Can Probiotics Help Cure Bv

Best Probiotic For Bv That Includes Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Gr

Clearly, these two probiotics strains have some promising results for those with BV. If youre looking for a BV treatment over the counter to help improve the efficacy of your medical treatment, probiotics are a wonderful choice. Its an easy remedy that you can administer at home!

Fem-Dophilus from Jarrow Formulas is a great option if youre looking for a probiotic supplement that contains these two strains.

You can also find these same strains in RepHresh Pro B probiotic capsules.

Ideally, I would love these companies to share the exact CFU counts for each individual strain, but none of them do . Both of these options contain 5 billion total CFUs, but they dont specify how much of those 5 billion is coming from each of the strains. If you know of a brand that tells you how much of each strain their supplement contains, Id love to hear about it in the comments!

Is There A Treatment For Bv

Your healthcare provider can treat BV with antibiotics the most common ones prescribed are Metronidazole, Metronidazole gel, or Clindamycin cream. Dean points out that while on any treatment for BV, you should refrain from having sex, as intercourse and other kinds of sexual activity could lead to discomfort or pain.

“Having sex may also make your symptoms worse and make your treatment less effective,” Dean adds, emphasizing that that treatment for BV is both easy and painless.

As far as home remedies are concerned, there aren’t any that are proven to be safe and effective, Dean notes. “There are no known natural remedies for BV that have been proven effective with sound evidence. You can help prevent BV by practicing good hygiene, never douching, and always using a condom. If you have BV that keeps coming back, probiotics might help,” she adds.

Can Boric Acid Treat Bacterial Vaginosis

Under normal circumstances, vaginal flora contains good bacteria that defend against invasive microbes, bad bacteria, and fungi. But when the vaginal pH balance is disrupted, the good bacteria decline, and with it, the vaginas defenses. Harmful bacteria begin to reproduce rapidly, causing bacterial vaginosis .

Bacterial vaginosis can put you at higher risk for other reproductive health conditions if left untreated. So its essential to get medical advice from a gynecologist.

Most healthcare providers prescribe antibiotics to restore vaginal health, but some people use alternative treatments or homeopathic remedies such as boric acid to treat BV. Before you try this or any natural remedy, its important to learn what is safe and effective.

In this article, I will discuss the ins and outs of using boric acid and explore other over-the-counter methods that may treat BV and promote vaginal wellness.

Also Check: What Is The Best Dog Probiotic

What Is Boric Acid

Boric acid is an odorless, natural chemical compound derived from boron. As the name depicts, this natural solution is acidic. Some people use it as a traditional treatment for health conditions like BV infections.

Because it has mild antibacterial and antifungal properties, generations have used it as a household cleaner, laundry detergent, and insecticide.

Many also rely on boric acid as a homeopathic remedy for everyday ailments like canker sores, pink eye, minor burns, small cuts, acne, and athletes foot because it is relatively safe for adults to use on their bodies.

How To Cure Bacterial Vaginosis

There are different bacterial vaginosis tablets, creams, and gels available over-the-counter and by prescription from your doctor. Always consult your care provider and get a diagnosis to make sure that you need medication and are getting the right one.

FACT Asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis does not need treatment.

Also Check: How To Give Probiotics To Baby

Probiotics And Bv: A Recap

For more information on how a healthy gut microbiome can affect many aspects of your wellbeing including reproductive health, check out my book Healthy Gut, Healthy You.

The Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine has developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our patients and audience. If youre interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you.

References

Study Identification And Selection

According to the established retrieval strategy, 926 relevant literatures were preliminarily retrieved. After removing the repeated 455 literatures, there were 471 literatures that can be screened. After excluding reviews, meeting minutes, and others non relevant article types, 382 papers remained. After reading the title and abstract, there were 57 articles left. An additional 37 articles were excluded based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 20 relevant articles were included in this study, involving 2093 participants. The flowchart shows the process of literature selection .

Fig. 1

Read Also: Probiotics 20 Billion Active Cultures

Questions /false Answers At End Of References

Lactobacillus Brevis Cd2 Lactobacillus Salivarius Fv2 And Lactobacillus Plantarum Fv9

In a rather small but well-designed double-blind, randomised, controlled trial2 34 women with BV received either a vaginal probiotic tablet or a placebo for 7 days. The probiotic contained at least 10 billion viable Lactobacilli in particular L. brevis CD2®, L. salivarius FV2®, and L. plantarum FV9®. The 2-week symptom relief rates were 61% in the active treatment group. When compared to 19% in the placebo group these are astounding results!

Key takeaway

• Symptoms of BV have been demonstrated to be relieved by the probiotic strains Lactobacillus brevis CD2®, Lactobacillus salivarius FV2®, and Lactobacillus plantarum FV9®

Dont Miss: What Are Probiotics Made From

You May Like: Where Can I Get Probiotics From

What Is The Quickest Way To Treat Bacterial Vaginosis

The fastest way to treat BV is to visit your doctor and get a prescription to treat the condition.

A prescription treatment will likely clear up your symptoms in 2 to 3 days. If youre pregnant or undergoing any medical procedures, its especially important to have your BV taken care of sooner rather than later.

Your doctor may prescribe an oral or vaginal antibiotic, like clindamycin, metronidazole, or tinidazole.

Best Probiotics For Bv And Vaginal Health

BV is a common vaginal infection that affects millions of women every year. It causes burning, itching, and discomfort during urination. Unfortunately, most doctors prescribe antibiotics as first line treatment. This is because many women who suffer from bacterial vaginosis do not respond well to antibiotic therapy.

I’ve compiled a list of the top 3 probiotic products for treating bacterial vaginosis. They include both over-the-counter and prescription strength products. I also included information on how each product works and why it should be used instead of traditional treatments.

If you’re looking for a safe, effective way to treat bacterial vaginosis for better vaginal health then read on.

What is BV?

You May Like: Gnc Probiotic Complex 100 Billion

What Are The Risks Of Probiotics

Probiotics sold as dietary supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Their labels may make promises about what is in them and how they operate, but they may not be entirely accurate. So, it is best to be cautious.

More research is needed to determine how safe probiotics are. However, scientists believe they may have some negative consequences, such as:

Swansons Probiotics For Daily Wellness

Image courtesy Swanson

Hectic lives can all team up to disrupt your natural balance. Supportive supplements such as Probiotic for Daily Wellness by Swanson Health help support general health with a higher population density in beneficial strains which will help restore harmony throughout your entire body.

Recommended Reading: Does Coconut Yogurt Have Probiotics

How To Prepare For A Doctors Appointment

People may wish to prepare a list of their symptoms, any medications, over-the-counter treatments or supplements they are taking, and consider a note-taking device for their appointment.

It may also be helpful if a person takes a list of questions they wish to ask the healthcare professional. Example questions include:

• What treatment options are there for BV?
• How effective are the treatment options?
• Are there any specific instructions for taking medication for BV?
• What should I do if I have recurrent BV?
• Is there a way to prevent BV?
• Are there any OTC treatments or lifestyle changes that may help reduce symptoms?

Below are answers to common questions about BV medications.

How To Get Rid Of Bacterial Vaginosis: Causes Symptoms Treatment

Every month after my period ends, I inspect the discharge in my underwear. If there’s a fishy smell, it could mean that my bacterial vaginosis, otherwise known as BV, is back.

If I choose to ignore any sign that my BV has returned, I’m doomed. By day two, the intense aroma will turn into an intense itch, which will only get worse the more I itch. Sex will also become painful, and by day five, all of the friction caused by my itching means that I’ll be severely sore to the touch. I will feel bruised, and within 20 minutes of showering, my underwear will, once again, be soaked through with discharge.

Having bacterial vaginosis is not fun, to say the least. But since getting it for the first time at age 23, I’ve learned a lot about how to treat BV. Ahead, I’ll share my personal experience with this super common condition, along with expert advice from Dr. Gillian Dean, the Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York.

In this article:Personal experience with BV

Also Check: What Is The Best Probiotic For Menopause

Probiotics Can Help With Bacterial Vaginosis

There is high quality scientific research showing that probiotics can prevent and eliminate BV.E When probiotics are taken together with antibiotics treating BV, BV recurrence rates dramatically decrease. Probiotic supplementation can also prevent overgrowth of Candida albicans often seen after antibiotics.F

Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria

The following were the inclusion criteria for considering full-text publications: studies must be RCTs study population was women in childbearing age who were non-pregnant and were diagnosed only with BV by either Nugent score or Amsel criteria intervention for experimental group was probiotics only or probiotics in combination of conventional antibiotics treatment matched with antibiotics or placebo as control the prioritized treatment outcomes was cure or recurrent rate of BV.

The exclusion criteria were articles that studies which included pregnant women, women with sexually transmitted infections or other urinary tract infections other than BV had no full text available or was not written in English failed to report the required results had unextractable outcome indicators. For example, those studies which barely demonstrated the cure or recurrence rate without the detailed number of cured or recurrent participants.

Recommended Reading: Is Apple Cider Vinegar A Prebiotic Or Probiotic

Symptoms Of A Yeast Infection

Although your vaginal pH level will not directly conclude if you have a yeast infection, other symptoms can. These symptoms include:

• Itching, burning or swelling near the affected area
• Thick vaginal discharge that is grey, green, yellow, or white in color
• A burning sensation during urination
• Pain during intercourse
• Appearance of a vulvar rash

How Do Probiotics Help With Bacterial Vaginosis

Symptoms of BV include itching and burning in the vaginal area a white or grayish discharge with a fishy odor and pain and burning while urinating. While in most cases BV does not lead to serious illness, the symptoms can be very uncomfortable, and repeated scratching can irritate the skin, leading to an increased risk of other infections.

BV does increase the risk of becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. If you are pregnant, having BV can also increase the risk of premature birth or low birth weight.

The usual treatment for BV is a course of antibiotics, but there can be a high risk of recurrent infection within a year, despite antibiotic treatment. In light of recent interest in the impact of the vaginal microbiome on vaginal infections, research has turned its attention to the role of probiotic supplements in treating BV.

Though results are not fully conclusive, a recent analysis of multiple randomized controlled trials suggests that treating BV with probiotics alone was safe and led to improved short- and long-term results compared to either a placebo or antibiotics, and was more effective than treatments that involved antibiotics plus probiotics .

Another earlier review supported these same findings, concluding that no adverse effects are noted with probiotic use and they can help prevent and treat BV .

Bottom Line

References

Recommended Reading: Rephresh Pro B Probiotic Reviews

What Other Treatments Can I Use For Bv

BV is usually treated with antibiotics, but there are non-antibiotic treatments available too, such as BETAFEM®BV Gel. Designed to help restore your bodys natural vaginal flora and balance your pH levels, it can both treat and prevent recurrent BV, offering relief from unpleasant odours within 24 hours.

There are also things you can do to reduce your risk of getting BV. For example, avoid using scented toilet paper or sanitary towels, and clean your intimate area with soap-free washes. Steer clear of overly perfumed soaps, bath liquids and shower gels too, and dont use strong detergents to wash your underwear. Quitting smoking can also cut your risk of developing BV.

If you keep getting BV, your doctor should be able to help you identify what is triggering the condition.

* This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. You should consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of all medical conditions.

Can You Cure Bv In One Day

Many people want to get rid of BV in one day, and we totally get why the faster you can get rid of the pain and discomfort, the better. A few single-day treatments do exist, but most of them haven’t been as well-researched and may be less effective than standard therapy, explains Dean.

There is one single-day treatment that appears to be as effective as standard therapy, Dean shares, pointing to secnidazole, which is administered orally in a single dose. However, it is much more expensive than other treatments. Ultimately, Dean recommends talking to your doctor or nurse about the best course of treatment for you.

Read Also: What Is The Best Probiotic For Histamine Intolerance

Bacterial Vaginosis Vs Yeast Infection

Despite the fact that yeast infections are talked about much more, they are the second most common cause of vaginal symptoms, beat out only by bacterial vaginosis.

So whats the difference between the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis and a yeast infection?

This differs from the thin consistency and strong fishy odor of the discharge associated with bacterial vaginosis.

Of course, the best thing to do if you have any of these symptoms is to visit your healthcare provider who can perform an exam and testing to determine which of these infections you might have.

When To See A Doctor

Usually, conditions caused by vaginal imbalance are mild to moderate, and dont cause severe health problems. However, BV and yeast infections can cause serious discomfort if left untreated. And you should always seek quick treatment for a UTI to avoid possible complications.

If youve recently had sex and notice itching, burning or other unusual symptoms in your vaginal area, you should also talk with your doctor. You could have a sexually transmitted infection, such as trichomoniasis.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you suspect you have BV, a yeast infection, or a UTI. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have:

• pain on your sides or lower back
• a high temperature

Don’t Miss: Which Brand Of Probiotics Is Best

Antibiotics For Bv: Pros And Cons

The main benefit of antibiotics is that they usually act quickly and effectively for acute BV symptoms, such as itching and vaginal discharge.

However, for between one in ten and one in five women, symptom improvement is not so fast and antibiotic treatment may need to go on longer .

Even when symptoms do resolve with antibiotics, up to 80% of women experience a recurrence sometime in the future for which another course of antibiotics will usually be prescribed .

Probiotics help get you out of this vicious cycle, by correcting underlying microbial imbalances in both the gut and reproductive tract.

How Long Does Bacterial Vaginosis Last

After seeing your doctor and starting treatment with a prescribed medication, your symptoms will likely start improving within 2 to 3 days.

However, its important to continue taking your medication for the prescribed period of time, even if your symptoms have gone away. This will help ensure that the infection has completely cleared up, which typically takes about 7 days.

Read Also: Spring Valley 50 Billion Probiotic

Potential Side Effects And Who Should Avoid Taking Probiotics

Probiotics are considered safe for otherwise healthy people. Possible side effects include:

Your provider may prescribe these medications as pills taken by mouth or as a vaginal cream or gel. Sometimes healthcare providers prescribe both oral and vaginal medicines for you to take at the same time. This is especially true for recurring infections .

Are Probiotics Beneficial To Vaginal Health

Some researchers believe that consuming probiotics can help restore a healthier bacterial balance in the vaginal area. In theory and some lab studies, this works.

However, what works in the laboratory may not always function in the real body. It might not be as straightforward as taking a pill or suppository containing beneficial microorganisms.

There is currently no evidence that these substances benefit vaginal health. This could change as scientists gain more knowledge. However, antibiotics and antifungal medications are currently the only treatments for vaginal bacterial and yeast infections that have been proven to be effective.

Don’t Miss: The Benefits Of Taking Probiotics