Thursday, March 28, 2024

Will Probiotics Get Rid Of Bv

Potential Side Effects And Who Should Avoid Taking Probiotics

How to get rid of BV FAST

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 .

Also Check: Does Walmart Sell Probiotics For Dogs

Ways To Naturally Treat And Prevent Bv And Yeast Infections

Over the years Ive seen many patients who get recurrent BV Infections and/or Yeast Infections. BV is actually much more common, making up the majority of all vaginal infections. It can be asymptomatic in many cases, but can also result in unusual discharge or a fishy odor. Yeast Infections are an overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast. They make up only 33% of all vaginal infections. The major symptoms are clumpy white discharge, itching, pain and irritation during sex. It is very important that neither type of infection go untreated- both can lead to PID , increased susceptibility to STDs, and in pregnancy, untreated BV can result in pre-term birth and low birth weight.

Prevention and Maintenance of Health:

  • First and foremost, eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and refined carbohydrates. Studies have shown that yeast and harmful bacteria are more likely to be a problem in people with high sugar diets. One food believed to be particularly helpful is garlic.
  • Support your immune system: reduce stress, get adequate sleep and exercise regularly.
  • Eat plain, probiotic yogurt daily. One study showed that after consuming 150mL yogurt containing L. acidophilus daily for two months, there was a 60% reduction in BV episodes. If you dont like yogurt, to see a comprehensive list of other food alternatives which contain beneficial bacteria.
  • Why Do These Infections Happen?

    The Vicious Cycle

    What do I do About it?

    Treatment Options:

    Can Probiotics Be Used As A Suppository

    The probiotics listed in this article cannot be used as vaginal suppositories. However, some vaginal suppositories do exist.

    Probiotics are available in many forms, including powders, capsules, liquids, suppositories and tablets. Suppositories are a convenient form of delivery for patients who have difficulty swallowing pills or capsules.

    Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial to human health. These microorganisms are naturally present in our digestive tracts and play a role in maintaining good intestinal flora.

    You May Like: Probiotics For Acne Before And After

    Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment In Pregnancy

    Hormonal changes during pregnancy mean that 1030% of women will get bacterial vaginosis. Untreated bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy increases the risk of complications, like low birth weight and premature birth. Consult your healthcare provider for bacterial vaginosis treatment in pregnancy.

    TIPAlways consult your doctor if you are pregnant and think you might have BV.

    Read Also: Happy Baby Organic Probiotic Baby Cereal Oatmeal

    Symptoms Of Bacterial Vaginosis

    Best Way To Prevent Bv

    Some symptoms of BV may seem similar to those of a yeast infection, such as a burning sensation when you urinate or strangely colored discharge that is thicker than normal. One distinguishing factor of bacterial vaginosis is that it often is accompanied by a fishy odor. This smell may become even more potent after sexual intercourse.

    Don’t Miss: Are Probiotics Good For Women

    Probiotics For Bacterial Vaginosis: Can They Really Help

    Recently, health experts have started to explore the impact that probiotics have on vaginal health, particularly with conditions such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis .

    Read on to learn more about what research suggests about the relationship between probiotics and BV.

    The Risks Of Probiotics

    The FDA doesnât regulate probiotics that are sold as dietary supplements. That means their labels can make claims about whatâs in them and how they work that may not be true. So itâs best to be cautious. We need more research on how safe probiotics are. But scientists say they may have some harmful effects, including:

    • Unlisted ingredients that could pose health risks
    • Unsafe substances made by probiotic microorganisms

    Your risk of harmful side effects is higher if you have a serious illness or problems with your immune system.

    You May Like: List Of Probiotics For Poultry

    How Many Probiotics Should I Take A Day For Bv

    Suppose you are looking for a natural way to clear up a bacterial infection like BV. In that case, you might be surprised to learn that probiotics can be very effective in treating and preventing bacterial infections like Bacterial Vaginosis. However, it is important that you only take one capsule daily to ensure that your body can fully utilise the probiotic bacteria to naturalise bad bacteria that might be disrupting your intimate health. One high-quality probiotic supplement is all you need and if you are looking for probiotics to treat or prevent BV then its worth making sure that your chosen supplement has various Lactobacillus strains. Keep an eye out for a womenâs probiotic with a Microbe Culture containing:

    • Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Acidophilus or Lactobacillus Reuteri

    A probiotic supplement made especially for women will likely have a combination of the necessary bacteria to help rebalance the bodyâs pH and neutralise any bacteria disruptions that could be linked to Bacterial Vaginosis. It is important to only take the recommended amount of probiotic supplements a day even when clearing up BV

    Treat With Intravaginal Boric Acid

    Treating Bacterial Vaginosis

    Intravaginal boric acid is a handy over-the-counter remedy effectively used in balancing vaginal flora. “Boric acid, is a white powder or crystalline solid that acts similarly to a Monistat or a prescription antifungal like fluconazole meant to treat yeast infections,” says Hill, “Like antibiotics, boric acid is a strong antiviral and antifungal that lowers the vaginal pH and makes it more difficult for the bacteria that cause BV to grow…As a bonus, boric acid suppositories are both inexpensive and accessible.”

    Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Probiotic For Women’s Health

    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.

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

    As far as home remedies are concerned, there arenât any that are proven to be safe and effective, Dean notes. âThere 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,â she adds.

    Donât Miss: Should I Give My Baby Probiotics

    Will Taking Probiotics Really Make Me Poop

    The majority of scientific research Harvard, Oxford, will all give you a general yes. Incorporating probiotics into your diet will likely have an effect on stool frequency and consistency.

    But before we can explore the gritty details, well all need to stop snickering and take a moment to understand what probiotics are, why theyre of interest, what the potential side effects are, how to safely consume them, and what theyre doing to our bodies.

    After that, you can let the puns fly.

    Read Also: How To Tell If You Have Ibs Or Something Else

    Recommended Reading: Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotic 100 Billion

    Determination Of Main Outcome Indicators

    The main outcome indicator was higher BV cure rate in the probiotics group against placebo group or the antibiotic group, which was evaluated by cure corresponds to the diagnostic criteria. In some articles, the outcome index was the percentage of the recurrence rate, which we had converted to the cure rate for evaluation. Cure refers to the normalization of diagnostic indicators, such as Amsel criteria 1 or Nugent score 3.

    Secondary observation indicators included disappeared clue cells, negative in sialidase test, and had no symptoms and signs of BV normal vaginal flora prolonged time of recurrence after initial treatment when adjuvant therapy with lactic acid bacteria was used improved Nugent score to below 7 after treatment.

    The most common local adverse events were abnormal vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal odor, external genital irritation and genital pruritus. Safety was assessed by recording all side effects. Adverse events that occurred during the trial were evaluated in the treatment group and the placebo group to determine whether there was a significant difference between the two groups.

    How To Choose Probiotics For Bv

    Pin on health

    Weve established that probiotics can be of great help for BV, but which type, what dosage, and how often?

    Research doesnt pinpoint one particular strain as being markedly better than another.

    Any probiotic is likely to be better than none, but research does provide a few pointers for their use in BV. In one research review :

    • Oral probiotics were found to be better than vaginal probiotics
    • High-dose probiotics delivered better results than low-dose probiotics

    The cumulative data from other studies on probiotics and BV suggests that:

    • An effective daily dosage appears to be in the range of at least 100 million to 1 billion CFU .
    • Lactobacillus crispatus
    • L. rhamnosus GR-1

    From my clinical experience of women experiencing repeated vaginal infections, taking several probiotic strains at the same time to cover all good bacteria bases is actually the best idea.

    This is especially the case given we find that women who are more prone to BV are also likely to be experiencing gut bacteria imbalance too.

    In fact, the gut and vaginal microbiome in females share similarities and are in continuous communication with each other.

    You May Like: Best Prebiotic And Probiotic For Gut Health

    Activated Charcoal: An Emerging Treatment For Bv & More

    Medical professionals are beginning to use activated charcoal to treat bacterial vaginosis . A number of clinical trials have shown that activated charcoal can help lower pH levels and reduce the loss of lactobacilli, the beneficial bacteria that contribute to vaginal health. The field of phage therapy, a reemerging treatment that uses host-specific viruses to combat bacteria, is also becoming increasingly used to address bacterial resistance. Activated charcoal, in addition to treating drug overdoses and poisonings, can be used to help treat them. When toxins are trapped within the body, they cannot be absorbed by the body. Carbon black is created by combining coal, wood, or other materials. If you have extremely foul breath caused by trimethylamine, an activated charcoal solution may be beneficial. However, chronic or acute bad breath caused by food and other factors will not be treated with this treatment. When someone is poisoned or overdoses on drugs, activated charcoal is frequently used. It is most effective when taken immediately after ingesting the toxin, preventing the substance from being absorbed.

    What Happens When You Stop Taking Probiotics

    So, after having taken probiotics for a while, youre feeling good and decide that the time has come to stop. Now what? Do you have to continue with large amounts of probiotic supplementation indefinitely? The answer is this is an emerging area without a lot of hard science available. With that in mind, here are a few factors to consider.

    You May Like: Best Probiotic For Vaginal Odor

    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.

    They May Cause Unpleasant Digestive Symptoms

    Best Probiotics for Bacteria Vaginosis|How to find the best probiotic for your vagina

    10 ).

    It is not known exactly why some people experience these side effects, but they typically subside after a few weeks of continued use .

    To reduce the likelihood of side effects, start with a low dose of probiotics and slowly increase to the full dosage over a few weeks. This can help your body adjust to them.

    If the gas, bloating or any other side effects continue for more than a few weeks, stop taking the probiotic and consult a medical professional.

    Summary

    Some people experience an increase in gas, bloating, constipation or thirst when they start taking probiotics. These side effects should go away within a few weeks.

    Read Also: How Many Probiotic Cultures Should I Take

    Probiotics Vs Placebo/active Treatment For Prophylaxis Of Bacterial Vaginosis Recurrences

    Using a random-effects model, women who had received probiotics had a 45% lower risk of BV recurrences . The absolute risk reduction is 12.12% with a number needed to treat of 8.25 . This means that we need to treat 9 patients to prevent one BV recurrence, and this can be as few as 6 patients or as many as 46 patients at the population level.

    Figure 2. Forest plot on risk ratio of BV recurrence.

    The between-study heterogeneity variance was estimated at tau2 = 0.25 , with an I2-value of 45.4% . The PI ranged from g = 0.16 to 1.93, indicating future studies may exhibit a mixture of positive and negative treatment effects. The broad interval suggested high effects may be possible as well. Although an I2-value lesser than 50% was conventionally regarded as more homogenous, further analyses were based on random-effects model to take into account factors such as differences in methodology, inclusion criteria, dosage of probiotics, duration of administration, and strains of probiotics that may contribute to heterogeneity. Meta-regression was also performed to identify any sources of heterogeneity.

    Reason #: The Dose Might Be Too High

    Just like anything else in life, taking or having too much of anything is bad, especially when it comes to your health. Taking high doses of probiotics can increase amine levels in your system, triggering headaches and dizziness.

    Its also possible that the higher dose creates excessive probiotic colonies that trigger your bodys protective mechanisms.

    Try to cut the dose in half if you experience dizziness. If the lower dose works, then the probiotic overload might be the culprit. Continue with these doses for a few days before gradually increasing to what you were supposed to take.

    Its also a good idea to consult your doctor before you increase the dose.

    Read Also: Does Pumpkin Help With Constipation

    Also Check: Do Infant Probiotics Help With Gas

    You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease Or Celiac Disease

    Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, two forms of inflammatory bowel disease , cause inflammation in your gastrointestinal tractthe same goes for celiac disease . This inflammation, then, can cause diarrhea, which can make your poop look green due to a faster transit again .

    If you have IBD or celiac, itâs important to maintain a close relationship with your doctor to help keep inflammationand as a result, symptomsunder control, says Rice.

    Difference Between Bv And Yeast Infection

    How To Cure Bv In One Day

    Yeast infections are a lot more spoken about, and yet they are only the second most common vaginal issue. They are beaten by the BV and yet BV is spoken about a lot less.

    You may think that these two infections are quite similar, and yet that couldnt be any further from the truth.

    There will also be white discharge that is often associated with looking like cottage cheese. This discharge may have a slight yeast smell.

    While the discharge associated with BV has a strong fishy odor and a thin consistency. Although, if you have any of these systems, you should do and seek a healthcare provider who can perform a simple test to determine which of these infections you could possibly have.

    Both are very easy to treat and may have similar causes. As a result, it could be easy to confuse the two for each other. Yet they are both two very different infections, but they are the two most common infections that you can get.

    Thus, it is always best to go and seek help if you have any problems down there, otherwise if you leave it untreated, as already mentioned, then it could lead to further problems later on in life. Especially if you want to conceive children naturally.

    Read Also: Best Probiotic Strain For Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Q: How Is Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnosed

    A: The classic diagnosis for BV is based on four clinical findings:

    • A thin white or yellow discharge, often with an unpleasant or fishy smell
    • A fishy odor when potassium hydroxide is added to vaginal secretions
    • Vaginal secretions with a high pH level
    • The presence of clue cells

    Some providers use lab-based tests that look for enzymes made by the bacteria that cause BV. These enzyme tests work well. Some providers use a lab-based test that looks for Gardnerella vaginalis, a type of bacteria associated with BV. This type of test doesnt work as well and is less efficient because 70-80% of healthy women have some Gardnerella in their vaginas. If this test is positive, you may or may not actually have BV.

    How Many Probiotics Do I Need

    It is advised to take probiotics that contain at least 1 billion colony forming units . These assist in establishing and further growing the amount of healthy bacterias in your body. Any decent probiotic will have between 1-10 billion CFUs, but the particular dose will depend on the unique probiotic and how it was manufactured.

    Natural probiotics are also an excellent source if you would prefer to forego supplements. However, this option will make it significantly more difficult to get enough CFUs, as supplements are specially designed to administer a large, concentrated dose of the best probiotics for your body.

    You May Like: Best Probiotic For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Popular Articles
    Related news