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. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you're experiencing any of the symptoms of BV.
Treatment of BV is recommended for people with symptoms and people who are having surgery such as hysterectomy (even if they have no symptoms). BV is treated with antibiotics. The medications most commonly used are metronidazole and clindamycin. These medications are available in oral and vaginal forms.
Recommended treatment is with 7 days of oral metronidazole or vaginal clindamycin. More than 50% of women will experience recurrence of bacterial vaginosis within 6 months.
Metronidazole 400 mg PO, BD with food for 7 days. Metronidazole 0.75% gel 5 g, intravaginally nocte for 5 nights (not on PBS). Clindamycin 2% vaginal cream 5 g, one applicator intravaginally nocte for 7 days (not on PBS). Clindamycin 300 mg PO, BD for 7 days.
Solosec® (secnidazole) is the first and only single-dose oral antimicrobial agent indicated for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis. Credit: Symbiomix Therapeutics. The FDA approved Solosec for the treatment of BV in September 2017.
Two different medicines are recommended as treatment for BV: metronidazole or clindamycin. Either can be used with non-pregnant or with pregnant women, but the recommended dosages differ. Women with BV who are HIV-positive should receive the same treatment as those who are HIV-negative.
Many papers have linked BV with sexual behaviour; a recent change of sexual partner,7 and multiple partners compared with one partner10 increasing the risk.
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.
Duration of Bacterial Vaginosis
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.
Women commonly spoke of recurrences in terms of a 'flare-up' of symptoms, reporting a range of sexual and non-sexual factors seemed to exacerbate symptoms of BV. The five main non-sexual exacerbating factors were menstruation or the use of sanitary products, exercise, tight clothing, stress or a poor immune system.
Probiotics, live bacteria found in some foods and supplements, might help restore balance to your vaginal bacteria. Some studies show that eating yogurt or probiotic supplements may treat bacterial vaginosis, and is quite safe.
The standard treatments for BV are metronidazole and clindamycin. Both antibiotics kill the bacteria which cause the infection. We offer metronidazole in tablet form and as a gel, as well as a cream which contains clindamycin. 1-day course: 5 metronidazole 400mg tablets are taken together in 1 day as a single dose.
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.
Avoid douching: Douching can disrupt your healthy vaginal bacterial community and may increase the likelihood of BV coming back. Longer-term antibiotics: If you've had three or more documented episodes of BV a year, using vaginal metronidazole twice a week for four months can decrease the chances of your BV returning.
If your body can restore its own pH balance, occasionally BV will go away on its own. If your symptoms are affecting your daily life and causing you discomfort you should talk to your GP, pharmacist or a nurse at your local sexual health clinic. They will be able to offer advice and BV treatment options.
Fleurstat BVgel is an over the counter BV treatment and is available from most leading pharmacies without prescription. A pharmacist must decide whether Fleurstat BVgel is right for you before you can purchase it.
Some studies show that eating yogurt or probiotic supplements may treat bacterial vaginosis, and is quite safe. Another promising remedy is boric acid, a white powder with antifungal and antiviral properties.
Bacterial vaginosis can be easily treated with an internal gel. Canesbalance starts working immediately to relive the unpleasant intimate odour and its clinically proven to treat the symptoms of BV effectively. It contains triple benefit formula that will help you treat your bacterial vaginosis symptoms effectively.
Antibiotics are used to treat BV
An antibiotic called metronidazole can be used to treat the infection. If your doctor prescribes metronidazole you will need to: Take the antibiotic twice a day for seven days.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) happens when the normal balance of vaginal bacteria is replaced by high numbers of anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that don't need oxygen to grow). The symptoms can range from a fishy or unpleasant odor to itching, discomfort, and inflammation (1).
Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common. Unfortunately, your stress probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon.