Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection that can result in an unpleasant odor, itching, and unusual vaginal discharge. It occurs due to an overgrowth of ‘unfriendly’ bacteria in the vaginal microbiome or a decline in ‘friendly’ bacteria. Several home remedies for BV are hyped online, but not all are safe, effective, or helpful.
What is Bacterial Vaginosis and Why Does it Occur?
Bacterial vaginosis is recognized as the most common vaginal infection in women of reproductive age in the US, but it can also occur postmenopause.
It occurs when the perfect balance of ‘friendly’ and ‘unfriendly’ bacteria within the vaginal microbiome is disrupted. This delicate stability of ‘good’ and ‘harmful’ bacteria is what keeps the vagina healthy and clean, but when harmful bacteria outnumber the good bacteria, a vaginal infection can occur.
Natural Remedies for BV: What Really Works?
Although antibiotics are always required to treat BV, Boric Acid Suppositories and a blended mix of probiotics & prebiotics have become life-changers for women who experience recurring infections.
Boric Acid Suppositories
When taken in conjunction with antibiotics, Boric Acid Suppositories have been found to prevent recurring BV in 92% of women who were previously prone to repeat infections. With its natural anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, boric acid is also commonly used to stop recurring yeast infections.
Boric acid vaginal suppositories not only eradicate the overgrowth of harmful bacteria that cause BV, but they also restore a healthy vaginal pH and rebalance the vaginal microbiome after infection. Indeed, the Boric Balance Suppositories from female health experts Intimate Rose provide such quick relief from BV symptoms that customers report less odor, itching, and irritation within 24 hours.
Although safe, effective, and ideal to treat and prevent BV in women of reproductive age who are sensitive to antibiotics and peri or postmenopausal women experiencing low estrogen levels, boric acid is not safe for women with BV during pregnancy.
Probiotics & Prebiotics for BV
Probiotics in food like yogurt can rebalance the gut microbiome for healthy digestion. But without prebiotics, the beneficial bacteria known as lactobacilli rarely remain alive for long enough to reach the vagina and benefit the vaginal microbiome.
This is why, in addition to four probiotic strains that boost digestion and gut health, Flora Bloom Probiotics for women also contain prebiotics to help the lactobacilli survive throughout the digestive tract and into the vaginal canal. This essential blend of probiotics and prebiotics can reset the vaginal microbiome, regulate pH levels, and prevent future vaginal infections.
Ideal for women who are prone to repeated BV or yeast infections, Flora Bloom Feminine Probiotics can be taken long-term and are safe while pregnant.
Which Natural Remedies Will Not Cure BV?
Yogurt, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and hydrogen peroxide each have benefits as natural remedies. Unfortunately, none of them treat or cure a BV infection, and most are even harmful for such a sensitive part of the body.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Although two small studies investigated using hydrogen peroxide solution as a vaginal douche to treat BV, the evidence did not suggest it was worth following up. Its mildly antiseptic properties may temporarily improve BV odor and irritation, but hydrogen peroxide solution as a vaginal wash was not considered safe or effective for treating BV.
Garlic Cloves
Garlic contains allicin, which has antimicrobial properties that fight harmful bacteria, and it prompted a study into using garlic vaginal suppositories as a natural treatment for BV. However, the study results were inconsistent and provided researchers with no reason to recommend it.
The myth that BV can be treated by inserting raw garlic cloves into the vagina comes from these short studies with inconsistent results. When the reality is that placing garlic in the vagina causes more itching and irritation for most, and chemical burns for some.
Tea Tree Oil
Due to its natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties, tea tree oil has been mentioned online as a treatment or cure for BV; however, it is not considered a safe treatment for BV. Using tea tree oil in or around the sensitive skin of the vagina, even when diluted, can cause burning, further irritation, and allergic reactions.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Because apple cider vinegar is acidic, some natural advocates promote that it can restore the mildly acidic vaginal pH when a BV infection occurs; however, this could not be further from the truth, and no studies or research exist as evidence.
Adding apple cider vinegar to bath water or using it as a douche to clean the vagina will kill protective bacteria like lactobacilli as well as harmful bacteria, and only make a BV infection and vaginal irritation worse.
Yogurt
Due to the bacterial imbalance that causes BV, some suggest that natural yogurt may help because it contains probiotics known as lactobacilli, which are ‘friendly’ bacteria that also exist in the vaginal microbiome.
Although probiotics are commonly taken to balance the gut microbiome and aid in digestion, lactobacilli rarely reach the vaginal microbiome without the aid of prebiotics, which are not present in yogurt. And applying yogurt to the vagina directly may cause more irritation when an infection already exists.
What Can You Do to Prevent BV?
Despite not fully comprehending what causes BV, female health experts know that the following lifestyle changes can help prevent BV and other vaginal infections from initially occurring and recurring.
- Use condoms during intercourse to protect the vaginal pH from being disrupted by the alkalinity of a penis
- Urinate after sex to flush any harmful bacteria that were spread from the penis during intercourse
- Wash the vagina after sex with a clean washcloth and warm water to further eliminate any offensive bacteria, and patting the sensitive vaginal skin dry rather than rubbing it will prevent irritation
- Wear breathable cotton underwear instead of those made from synthetic materials to keep the vaginal area cool, and free of humidity or moisture, where harmful bacteria can thrive
- Always wipe front to back after using the bathroom to prevent spreading anal bacteria to the vagina
- Never use douches or scented products to clean or freshen the vagina. Synthetic fragrances can alter the vaginal pH, disrupt bacterial balance, and lead to infection.
- Avoid using hot tubs and heavily scented products for bubble baths
Are BV Symptoms the Same for Everyone?
Not exactly, BV symptoms can vary between women. In fact, over 50% of women with BV experience no symptoms at all and are only aware that they have the condition when it is detected during a routine gynecological exam.
When BV symptoms arise, the most common are:
- An unpleasant ‘fishy’ odor,
- A thin, watery vaginal discharge that can appear gray or white,
- Vaginal itching or irritation
- Pain during intercourse
- A burning sensation while urinating
Due to the similarity in symptoms, many women assume they have a yeast infection or urinary tract infection (UTI) when BV arises. The unpleasant odor can range from mild to severe, irritation too, and the burning sensation while peeing does not appear for every woman with BV.
Unfortunately, when BV is left untreated, it can lead to complications during pregnancy and trigger the onset of a more serious infection known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Is Medication Required to Treat BV?
Yes, medical treatment in the form of antibiotics is required to control the overgrowth of harmful bacteria associated with BV. Without antibiotics, a BV infection will not go away on its own.
Regrettably, as many as 58% of women are known to experience a recurring BV infection within one year of taking antibiotics.
Why Does BV Keep Happening?
Despite antibiotic treatment, as many as 30% of women report a BV relapse within a month, 80% within nine months, and 58% within a year. The fact that some patients stop taking their antibiotics for BV once symptoms improve can somewhat explain recurrence because the infection is not fully cleared. However, BV also reappears in women who complete their antibiotic treatment, and in these cases, antibiotic sensitivity could be at the root of repeated BV infections.
For instance, taking antibiotics not only destroys harmful bacteria, but they also kill beneficial bacteria like lactobacilli. This can leave a woman’s immune system depleted, the vaginal microbiome unrestored, and a vagina susceptible to further infection.
Women who are affected by the alkalinity of their partner’s penis may be prone to BV each time they have unprotected sex. And intercourse may also increase the risk of BV in women who are genetically disposed to producing more of the bacteria Gardnerella vaginalis.
Due to the impact low estrogen can have on the vaginal microbiome; pregnancy, perimenopause, and postmenopause are also known to contribute to recurring BV infections.
And this is where two safe and effective natural remedies for BV can play an important role.
Conclusion
Although antibiotics are necessary to treat BV, two natural remedies have proven helpful in preventing commonly recurring BV infections that can occur up to a year after treatment.
Boric Acid Suppositories, when taken together with antibiotic treatment, not only relieve vaginal itching and burning within 24 hours, they also restore healthy vaginal pH levels after a BV infection, and re-establish the balance of bacteria within the vaginal microbiome to prevent further infection from occurring.
Flora Bloom Probiotics provide ongoing support for women prone to antibiotic resistance and repeating BV infections by helping lactobacilli reach the vaginal microbiome for a more stabilized bacterial balance.
Before adding Boric Acid Suppositories or Probiotics to your BV treatment, check with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re taking other medications. While boric acid is not safe during pregnancy, probiotics and boric acid, taken separately or together, are considered safe, effective, and affordable treatments to prevent recurring BV infections.
References
National Institutes of Health - Bacterial Vaginosis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459216/
National Library of Medicine - Clinicians’ use of Intravaginal Boric Acid Maintenance Therapy for Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Bacterial Vaginosis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6878170/
National Institutes of Health - Probiotics are a good choice for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9195231/
National Institutes of Health - Utilisation of hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of recurrent bacterial vaginosis - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14676737/
National Institutes of Health - Effect of a yoghurt drink containing Lactobacillus strains on bacterial vaginosis in women - a double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical pilot trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29065710/
National Institutes of Health - Comparing the Therapeutic Effects of Garlic Tablet and Oral Metronidazole on Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4166107/
National Institutes of Health - In Vitro Susceptibilities of Lactobacilli and Organisms Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis to Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC89050/
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.