Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease that causes an alteration in the balance between the good and harmful bacteria in the vagina. It occurs when the population of harmful bacteria exceeds that of good bacteria. These pathogens survive even in the absence of oxygen and usually generate an unpleasant odor and secretions. The reason this disorder occurs is still uncertain. However, there are ways to prevent it and avoid suffering from it again. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Changing the Lifestyle
Step 1. Finish the treatment
It is imperative to complete the medication prescribed by your gynecologist if you have contacted a doctor. After contracting bacterial vaginosis for once, this disorder can recur. However, if it has been diagnosed and you have taken the medications prescribed by the specialist, the chances of taking it again are lowered.
- If your gynecologist prescribes metronidazole or clindamycin for a week (these are the two medicines that are prescribed most often), then you should complete the treatment.
- Do not skip a day or stop therapy earlier than advised by your doctor.
- Although the symptoms may go away after a few days, stopping the treatment or not finishing it will increase the risk of contracting it again.
# Include probiotics in your diet. Probiotics are known to have cultures of live and active microorganisms, useful for the intestinal and vaginal flora. They help repopulate the good bacteria and fight the harmful ones.
Step 1.
- The vaginal flora is mainly composed of lactobacilli. Consequently, eat foods that contain it, such as yogurt (preferably the one with a label that says "live and active cultures"), soy milk, kefir, sauerkraut, milk, pickles and olives. These foods encourage the development of the vaginal flora. You can eat around 140g of probiotic-containing foods per day to help your vagina maintain its acid-base balance.
- Taking probiotics in concentrated form, such as Ecoflora in tablets, has shown excellent results in preventing vagitosis from recurring.
Step 2. Put on some cotton underwear
Avoid jeans, briefs or, in general, other clothing that is too tight. It is advisable to wear cotton briefs, avoiding nylon, because cotton allows the skin to breathe and air to circulate, while nylon retains moisture and heat, making you vulnerable to vaginal infections.
- Also avoid the thong. Many specialists claim that wearing it causes a higher chance of germs transferring from the anus to the vagina, resulting in vaginosis.
- Wearing looser, more comfortable skirts and pants is part of what you need to do to somehow speed up the treatment and prevent the possible recurrence of vaginosis.
- Remove your underwear when you go to sleep so that more air can circulate.
Step 3. Clean yourself by working from front to back
This process can help you prevent harmful bacteria from building up in the vagina. After urinating or defecating, use the toilet paper moving from the vagina to the anus. This will prevent the anal bacteria from being transferred into the vagina.
- Once the vaginal area is clean, you may want to repeat the cleansing process starting from the back of the vagina outwards, to clean the area of the anus and between the buttocks.
- By cleaning these two areas separately, you prevent the introduction of bacteria from the anus to the vagina.
Part 2 of 3: Know what to avoid
Step 1. Avoid sex
Abstaining completely would be better, but if you can't, it's better to prefer a monogamous relationship and avoid having multiple sexual partners. Although there are few cases of bacterial vaginosis transmitted from men to women, taking the right precautions using condoms is important to avoid the transmission of various diseases.
- It is more common for one woman to infect another during sexual intercourse, due to the vaginal discharge and cervical mucus that are exchanged. There is no surefire way to prevent it unless you expect to recover from bacterial vaginosis or practice total abstinence.
- The best way to avoid this is to let the vagitosis heal completely or to commit to total abstinence.
- Using canless condoms or a dental dam during intercourse for the first month after completing antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis appears to reduce the risk of it coming back.
- Thoroughly clean sex toys to avoid spreading the infection or infecting yourself.
Step 2. Avoid douching products
Vaginal douching is a procedure that is carried out to clean the inside of the vagina using water and vinegar or other products sold in pharmacies. However, it does nothing but eliminate the good bacterial fauna. It can cause more infections and increase harmful bacteria, which can negatively affect the flora and cause bad odors and an increased risk of infection. It is an old practice that is no longer considered valid from a scientific point of view.
- The vagina has the ability to clean itself. Its natural acidity helps it get rid of harmful bacteria. External cleansing with water and neutral soap is preferable.
- A vaginal douch will have no impact on a vaginal infection and may even make the situation worse.
Step 3. Avoid using scented soaps and bath oils
They can irritate the vagina or upset the balance of healthy flora in the vaginal area. Any type of soap can alter the natural and healthy balance of the bacterial flora of the vagina. Wash your genitals with water, using your hands.
- It's okay to use a mild cleanser and water to wash the outer vagina area.
- Bathtubs and whirlpools could also have a negative effect on the health of your vagina. It is advisable to limit its use if you are trying to prevent bacterial vagitosis from recurring.
Step 4. Avoid using harsh detergents when washing your underwear
They contain chemicals that come into contact with the vagina, altering its flora. They modify the acid-base balance, which will change the optimal pH level. Use milder detergents to wash underwear and rinse them thoroughly.
- The best laundry detergent is the one that does not contain fragrances and fabric softeners.
- If it's too hot and you sweat, change your underwear promptly. Doing it just once a day may not be enough if you have a particularly active lifestyle.
Step 5. Avoid scented pads, be they internal or regular ones
They could aggravate the infection of the vaginal area. Use those without fragrances and change them often. Holding a tampon for much longer than suggested can result in a higher risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis.
- Alternate the use of internal and external pads for the duration of the period.
- Only use the panty liner if you can't do without it, as it prevents a good influx of air into the genital area, making the area warm and humid, an inviting environment for bacteria.
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Bacterial Vaginosis
Step 1. Learn about bacterial vaginosis
The causes are not known, but certain factors are more common than others in affected women. Many of the women diagnosed are of childbearing age, ranging in age from 14 to 44. Bacterial vagitosis is twice as common among African-American women than among those of different ethnicity. About one in four pregnant women tend to develop this infection, possibly due to hormonal changes.
- Women who do not use condoms, but use intrauterine devices, are more at risk than those who use condoms or are not sexually active.
- Bacterial vaginosis is not the result of poor hygiene.
- You can get bacterial vaginosis even without having sex, but many women diagnosed with this infection report recent sexual activity.
- It is not possible to diagnose bacterial vaginosis in men.
Step 2. Know all the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis
Many women who suffer from it are asymptomatic. Signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another, but is mainly characterized by the following.
- Grayish, white or yellowish discharges. They are caused by the exponential growth of harmful bacteria, causing problems for the normal vaginal flora.
- Foul-smelling leaks. Their smell is often compared to that of fish, and they usually get worse after intercourse.
- No signs of discomfort or itching. Bacterial vaginosis is often confused with candida. This vaginal area infection also presents with milky discharge, itching and pain. If you are itchy in the genital area, it probably isn't vaginosis.
- Pain while urinating. Bacterial vaginosis is asymptomatic, but in some rare cases, a painful sensation occurs, sometimes described as burning and tingling.
Step 3. Find out how it is diagnosed
If you suspect that you have vaginosis, it is necessary to consult the gynecologist for diagnosis and subsequent treatment. You have to lie down on the bed with your feet resting on the stirrups. The doctor will go and insert a swab inside the vagina to take a sample of the vaginal discharge.
- The acidity level of the sample will be measured. If your acidity levels are lower than they should be (a pH below 4.5) you may be suffering from bacterial vaginosis.
- The doctor might examine the sample under a microscope. If your lactobacilli population is below normal, but there is an abundance of bacteria-covered vaginal lining cells, it is very likely that you have vaginosis.
Advice
- The patient's partner usually does not undergo any treatment; however, in the event that bacterial vaginosis is recurrent, the gynecologist may consider it.
- Try using a female condom, or femidom. It covers the entire vagina during intercourse and can prevent any imbalances in its bacterial content.
