ABOUT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

Some of you may have experienced bacterial vaginosis – BV- previously called gardinerella.

BV is a vaginal infection more common than yeast but not as well known. The symptoms are a white or gray discharge with a fishy odor. If you are a busy person who doesn't have time to analyze such things you may not notice anything at all until you have sex, and then you may be slightly sore and notice the odor.

The causes are all related to changes in the vaginal environment caused by douching, stress, partner change, special soaps, creams and lotions, perfumed products or sprays used in the vagina - anything new introduced into the area or that could cause a chemical change.

Although usually not dangerous when not pregnant, it has been implicated in premature labor and inflammations that could cause fallopian tube problems.

Throughout history and in most cultures of the world, folk medicine has suggested that women put some chemicals, usually in foods, inside the vagina to resist infection by increasing the acidity of the vagina. The thought was that in that acid environment bacteria can't grow to cause an infection.

So some women are told to put yogurt, vinegar, garlic cloves, lemon or orange juice, honey or acidophilus tablets in the vagina to stay "clean". A naturopathic treatment is actually a clove of garlic (peeled, I assume) put into the vagina for a period of time (this does not smell, the books tell me, and most certainly will keep the vampires away).

DON'T DO THIS!!!

(You all knew that was coming, didn't you?)

These practices probably wouldn't harm us, but they are time-consuming and probably don't help, either. Our bodies have powerful defense mechanisms - don't interfere!

The vagina is a self-cleansing organ. The estrogen in our bodies changes glucose in our systems to lactic acid by bacteria called lactobacillus. By maintaining an acid environment, other bacteria can't grow.

This acidic environment is maintained throughout a woman's reproductive years. Practices such as douching or placing yogurt or chemicals into the vagina can disturb this delicate balance.

Women who douche wash away this protective vaginal flora and BV can occur and become worse. What to these ladies do then, to get rid of the odor? Yup, they douche again! And eating yogurt to replenish the lactobacillus population does not work because there are several strains of lactobacillus . The types found in normal vaginal fluid (lactobacillus crispatus and L.jensenii, if you want to be technical!) are not the strains found in active culture yogurt and over-the-counter acidophilus supplements (L. acidophilus).

The usual treatment is a rather nasty tasting pill called metronidazole or Flagyl. If there is a reoccurrence (seen in 30% of cases) an acidic vaginal gel may be used.

Lynne Fiore, NP

 

 

 
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