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Bacterial Vaginosis - BV

Bacterial Vaginosis – also known as BV – is by far the most common genital infection. It's considered to be a "silent" infection because the majority of women who contract BV don't even know they have it. Bacterial Vaginosis occurs when the normal, healthy balance of lactobacilli in the vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria.

What You Need to Know

  • 2 in 5 women have BV, and 84% of these cases go undiagnosed
  • Women with BV who go untreated are 60% more susceptible to HIV and other STIs than those without BV.
  • Women with BV are 3x more likely to infect their partners with HIV and STIs.
  • Women with BV may be at increased risk of pelvic inflammatory diseases. Pregnant women with untreated BV have an increased risk for complications such as early labor or miscarriage.
  • Heavily concentrated petrochemical products are hyperosmolar and can negatively impact vaginal health.
  • A normal, healthy vaginal pH is approximately 3.7. A toxic imbalance in the vagina can drive pH levels up to 6 or higher, creating ideal conditions for unhealthy bacteria to thrive.
  • To date, there is no long-term cure for BV; it is a recurring infection.

Most Common Symptoms of BV

  • Vaginal discomfort such as itching and burning
  • Abnormal, gray discharge
  • Unpleasant, "fishy" odor

How to Treat It

  • Typically, when women have BV symptoms, they're prescribed a course of antibiotic cream. This is an effective, short-term solution for treating bacterial vaginosis, but it also kills off healthy lactobacilli, disrupting the normal balance in the vagina. As a result, up to 70% of women find that after treating BV with antibiotic cream, their symptoms come back within a few months.
  • A healthy vaginal ecosystem is a self-cleaning system and smells sweet. The odor caused by BV is a medical condition and is not resolved by using scented washes and douches. Using artificial fragrances to clear up the odor can exacerbate the BV imbalance.
  • The key to maintaining a healthy vaginal ecosystem is promoting conditions that match your ideal pH levels and the growth of healthy lactobacilli.

Learn More About Bacterial Vaginosis

Antimicrobial and immune modulatory effects of lactic acid and short chain fatty acids produced by vaginal microbiota associated with eubiosis and bacterial vaginosis:

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Successful treatment of bacterial vaginosis with a policarbophil-carbopol acidic vaginal gel: results from a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

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Natural antimicrobials and their role in vaginal health: a short review:

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In vaginal fluid, bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis can be suppressed with lactic acid but not hydrogen peroxide:

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Probiotics for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis:

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Effectiveness of vaginal tablets containing lactobacilli versus pH tablets on vaginal health and inflammatory cytokines: a randomized, double-blind study:

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Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial aaginosis. A prospective case-control study using lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial aaginosis:

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Vaginal pH and microbicidal lactic acid when lactobacilli dominate the microbiota:

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Related Vaginal Wellness Topics:

Menopause Vaginismus Oncology & Cancer Post-Care Sexual Difficulty Pelvic Floor Disorders Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) Vulvodynia Sjögren’s Syndrome Lichen Sclerosus Vaginal Atrophy (Atropic Vaginitis)

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