What kills the bacteria in BV?

The antibiotics clindamycin and metronidazole are both effective treatments for bacterial vaginosis.
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What is the strongest treatment for BV?

Metronidazole — Metronidazole, taken over multiple days, is one of the most effective treatments for BV. Metronidazole is available as an oral pill or vaginal gel; the choice of pill or gel is based on the person's preferences. The oral pill is taken twice daily for seven days.
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What helps BV stay away?

Steps that might lower your risk of BV include:
  • Keeping your vaginal bacteria balanced. Use warm water only to clean the outside of your vagina. ...
  • Not douching. Douching upsets the balance of good and harmful bacteria in your vagina. ...
  • Not having sex. ...
  • Limiting your number of sex partners.
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What happens if you have BV for too long?

Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.
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Can you get rid of BV without antibiotics?

For some women, mild cases of bacterial vaginosis will go away on their own. However, there are a few remedies you can try at home to relieve symptoms and speed your recovery. If you are unsure whether you have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection, go see your doctor.
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How Do I Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis? | This Morning



How long does bacterial vaginosis last?

Once you start treatment with a simple course of antibiotics, the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) usually go away within two to three days. While in some cases it can resolve on its own without treatment, it can take longer to clear up and it can come back.
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How long should it take for BV to clear up?

While the infection may go away on its own, most doctors use antibiotics to treat it. You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days.
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How do I know my BV is cured?

A sample (a swab) of the discharge in your vagina is taken. This is tested to check you no longer have BV.
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Which probiotics for BV?

Which probiotics are best for BV? Lactobacilli-based probiotics such as Lacticasebacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus reuteri are best for treating BV.
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Why am I getting BV all the time?

BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV. We also do not know how sex causes BV.
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Is Cranberry good for BV?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that cranberry juice may help remedy symptoms. Complete prevention of BV is not possible, however, there are a number of factors to be considered when attempting to reduce the risk of BV.
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Why do I get BV every time I sleep with my boyfriend?

Not using condoms or having new or multiple sex partners can sometimes increase a person's risk for developing BV. "Sex sometimes leads to BV if your partner's natural genital 'chemistry' changes the balance of bacteria in your vagina and causes the bacteria associated with BV to grow,” Dean explains.
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Does boric acid cure BV?

Boric acid may help people with recurrent BV restore their vaginal pH. In one study, the use of 600 mg of boric acid suppositories along with antibiotics helped resolve bacterial infections after two months of treatment in 88% of participants.
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What are the dangers of boric acid suppositories?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible: allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives. vaginal irritation, redness, or burning.
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How many times should I use boric acid for BV?

Most boric acid suppositories come in 600-milligram doses that you insert once a day for 1-2 weeks. 9 For BV prevention, your doctor may suggest continuing treatment 2-3 times a week.
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Why does my husband throw off my pH balance?

Semen can also upset your vaginal pH balance. A healthy vagina is normally acidic, while healthy sperm are alkaline, which can throw off the balance of bacteria in your vagina.
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Does stress cause BV?

Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common.
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What to soak in when you have BV?

Apple cider vinegar. Some people douche with apple cider vinegar or mix it into a bath to treat BV and other vaginal infections.
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What foods should be avoided with BV?

Common triggers to avoid

Foods that dehydrate the body, including alcohol and caffeine, and highly processed and “junk” foods, should be avoided. Foods which contain mould such as peanuts, blue cheeses, grapes and mushrooms are also best avoided as they introduce bad bacteria and yeasts into the digestive system.
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What vitamins help with BV?

To help with BV prevention, 250 mg vitamin C should be used once daily vaginally for six days after your period. While silicone-coated vitamin C is not available in the US, enteric-coated vitamin C is available in the US and can be used in the same way.
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What foods make BV worse?

Researchers suggest that high fat intake, particularly saturated fat may increase vaginal pH, thereby increasing the risk of bacterial vaginosis. As you can see in the associated video Bacterial Vaginosis and Diet, most saturated fat in the American diet comes from dairy, desserts, and chicken.
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