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.
With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems.
Only your doctor or nurse can tell you for sure if you have BV. With BV, your discharge may be white or gray but may also have a fishy smell. Discharge from a yeast infection may also be white or gray but may look like cottage cheese.
Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection, and there's no way to completely stop all infections. Still, you may be able to lower your risk of developing BV with good hygiene and taking care of your overall health.
Once BV is treated with antibiotics, it usually goes away. But sometimes it persists or recurs, often within three months, for reasons that aren't entirely understood. If a person keeps getting BV, a longer course of antibiotics may be necessary.
Treatment for BV
If you have no symptoms, treatment is usually not required as this condition is self-limiting (will go away by itself). Seek treatment if: you are about to have a medical procedure that could allow bacteria into the uterus – for example, insertion of an IUD, or termination of pregnancy.
Studies have found that women who have an ongoing male sexual partner are twice as likely to experience BV recurrence [3,10] and that inconsistent condom use for penile-vaginal sex is also associated with higher rates of recurrence after treatment [10].
Which probiotics are best for BV? Lactobacilli-based probiotics such as Lacticasebacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus reuteri are best for treating BV.
Disruptive microbes have formed a biofilm
Bacteria in a biofilm are able to survive in this self-sustaining structure, making it harder to eradicate them. The ability of BV-causing bacteria to potentially form a biofilm may explain in part why BV has such a high recurrence rate.
Sex with an ongoing untreated partner has been shown to significantly increase a woman's risk of post-antibiotic treatment recurrence. A considerable body of evidence now shows that men carry BV-organisms and may be a reservoir for re-infection.
Foods that dehydrate the body, including alcohol and caffeine, and highly processed and “junk” foods, should be avoided. Foods which contain mould such as peanuts, blue cheeses, grapes and mushrooms are also best avoided as they introduce bad bacteria and yeasts into the digestive system.
The vagina is a delicate ecosystem and if something as serious as dehydration throws it off, the PH balance can be thrown off and a domino effect of complications can be set into motion. The complications include bacterial vaginosis, an increase in contracting STIs and post-hysterectomy infection.
Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.
Multiple studies have shown that oral or vaginal probiotics can effectively treat and prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis. The dose, route, and treatment protocols vary greatly between studies, but many have shown a statistically significant reduction in the rate of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.
To help with BV prevention, 250 mg vitamin C should be used once daily vaginally for six days after your period. While silicone-coated vitamin C is not available in the US, enteric-coated vitamin C is available in the US and can be used in the same way.
When should I tell my partner? Men and partners assigned male at birth (AMAB) don't need to be treated for bacterial vaginosis (BV). If you have a partner who's AFAB, they may have BV, too. It's important to let them know so they can get treatment.
Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common.
The link between oral sex and vaginal dysbiosis
nucleatum is present predominantly in the mouth, it is generally considered that women acquire this bacterium in the vagina via oral sex. Moreover, oral sex contact is known to be a potential risk factor for bacterial vaginosis.
The primary treatment course for BV is antibiotics. However, some people may wish to treat the condition at home. Options for home treatments include practicing safe hygiene, using barrier protection during intercourse, and taking probiotic supplements. BV is a common condition and typically is not cause for concern.
Left untreated, BV can lead to other problems and complications, which may include: having an increased risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea; having an increased risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of a woman's organs that may lead to ...
Thin, gray, white or green vaginal discharge. Foul-smelling "fishy" vaginal odor. Vaginal itching. Burning during urination.
BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV.