I am 25 years old. I have had BV for 6 months in a row. I have used 3 antibiotics but none of them worked. It came back to me right after my period, I also take probiotics, eat unsweetened yogurt, no tights, change my underwear often, change living habits... No has influenced my life a lot. Is there any other way to help me please. I get stressed thinking I'll have to take antibiotics for the rest of my life. Thank you very much.
How to treat bacterial vaginosis?
Question posted by Hang98 on 3 July 2022
Last updated on 15 July 2022
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Answers
masso
4 July 2022
This is the only treatment for BV:
Treatment
To treat bacterial vaginosis, your doctor may prescribe one of the following medications:
Metronidazole (Flagyl, Metrogel-Vaginal, others). This medicine may be taken as a pill by mouth (orally). Metronidazole is also available as a topical gel that you insert into your vagina. To reduce the risk of stomach upset, abdominal pain or nausea while using this medication, avoid alcohol during treatment and for at least one day after completing treatment — check the instructions on the product.
Clindamycin (Cleocin, Clindesse, others). This medicine is available as a cream that you insert into your vagina. Clindamycin cream may weaken latex condoms during treatment and for at least three days after you stop using the cream.
Tinidazole (Tindamax). This medication is taken orally. Tinidazole has the same potential for stomach upset and nausea as oral metronidazole does, so avoid alcohol during treatment and for at least three days after completing treatment.
Secnidazole (Solosec). This is an antibiotic you take orally in one dose. The medication comes as a packet of granules that you sprinkle onto a soft food, such as applesauce, pudding or yogurt. You eat the mixture within 30 minutes, being careful not to crunch or chew the granules.
It's generally not necessary to treat an infected woman's male sexual partner, but bacterial vaginosis can spread between female sexual partners. Female partners should seek testing and may need treatment. It's especially important for pregnant women with symptoms to be treated to help decrease the risk of premature delivery or low birth weight.
Take your medicine or use the cream or gel for as long as your doctor prescribes it — even if your symptoms go away. Stopping treatment early may increase the risk of recurrence.
Recurrence
It's common for bacterial vaginosis to recur within three to 12 months, despite treatment. Researchers are exploring treatments for recurrent bacterial vaginosis. If your symptoms recur soon after treatment, talk with your doctor about treatments. One option may be extended-use metronidazole therapy.
A self-help approach is lactobacillus colonization therapy — which attempts to boost the number of good bacteria in your vagina and re-establish a balanced vaginal environment — possibly accomplished by eating certain types of yogurt or other foods containing lactobacilli. While current research shows there may be some benefit to probiotic therapy, more research is needed on the subject.
Hang98
15 July 2022
i tried many antibiotics but BV came back right after stopping the medicine. I tried probiotics but they didn't work for me. Can I use boric acid?
masso
15 July 2022
I have been researching the different uses of boric acid, and have come to the conclusion that you must speak to your Gynecologists, do not do anything until you speak to your DR., I know you are desperate but these decisions must be taken with a cool head.
masso
15 July 2022
"Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites boric acid as one of the management strategies for women with persistent or recurrent BV, the FDA has not approved it as a treatment strategy because there's not enough research demonstrating its safety and effectiveness. Still, Donnica Moore, MD, a New Jersey–based gynecologist and president of Sapphire Women's Health Group, tells Health that many of her patients have reported that boric acid suppositories put an end to their infections, and only a few reported adverse reactions."
Talk to your Dr. first.
masso
15 July 2022
Related topics
bacterial vaginitis, yogurt, antibiotics, period, bacterial, probiotic, probiotics
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