Dealing with bacterial vaginosis

One of the most common female ailments is that of bacterial vaginosis. By way of simple understanding – the vagina contains a great deal of bacteria – good and bad. Usually there is a balance between the two. However, if the normal flora (Lactobacillus) is overtaken by bad bacteria, there can be an imbalance in the vagina leading to this illness. This is one illness that must not be mistaken for a sexually transmitted one. All women in the child bearing age group is susceptible to this illness.

As such, if bacterial vaginosis remains undetected, it does not affect the health of the woman. What it can do however, is result in a foul smelling discharge which can be embarrassing for sexually active women. Also such infection can result in a woman becoming prone to grave diseases such as HIV. When there is an imbalance in bacteria, it can bring the immune system of the women down a great deal.

The most simplest way to deal with bacterial vaginosis is to administer antibiotics. This of course will have to be done under the supervision of a medical professional. What you must know however is that there is a recurring chance of contracting the illness in a few months. This is because the antibiotics normally deal with the symptoms and not with the causes of the symptoms.

If you are one of those women who have suffered from repeated bouts of bacterial vaginosis, you will want to use some natural methods to help treat yourself. There are several that you can use. The easiest way to maintain the level of vaginal bacteria is to eat a good deal of yoghurt which contains good bacteria. Some women also soak a tampon for around 10 minutes and place it in the vagina and remove it in a few hours. It should be repeated a few times for the best effect. You could also use boric acid suppositories. The boric acid in these will react with the bacteria in the vagina and get rid of any ammonia present that facilitates its growth. Using it for a fortnight in chronic cases will help.

Kefir milk is a cultured dairy product and has a high content of good bacteria and yeast. If you have already got the illness and need to alleviate the swelling and itching there is, a good thing would be to use cold water compresses. It constricts the blood vessels in the vaginal area and brings down the swelling.