women. If it does come back, a repeat course of antibiotics will usually be successful.
A small number of women have repeated episodes of BV and need repeated courses of antibiotics. If you have a copper coil for contraception - an IUCD - and have recurrent BV, your doctor or nurse may suggest that they remove your IUCD to see if this helps to improve your symptoms. You will need to consider alternative contraception measures. If you have a same-sex partner then, even if she has no symptoms, treating both of you at the same time may reduce recurrence.
You should also take particular notice of the advice not to use douches, bath additives and vaginal deodorants.
Long-term use of metronidazole gel is sometimes advised. Specialist guidelines in the USA recommend using twice-weekly for up to six months. UK specialist guidelines are less certain on the frequency and duration of preventative treatment, and your doctor may want to talk with a specialist for advice on this. I have been to this website several times to find a cure for BV and I want to share how I finally fixed mine.
I had been suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis or BV for almost last three years Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.
Other sources suggest that as many as 70 percent of women are affected. Unprotected sex, sex with a new partner, and sex with multiple partners may alter the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Other practices, such as douching, may also increase your risk of BV.
BV is also common among people who are pregnant. In this case, BV is likely triggered by hormonal changes associated with pregnancy. Although both infections can cause similar symptoms, they have different causes. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of fungus, while BV is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria. You can have BV without showing any symptoms at all. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you notice any of the symptoms of BV.
The only way to diagnose this condition is with a physical exam and a test of your vaginal fluid. Unfortunately, BV often returns after a few months. Rinsing the area with warm water is usually enough.
Your underwear may influence the overall health of your vagina. Hypoallergenic laundry detergent may also help if the skin around your vagina is prone to irritation. At night, go underwear-free to let your vaginal area breathe. If moisture builds up or your underwear becomes damp during the day, change it or use panty liners. Boric acid has been used to maintain vaginal health for centuries. Some sources recommend using it alongside antibiotic treatment. A clinical trial is also being conducted to determine whether vaginal boric acid suppositories are as effective at treating BV as antibiotics.
The results are pending. Boric acid poses some serious risks. If taken by mouth, it can lead to poisoning and even death. If you have sex with a person who has a penis, exposure to semen can disrupt your vaginal flora. According to a study , semen exposure was associated with an increased incidence of BV. According to research , saliva can transfer bacteria into the vagina that could lead to a bacterial overgrowth, creating an environment for BV to flourish.
When vaginal pH is too high—that is, too basic or alkaline—it may encourage the growth of bacteria associated with BV.
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