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Bacterial Vaginosis Treatments
Safe and effective treatment, posted discretely. BV is a common condition and easy to treat.
BV isn't an infection caused by one particular germ, but a change in the normal balance of bacteria and acidity in the vagina. We all usually have a variety of bacteria on the surface of our bodies. With BV, the number of a particular type of healthy bacteria in the vagina called lactobacilli goes down, whilst the number of anaerobic bacteria goes up. 'Anerobic' means able to grow without air and is a helpful way to group a number of different types of bacteria. These do normally live in the vagina, but in smaller amounts. When there are more of these anaerobic bacteria in the vagina, and fewer healthy bacteria, this makes the vagina less acidic than normal, which leads to a vicious cycle of even fewer lactobacilli and even more anaerobic bacteria.
The main symptom is a change in vaginal discharge. Typical BV discharge is greyish-white, more watery and thin, and may smell fishy. BV doesn't usually cause pain, irritation or itching. About half of women may not have any symptoms.
BV is not considered to be a sexually transmitted infection. You can get BV even if you've never had sex. It can happen for no known reason but the following appear to increase your risk of BV:
-Washing with strong soaps or products containing fragrance.
-Vaginal douching.
-Being sexually active.
-Having a new sexual partner.
-Using the copper coil.
-Bubble bath use.
-Having Black ethnicity.
-Smoking.
Having BV can increase your chance of getting a Sexually Transmitted Infection if you don't use protection.
If you are pregnant and have BV, there is a small risk of complications in the pregnancy. Please speak to your GP or midwife if you could be pregnant and have had a change to your discharge.
Zidoval is an antibiotic gel. It is inserted into the vagina using the applicator at night, usually for 5 consecutive days. It works by targeting the anaerobic bacteria while leaving the lactobacilli alone.
It can make symptoms of a co-existing thrush treatment worse. You can treat thrush with medication available over-the-counter without needing a prescription. If your symptoms continue to persist or worsen despite treating both BV and thrush, it is advisable to speak to your GP or a sexual health clinic to have further assessment, which would usually include taking a swab to confirm the diagnosis.
Other side effects include vaginal irritation and abdominal cramps.
A tablet form of the medication can make you feel very unwell if you drink alcohol at the same time (or up to 48 hours afterwards). While this is unlikely to happen when using a vaginal gel, it is still possible, and it is advisable to avoid alcohol while taking this medication.
This isn't recommended.
Please speak to your GP or contact a sexual health clinic as you will likely need further investigations to exclude other possible causes of your symptoms.
First, it is important to make sure that this is definitely BV, and not another infection. This is because other types of infections can have similar symptoms and could be mistaken for BV. This is usually done with a swab. You can ask your GP or practice nurse about this, or contact your local sexual health clinic. Often clinics will post you a swab that you can take at home.
If a swab confirms that this is a second episode of BV, and there is no second type of infection such as thrush that also needs treatment, then usually your GP would prescribe a longer second course of treatment, especially if you have had a recent infection that has been treated already. This longer second course is usually a tablet course, not a gel.
If you keep having multiple infections of BV, please speak to your GP. There are other options of even longer courses of treatment that may help.
If you have had unprotected intercourse with a new partner since your last sexual health screen, it is possible that your symptoms may be due to another infection, and testing is recommended. You can find your local sexual health clinic here (https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health/find-a-sexual-health-clinic) and get in touch to arrange testing. This is recommended ideally before starting a new relationship, but also any time you have had unprotected intercourse with a new partner, as it can be common to have an STI even without any symptoms.
Avoiding the following may reduce the risk of getting BV again:
Bubble baths.
Vaginal douching.
Cleaning the vagina with strong soaps or fragaranced products.
Using shampoo or antiseptics in the bath.
If you have a female partner, they may also need treatment.
As mentioned above, it's best not to drink alcohol while using this and for 48 hours afterwards.
If you are on your period, wait until it finishes to use this treatment (or speak to your GP about an immediate alternative if you cannot wait).
It's also advisable to avoid having sex until the treatment course is completed.
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