Bacterial vaginosis is a common type of vaginal inflammation, caused by the overgrowth of normal bacteria (germs) found in the vagina, making the natural balance upset. Normally, there are a number of good bacteria and bad bacteria in women’s vagina. In case there are not enough good bacteria controlling bad ones, leading to the increased number of bad bacteria, causing women bacterial vaginosis.
Bacterial vaginosis can affect women of all ages. Even it is not a big problem and can go away on its own after a few days, it can lead to worse conditions if not treated properly.
Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis:
Doctors and experts are not sure about what causes bacterial vaginosis. Because it is often mild and women may not go to medical center to cure it. But certain things below can cause you the higher risk of having bacterial vaginosis.
- Having more than one or a new sex partner: it is believed that the bacterial vaginosis occurs more often in women who have more than one or a new sex partner. It also happens more frequently in women who is lesbian.
- Douching: If you rinse out your vagina with water or a cleansing gel, it can lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria and upset the natural balance of your vagina. You will never need to douche because the vagina is self-cleaning.
- Lack of good bacteria: If you don’t have enough the good lactobacilli bacteria naturally in your vaginal environment, you’re more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis.
Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis:
The main symptom of bacterial vaginosis is the change of vaginal discharge. The discharge may become watery and thin with color turning into grey, white, or green. The smell will become unpleasant, often described as “fishy” smell, which become worse especially after sex. The following symptoms are reported less: burning during urination or vaginal itching or soreness. And approximately 50% of all women who have bacterial vaginosis notice no signs or symptoms.
Home Treatments for Bacterial Vaginosis:
Since bacterial vaginosis is usually not too serious and lots of women tend to prefer using natural treatment, we would like to give you some simple home treatments for BV to help you reduce the symptoms and get rid of the annoying problem.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is an excellent home remedy for bacterial vaginosis. As apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic, it can help to increase vaginal acidity, thus restoring the balance between good and bad bacteria in vagina. Once you have bacterial vaginosis, you can add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to a bath, sit for about half of hour then gently dry the vaginal area. Use the treatment once a day until your infection clears.
- Yogurt
Another method to get rid of bacterial vaginosis naturally is using yogurt. Packed with good bacteria, particularly lactobacillus, yogurt is a powerful home remedy to help fight against bad bacteria and maintain the healthy vaginal pH balance. There are a two ways to use yogurt as a daily treatment for bacterial vaginosis. You can eat 2 cups of yogurt, which is very good for your general health and helps provide the good bacteria in your body. Another option is using a tampon to apply yogurt to your vagina for two hours and rinse with water. Repeat until the symptoms relieves.
- Tea Tree Oil
The antifungal and antibacterial properties from tea tree oil can help you kill the germs causing bacterial infection of the vagina as well as eliminate the awful smell of vagina with its fresh odor. The best way to use tea tree oil in bacterial vaginosis treatment is mixing it with warm water and use the solution to wash your vagina. Repeat it for three to four weeks until it needed.
- Garlic
Garlic is one of the best natural antibiotic that can be used to treat bacterial vaginosis. Also, its antifungal properties will control the growth of bad bacteria. To use garlic as bacterial vaginosis treatment, you can mash a few garlic cloves and smear it on the affected area. Leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse the area with warm water. Also, you can add raw garlic or garlic capsules on a daily basis to your diet to help eliminate your infection.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that can be applied to the vagina to help oxidize the bad bacteria, thus eliminating the bacterial vaginosis. To create this natural treatment for bacterial vaginosis, make a solution from equal parts of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide then soak a tampon in the mixture. Insert the tampon in your vagina and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes before removing.
Author’s bio: This article is written by Rose Emma – Senior Editor of Authority Remedies. She works as a health care expert in the field of Nutrition and Health for over 2 years after trained in Food and Nutrition Dietetics at Bluffton University. With all the experience she accumulates since college, she provides people with useful information about nutrition as well as helps them with their common health problems.