Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment

Infections are almost a part of every living person’s life at one point.  Due to the unfathomably large number of bacteria present in the environment and even on and inside the body at any given time, it is virtually impossible not to have contact with any form of bacteria in this life.  Bacteria multiplies at a rate unmatched by virtually any other living thing, which makes infections all the more prevalent in living creatures that can serve as hosts for bacteria.  This being said, numerous treatments in the attempt to be fully rid of harmful bacteria are still quite underway, ranging from the latest development in synthetic materials and chemicals all the way to the naturally-occurring countermeasures that nature has provided to fight invading bacteria.  So far, the one true effective treatment that humans have used in the fight against bacteria is the antibiotic, and our dependence on antibiotics has resulted in numerous brands and types flooding the market.

Bacterial vaginosis is one such example of an infection that is currently being treated with antibiotics.  Bacterial vaginosis is a mild irritation of the vagina brought about by the unbalancing of the natural bacterial flora that exists in the vagina.  This naturally-occurring bacterial flora normally helps to protect the vagina from harmful bacteria, although an imbalance of their population may cause these beneficial bacteria to actually become an irritant to that which it was designed to protect.  This irritation is often manifested by different symptoms, most common of which is an abnormal discharge with an unpleasant fishy-like odor, while other also complain of itchiness, swelling and irritation, and even cramp-like stomach pains.  The irritation is mostly due to the multiplying bacteria secreting a toxin in such quantities that is more than the body can handle, and thus results in an inflammation of the area.

Being an infection, one of the more common prescriptions for treatment of bacterial vaginosis is by using antibiotics to arrest and destroy the multiplying bacteria that is responsible for the irritation, regardless of the fact that it is indeed a part of the body’s natural defenses.  Antibiotics, however, being a chemical, is relentless and unbiased in the way it treats bacteria that it encounters.  It will destroy both good and bad bacteria where it is introduced, which is why some people often dislike taking antibiotics, and may even feel a bit ill while taking it.

Antibiotics, however, will get the job done.  Antibiotics, if taken properly, has a higher rate of success in dealing with bacteria than any other alternative form of treatment being used today.  Some antibiotics are even prescribed to pregnant women who have bacterial vaginosis so as to kill the bacteria causing irritation in the vagina, which left untreated may result in a premature birth, a clear danger to the infant.  Another good thing about antibiotics is the fact that most brands of antibiotics can be taken orally in pill form.

Find Totally Natural Treatments For Bacterial Vaginosis

Most often, when people hear the word “bacteria”, they immediately attribute the word to very small and very harmful organisms, often blamed for many diseases.  What many people don’t know is that while there are indeed bad types of bacteria everywhere, especially in unsanitary environments, there are also good forms of bacteria present, and are currently living, somewhere on and even inside the human body.  These good forms of bacteria are virtually essential in the normal functioning of the body, and the lack of it could have very serious implications on the health of a person.  One type of these good bacteria is known as acidophilus.

Acidophilus is a species of bacteria that belongs to the genus lactobacillus, and is the general name given to a group of probiotics, or group of live bacteria that is known to be beneficial to the host organism.  The name lactobacillus acidophilus is actually a Latin name and means acid-loving bacteria, since acidophilus is known to thrive in environments with a great concentration of acids.  Acidophilus has garnered quite a good reputation because of the many good benefits that it gives, such as aiding in the digestive process, prevent and treat diarrhea, alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, replace the friendly intestinal bacteria that gets destroyed by antibiotics, improve lactose absorption in people who are lactose intolerant, enhance the response of the immune system, aid in the treatment of respiratory infections, lower the risk of certain allergies, and even aid in treatment of high cholesterol.

One of the best benefits to be received from acidophilus, however, is its ability to suppress disease-causing bacteria and treat overgrowth of bad bacteria in areas of the body where a neutral balance of groups of bacteria must be maintained, such as the vagina.  The vagina is home to a number of naturally-occurring bacteria, some of it necessary to maintain the natural defense of the body to invasive forms of bacteria and disease.  An imbalance in the naturally-occurring bacteria in the vagina can lead to a mild infection called bacterial vaginosis.  When bacterial vaginosis occurs, one or more of the natural bacteria in the vagina multiplies much more than it should and results in an infection, manifested by an abnormal discharge from the vagina, which is characterized by a foul, fishy-like odor.

Introduction of acidophilus in this instance could help return the balance of the naturally-occurring bacteria in the vagina and thus cure the infection.  Acidophilus is even known to decrease vaginal yeast, as overproduction of vaginal yeast can lead to severe itching and irritation, largely similar to the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.

For more info or to find a natural home remedy to bacterial vaginosis click here

i have got treatment for it they gave me this tampon like thing with cream you insert into your vagina, i tried it and a few days later the infection came back, can anyone help me? they cant give me antibiotics because i am pregnant.

Are you sure that the B.V. came back and that it's not a yeast infection?

I have about 95% of a prescription of Cephalexin, would it be an effective antibiotic to treat BV?

No! Bacterial Vaginosis has to be treated with medication with anaerobic coverage and Keflex doesn't have any. Not to mention, it will may make it worse by killing the good normal flora and causing the bad bacteria already there to over run your vagina.

My gyno tested me positive for having gardnerella and treated me for bacterial vaginosis. But I’m wondering if finding gardnerella in a culture might mean you have something other than BV? Or does it only mean you have BV?

Gardnerella is the name of the bacteria that caused BV (BV is a older, general term). So you have Garderella (period, that’s all it means) and you got treated for it. Does that make sense to you?

Does anyone know if bacterial vaginosis can contribute to and/or cause infertility?

Yes it can, it is possible even if the chance is remote. Your body tries to maintain a constant vaginal "flora" or balance between the naturaly occuring orgainsms. If one is predominate this can be problematic, the body may or may not be able to restore the balance (resolve). If not then medical intervention is needed.
Just because something is naturally occuring dosen't mean it is harmless….e.g. measles, mumps, ulcers, diabetes, etc.

This is Chapter 1 of a 14-Chapter presentation which outlines the science behind the probiotic strains L. reuteri RC-14® and L. rhamnosus GR-1™. This presentation is presented by Dr. Gregor Reid, Ph.D., MBA, who is a renowned probiotic researcher and the world’s leading expert in using clinically-documented probiotics to address women’s health concerns. Dr. Gregor Reid, along with his colleague at UREX Biotech, Dr. Andrew Bruce, have been investigating the use of probiotic bacteria to …

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I have been having some pain during intercourse. The information I have researched identifies it as secondary (arising after a pain free period) superficial entrance (only upon entrance into the vagina) pain. I was sexually mistreated (not sure I’d use the word “abuse”) by my last partner, but my new partner is a great man. I was diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and a systemic yeast infection (not candidiasis), but both of those have been cleared up for a few months. The articles I have read list sexual trauma, recurrent yeast infections, and sexual infection as possible causes, but now that all three have been cleared up (the trauma resolved by me leaving him), I don’t know what the problem could be. I feel fine once he’s inside me, but it hurts tremendously (like a tearing, significantly worse than when I lost my virginity) when he is entering me. Fingers and tampons pose no problems. When I got my pap smear done nothing showed up as abnormal and the speculum was not painful. What is going on with my body?
I am plenty lubricated and we used lubricants hoping they would help. They didn't.

You mention being mistreated by your last partner… most likely what you are experiencing is a result of anxiety due to that; and since once you’re engaged in sex, the pain stops. I suggest using a water based lubricant to avoid the initial roughness.

It will take you some time to build trust with your new partner, but once you do, your pain will most likely stop.