Bacterial vaginosis and the pill?
I’ve decided to start some home remedies for my bacterial vaginosis as nothing else has worked. Is it okay to continue taking birth control pills while treating my bv or will this make it harder to get rid of? Also, has anyone with bacterial vaginosis used RepHresh to help them get rid of it? Would it be okay to use this as well?
Written by Jill on October 29th, 2009 with
1 comment.
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#1. October 29th, 2009, at 1:56 AM.
BV is treatable with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider. Two different antibiotics are recommended as treatment for BV: metronidazole or clindamycin.Although BV will sometimes clear up without treatment, all women with symptoms of BV should be treated to avoid such complications as PID. Male partners generally do not need to be treated. However, BV may spread between female sex partners.The following basic prevention steps can help reduce the risk of upsetting the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and developing BV:
Be abstinent.
Limit the number of sex partners.
Do not douche.
Use all of the medicine prescribed for treatment of BV, even if the signs and symptoms go away.
Bacterial vaginosis natural remedies
Natural cures for bacterial vaginosis prove effective in a majority of cases. Let’s see what they are:
a. Yogurt:Lactobacillusacidophilus and L. bifidus, present in yogurt, help restore the acidic balance in the vagina. They can either be taken orally or introduced directly into the vagina. Plain yogurt, containing live acidophilus cultures, can be eaten directly. The acidophilus powder or capsules can be taken orally too. Vaginal inserts, in the form of tampons soaked in yogurt, is another effective alternative that improves the vaginal environment.
Beta-dine and gentian violet: Beta-dine and gentian violet are excellent in countering Candida vulvovaginitis. Betadine is an effective antiseptic iodine solution, but shouldn’t be used for treating bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. Gentian violet is an effective antifungal stain. While both are effective in curing the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, they’re messy and leave stains. Some women may be allergic to either or both of them.
Nutritional supplements: The antioxidants in vitamins, like vitamins A, C, D and E, as well as, B complex, help in treating bacterial vaginosis. Topical applications of vitamin E from prepared creams or powdered capsules help relieve itching.
Dietary restrictions: Foods that yeast organisms thrive on, like cheese, alcohol, chocolate, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, fruits, fermented foods or those containing molds, like blue cheese, should be avoided.
Warm bath: An ordinary warm bath or a shallow sitz bath can be very soothing to irritated genital tissues. But don’t use soap, as it leaches out the skin’s natural oils that act as the body’s natural lipid barriers against germs.
Cold compresses: If swelling and itching is making you feel miserable, cold compresses can help. When you place a cold washcloth across the affected area, it causes the blood vessels to constrict and makes the area less red and swollen.
The treatment for bacterial vaginosis of the natural kind offers a safe, cheap and effective alternative. However, always consult your physician before opting for this solution. As for the RepHresh there have been studies showing it works for BV in some women. I posted some links below that might be helpful