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Here are some other home remedies that might help (particularly if you are opposed to taking prescription medication, like an antibiotc, which most of the time works, but the symptoms reoccur more times than not).  Acidopoholous . . .mentioned before – you can insert a tampon with plain vanilla in your vagina – which will soothe and give immediate relief or you can take an acidopholus pill (from your health food store or vitamin store).

Douching is another method – but rather than use and over the counter formula that has harmful chemicals, simply use one tablespoon of vinegar per quart of water.

The antioxidants in vitamins, like vitamins A, C, D and E, as well as, B complex, help in treating bacterial vaginosis naturally. Topical applications of vitamin E from prepared creams or powdered capsules help relieve itching.

And finally a warm bath (except don’t use soap as it takes out the skins natural oils and acts as a barrier for the bodies natural germ fighting mechanism.

Women with BV were more than three times as likely as women who were not infected to have pregnancy losses during the first weeks of their second trimester.  It also has been proven that the risk for late miscarriage and spontaneous preterm delivery are associated with BV.

If BV is recurrent it increases the risk of preterm delivery by nine compared with women who did not get BV again. Increased risk of infections at the time of birth including postpartum endometritis, postpartum sepsis, post-caesarean wound infection and episiotomy wound infection.

There is an increased risk of giving birth to a low birth-weight baby and this is one of the leading causes of infant death in the US.

Women with BV are also more susceptible to: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infection and inflammation of the upper female genital tract.  Tubal factor infertility is caused by fallopian tube damage. The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus.

The bottom line is untreated Bacterial Vaginosis is just not worth taking the risk.  While it is true, that BV might be recurring, the inconvenience of being treated is just not worth the risks of not treating it.  I repeat – take care of yourself.

BV can be treated with antibiotics and is shown to be 85-90% effective when taken properly.  Metronidazole can be taken orally twice daily for seven days.  This is believed to be the most effective treatment and is the preferred treatment particularly if the woman is pregnant or breastfeeding.  It also is available in gel form which is applied to the vagina once daily for five days.  Metronidazole reacts with alcohol and makes the patient feel very ill.  You should not consume alcohol for at least 48 hours after taking Metronidazole (trust me on this).

Your doctor can prescribe Flagyl (in a pill) or as a cream (Metrogel or Cleocin).  The pill has shown to produce some unpleasant side effects – unlike the cream which has no side effects, however, the pill has proven to be more effective.  Another pill (with less side effects) is Tindamax, an antibiotic, however,  it is common for a recurrence of BV even after successful treatment with either the pill or the cream. More than half of those treated experience recurrent symptoms within 12 months.  It is unclear why this happens, however, another course of antibiotics is usually prescribed.

Clindamycin is an alternative antibiotic often used if metronidazole did not work or the BV came back. It is available either as a cream applied to the vagina once daily for seven days or in capsule form taken twice daily for seven days.  It is important to remember when taking Clindamycin, that barrier contraception methods, like latex condoms, diaphragms and caps may be less effective.  Please make sure to use additional contraception as a precautionary measure.

Click here to learn some natural remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis.  Antibiotics might be a short term solution but many women who suffer from BV often times have it come back again and again.  You will find some secrets that not many women know about to rid BV and its symptoms from ever returning! 

BV occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in a woman’s vagina is disrupted and replaced by an overgrowth of certain bacteria.

Although you might be inclined to douche during this time to alleviate the symptoms described above, it is advisable not to until you are diagnosed by a doctor.  Douching may hide the signs of infection and can also worsen the condition.  A doctor may see the signs of BV during an examination, however, only a lab test of the vaginal fluid can confirm this.

Getting diagnosed is your best bet since women who do have BV are more susceptible to be exposed to the HIV virus;  it also increases the chances that an HIV-infected woman can pass HIV to her sex partner(s).  Complications of untreated BV include an increased risk of contracting and passing along HIV and other STDs after exposure to them during sexual activity.  Complications also include the development of pelvic inflammatory disease and an increased risk of post-op infection after vaginal or pelvic surgery, such as hysterectomy and abortion. In pregnant women, untreated bacterial vaginosis can lead to preterm labor and preterm delivery.

Our bodies are like luxury high end automobiles – we have to listen to the signs and symptoms and troubleshoot the problem before we let the mechanic (gyno) under the hood (so to speak).