FightAgainstBV.com » Bacterial Vaginosis Prevention

Vaginal Infection Tests and When to Seek Treatment

Bernie — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:58:59 +0000

Chances are, when you hear the words vaginal infection you immediately think of the most popular and prevalent form of infection – the vaginal yeast infection.

Yeast infections are very common and will likely be experienced by the majority of women at least once in their lifetime, and they are usually very treatable with over-the-counter the medications.

But what if the infection does not respond to these treatments and continues to worsen?

When should you seek medical treatment and undergo vaginal infection tests?

While there are rare occasions when yeast infection symptoms will worsen to the point of requiring medical care, often times there is another type of infection at the root of the problem – a type of infection that would not normally respond to over-the-counter yeast infection remedies.

In this article, we will outline some of the more serious vaginal symptoms – symptoms that usually indicate medical treatment is needed, and explain in some detail some of the vaginal infection tests typically used by doctors to determine the cause of the infection and the best course of treatment.

Vaginal Infection Tests - When to Seek Treatment

Yeast infections, which are caused by fungus overgrowth, share many of the same symptoms as bacterial infections (bacterial vaginosis and Chlamydia), as well as many parasitical or protozoan infections (trichomoniasis).

These symptoms include vaginal itch, irritation, redness and vaginal discharge, usually with a strong, foul odor.

Yeast infections are the most common cause of these symptoms, but certainly not the only one, so if any of the following apply it is probably time to seek medical treatment :

Yellow or Green Vaginal Discharge. Discharge resulting from yeast infections is usually white-gray in color. Yellow or green discharge can be an indication of a bacterial or parasitical infection.
Stomach or Back Pain. While vaginal yeast infections are itchy and uncomfortable, they are usually not painful.
Vomiting or Fever. Vomiting and fever can also be the sign of a more serious bacterial infection.
Your Symptoms Have Not Improved in Three Days. Yeast infection symptoms will tend to ease with treatment by the second or third day.
Rash or Lesions. Rash or lesions on the vagina or vaginal area are not characteristic of a simple yeast infection.
Dizziness. If you begin to feel weak, dizzy or unstable you should always seek immediate medical treatment.

Vaginal Infection Tests and Diagnosis

Doctors have many methods at their disposal for the testing of various vaginal infections, some more involved than others.

In the initial diagnostic phase, you will be asked several questions that can help doctors get a clearer picture of your symptoms.

Some of the questions you might be asked include :

When was the onset of your condition, including the onset of discharge?
What are the amount, appearance and odor of the discharge and have any of these characteristics changed in any way since the date of onset?
Are you experiencing pain, a burning sensation or itching?
Are you sexually active, and if so, does your partner(s) have discharge from his penis?
Are you taking any medications?
What, if anything, helps to relieve your symptoms?
What type of soaps and cleansers do you use to wash your body and clothes?
Do you often wear tight clothing, especially tight undergarments?

Questions such as these can help steer doctors toward a potential cause, and will usually be followed by a series of vaginal infection tests, including :

Blood Tests. Blood tests can be helpful in identifying any potential bacterial infections.
Complete Vaginal Examination. A complete vaginal examination can help doctors identify any overt irritation or bleeding. Generally, the doctor will use individual swabs to collect samples of the vaginal discharge, and later examine these samples microscopically to determine whether the infection is fungal, bacterial or caused by a protozoan.
Pap Tests. A pap test can help rule out any potentially serious conditions such as cervical cancer.
STD Tests. If it is determined from the vaginal infection test that you are suffering from trichomoniasis, additional tests may be needed to check for other sexually transmitted diseases.

When the symptoms of a vaginal infection do not respond to yeast infection treatments, or when they continue to worsen over time, vaginal infection tests are the only method for pinpointing the exact cause of the infection so that proper treatment can be administered.

How Do I Get Diagnosed for Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bernie — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:15:21 +0000

There are no complicated procedures to diagnose bacterial vaginosis.

The very first thing the doctor does is to have a visual vagina examination to detect the signs and symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. There are some women who are shy about this and might refuse the doctor to do so.

The next test is to take some vagina fluids for chemical testing in the laboratory. This is to determine the pH level of the vaginal fluids and to determine what bacterias are found in it.

These tests wouldn’t take long as more doctors have the needed requirement in their premises.

Bacterial Vaginosis FAQ

How Can I Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bernie — Sat, 01 May 2010 12:57:18 +0000

Here are some common steps to prevent bacterial vaginosis and lower your risk of being infected.

Abstain from having sex is the best way to prevent bacterial vaginosis, other vaginal infections and STDs.
Limit the number of sex partners. It is not advisable to have more than one sex partner at any one time as this will greatly disrupt the balance of the vaginal flora. (Further Reading : How Oral Sex Could Easily Cause Bacterial Vaginosis)
Do not douche during bath, or limit it to once a week. Douching will cause the bacterias found in the vagina to go right up into the uterus and fallopian tubes which might cause other diseases.
Always practice healthy vaginal hygiene. (Further Reading : 7 Steps to Proper Vaginal Hygiene After Sexual Intercourse, 18 Steps Towards A Healthy Vaginal Hygiene)
Wear the right type of underwear and change them daily. (Further Reading : Does Wearing The Wrong Material of Underwear Expose You to Bacterial Vaginosis?
Keep a healthy daily diet. (Further Reading : How to Have A Healthy Daily Diet That Keeps Bacterial Vaginosis Away)

Bacterial Vaginosis FAQ

7 Steps to Proper Vaginal Hygiene After Sexual Intercourse

Bernie — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:36:43 +0000

One of the areas regarding sexual intercourse that also is not taught is about vaginal hygiene after sexual intercourse.

Even though sexual intercourse a normal part of life and the body was created to have sexual intercourse, there’s a gap in the knowledge about it.

Children are not taught what is normal and what is not.

They are not taught what is dangerous and what is not.

As we become an adult, we often end up getting our information about sexual intercourse from television, friends, the Internet or even pornographic literature.

When this happens, we end up believing some things that are true and others that are not.

Below are some guidelines about proper vaginal hygiene after intercourse.

1. Always urinate after sexual intercourse. This will prevent any bacteria from breeding that may be close to the urethra.

2. Wash the external part of the vagina, the labia and then the outside of the vagina with a clean washcloth and warm soapy water. Start at the front and when finished with the front area, move the washcloth to the anus area. Do not return the washcloth back to clean the vaginal area after washing the anus.

The best way to perform this feminine hygiene process is under the shower where all the suds can be easily rinsed away. Make sure that you do not re-use the washcloth since bacteria breeds quickly on washcloths that are wet or moist.

3. There is no need to douche after sexual intercourse. The vagina is self-cleansing. However, if you have bacterial vaginosis, you may want to douche with warm distilled water and about a tablespoon of plain yogurt with live cultures.

You can also douche with warm water and then insert a slightly open probiotics capsule containing live Lactobacillus bacteria. This will cut down on negative odors that tend to be prevalent after someone with bacterial vaginosis has intercourse.

The reason why you use warm water and not hot is because the normal flora of the vagina and surrounding tissues has a certain temperature that helps support its growth. If that temperature is increased, you will kill the sensitive Lactobacillus bacteria, which will allow other harmful, pathogenic bacteria to grow.

If the temperature is too cold, the same thing will happen. The water should be about body temperature, 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a temperature that feels warm to your touch, not too hot.

4. If you are healthy, there is no need to wash more than once daily, excluding after intercourse. If you are menstruating, you may want to freshen up twice daily or if there is an excess flow.

5. Perfumes and talcum powders are not necessary for the vaginal area. If you feel that you have to use them, check with your doctor to see if you have an infection. Talcum powder has been found to be carcinogenic and can lead to female reproductive system cancers.

6. After washing, always put on clean underwear.

7. A last hygiene step regards rinsing your mouth with mouthwash or a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water. This is the hydrogen peroxide that you can find at the drug store. While rinsing your mouth, swoosh the hydrogen peroxide/water combination back and forth. If you get bubbles, it means that you are killing bacteria.

By keeping up good feminine vaginal hygiene, you can stay healthy!

Does Wearing The Wrong Material of Underwear Expose You to Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bernie — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:19:52 +0000

When you’re trying to decipher the factors that affect your own bacterial vaginosis, there are many things to consider.

Women are always commenting that the underwear they wear contributes to their bacterial vaginosis reoccurrences.

They say that if the underwear does not have a cotton crotch or is not made of cotton, it causes a flare-up of the BV symptoms.

They say that when they wear underwear made of anything other than cotton that they have problems.

Many women believe that all these habits related to daily living are factors in bacterial vaginosis flare-ups and re-occurrences. The way to monitor yourself on these personal habits is to keep a record of the habits and also your bacterial vaginosis symptoms. This way you can track how each of these habits affect you.

One of the most important things to track for your underwear is what pair of underwear you wore for the day.

For example, did you wear a thong?

Did you wear bikini style or high cut style?

Some health care providers have stated that wearing a thong is actually not recommended for any woman, without even considering those with bacterial vaginosis. They say that a thong is a health risk.

A thong rubs tight against the vagina and anus and has the potential to transmit bacteria from the anus to the vagina better than bikini style or high cut underwear. By doing this, the bacteria can cause a vaginal infection that lowers the amount of Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina.

This would precipitate a re-occurrence of bacterial vaginosis.

When you track your underwear, also write down what type of fabric the underwear is made from. Just look on the label; you may need a magnifying glass but the fabric will be listed.

You can also track your underwear based on its color or pattern. For example, the smiley face underwear might be tracked with the words smiley face and the red lace underwear might be tracked with the words red lace.

The scientific community has actually researched the effects of different habits on bacterial vaginosis. One study called Personal Hygienic Behaviors and Bacterial Vaginosis followed the habits of 3620 women and then analyzed the data with regression analysis.

By the sheer number of participants in the study, you know there is enough to not raise a red flag about the study. Research studies with ten or less subjects are just not large enough to make any valid conclusions.

In this study, you may be surprised to find out that they did not find a correlation between nylon underwear and bacterial vaginosis. Instead, they found a correlation between vaginal douching and incidence of bacterial vaginosis.

The problem with the studies is that unless we go directly to the researchers and specifically ask them what exactly was studied, we don’t get the whole truth. For example, was the douche made from synthetic chemicals or was it hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar or yogurt?

Was the underwear strictly cotton or nylon or did some women wear rayon/nylon?

Was the underwear that was worn bikini style or thongs?

In research studies, we need all the details to make the final conclusion. It could be that the study was performed properly but the conclusion reached was in error. In this study, we just don’t have enough data to go on.

Your best answer to the question of whether or not you should wear nylon or cotton underwear is to try it yourself. Many women have found a correlation between wearing cotton underwear and an improvement in symptoms from Candida yeast infections.

Does that connection hold for bacterial vaginosis?

Only you can find out. Don’t take someone’s word for it. Check it out. Wear cotton underwear one month, then nylon the next month. Then evaluate what occurred.

Be your own scientist.

No related articles.

Beware! Bacterial Vaginosis Is Contagious (And How to Prevent It)

Bernie — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:26:26 +0000

In bacterial vaginosis infection, the microbes that are predominant are most often Gardenerella, Staphylococcus or Streptococcus. These microbes will be reproducing in high numbers inside the vaginal secretions and they will cause a fishy odor smell.

So how is bacterial vaginosis contagious?

To answer this question, think of how infections are spread. Obviously, someone won’t be breathing it in, or will they? Well, if they are having oral sex with the vagina of a woman who has bacterial vaginosis, then it’s possible to be breathing it in–in high quantities through the mouth and nose. When this occurs, the person now has large amounts of the microbe in his or her mouth, throat and possibly nose.

If some vaginal secretions are swallowed, the microbe is now in the intestinal tract. This isn’t really a method for transmission of bacterial vaginosis primarily because the stomach acid may possibly kill it.

The third way that infections are transferred is certainly possible with bacterial vaginosis–through an open cut. If two women for example are having oral sex, or in a kinkier situation with three women when only one woman has bacterial vaginosis, the other two women can contract it from the infected woman.

Tampons cause microulcerations in the vaginal tissue, and when a mouth adds the microbe to the vagina of the woman with the microulcerations, in essence she transports them directly to those microulcerations. The microbes then begin to multiply. You’ll have to imagine the kinky details yourself.

To reduce the risk of contracting bacterial vaginosis, here are three suggestions:

Reduce your dependence on tampons and switch over to sanitary pads. This one habit could save you the microulcerations that leave you prone to infections.
Use the seat paper protectants in the rest rooms. This can potentially limit the transfer of large amounts of microbes to your skin.
Make sure you have adequate protein and essential fats in your diet. Going vegetarian with little high-quality protein (fish, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, wild meats, eggs, milk, dairy products) or eating like Jack Sprat who ate no fat is not healthy. Adequate protein in the diet keeps your skin healthy and resistant to invasion of microbes in small skin abrasions and allows your body to make antibodies to ward off bacteria. Essential fats keep the cell wall strong and resistant to infections.

18 Steps Towards A Healthy Vaginal Hygiene

Bernie — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:20:38 +0000

It’s common to hear about oral hygiene that includes brushing your teeth, tongue, and gums as well as flossing. It’s also common to hear about the importance of good vaginal hygiene, which means bathing and smelling fresh down there.

Habits that Contribute to A Healthy Vaginal Hygiene

For healthy vaginal hygiene; that’s something we don’t hear about much, if at all, other than to wash the private parts area of our body from front to back.

When you take a bath, don’t just gloss over the vaginal area with the soap and washcloth. Get in the ‘nooks and crannies’ by spreading the vulva lips open and sussing them up. Wash the urethra area and the clitoris area. It’s important to wash all these areas because they have secretions. Wash the outside of the vagina and about a fourth of an inch on the inside certainly won’t hurt you at all. Make sure you wash the rectum with a nice soapy washcloth as well.
Before you have sexual intercourse, wash the genital area. It’s best to take a quick shower before sexual intercourse so you’re squeaky clean. That way you’ll feel more confident.
After you have sexual intercourse, wash the genital area. That doesn’t mean to do it hours later. Try to hop into the shower or at least wash at the sink within 20 minutes.
After washing, dry the area. Wet areas attract bacteria that breed faster when moisture is around.
When menstruating, change the pad or tampon after three or four hours or when it becomes moist.
Tampons have been found in the research studies to cause micro-ulcerations of the vaginal tissue. This makes it easier for bacteria and sexually-transmitted diseases to lodge in the tissues. Consider using sanitary pads, not tampons.
Don’t use tampons at times other than when you have your period. Using them to soak up a vaginal discharge means that you’re not addressing what’s happening in your body. If the vaginal discharge is in excess, get a medical doctor to evaluate it.
Never wear a tampon for more than 8 hours. You must keep track mentally of when a tampon is inserted and when it comes out. Women especially in their 20s can sometimes forget they inserted a tampon and then a day or two later when a bad smell emanates from their vagina, they may remember it. If this happens, do not douche. The tampon will start degrading and disintegrating. Meanwhile, there are clumps of bacteria reproducing wildly. Douching will send the bacteria up higher and could end up causing pelvic inflammatory disease. In this case, you have two choices: 1) go to the doctor and let him/her deal with it professionally, or 2) start pulling out the pieces on your own after you washed your hands, then go to the doctor to make sure it’s all out. You maintain some dignity with choice #2.
Remember the women who lived before you in the 1970s and 1980s that developed Toxic Shock Syndrome. Some of them died. They used tampons that were super-absorbent and made of rayon. Remember also that Toxic Shock Syndrome never existed before feminine hygiene product companies started using super-absorbent cotton and added dioxin and bleaching agents.
Give up wearing tight pants and tight underwear. They cause friction that becomes an irritation to the vagina and can break down the tissues, allowing bacterial infections to start.
Cover public toilet seats with paper before sitting down. Every time you flush, bacteria are thrust into the air from the toilet.
Change your underwear daily or more often if necessary.
Change your underwear if it becomes wet.
Do not sit around for hours in a wet swimsuit.
If you suspect that you have a vaginal infection, make an appointment for medical help within 24 hours.
Eat yogurt regularly in your diet. This helps maintain the proper pH of the vagina.
Take probiotics supplements whenever possible.
Sex toys that are inserted into the vagina can be harmful. Think about it: what are they made of? Plastics, including PVC. Do you really want polyvinylchloride chemicals that close to your delicate reproductive tissues? Have you seen the rates of cancer and reproductive system disorders lately?

Are You Ashamed of The Fishy Odor Down There?

Bernie — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:53:43 +0000

If you have bacterial vaginosis, you are well aware of a fishy odor that is found in your vaginal secretions.

The odor worsens after sexual intercourse, which makes sense because during sex, the vaginal secretions increase. However, knowing that doesn’t make it any easier; what do you do?

Do you stop getting excited during lovemaking?

If you opt for this route, your partner could conceivably start thinking that you’re not interested in him anymore or imagine that you are seeing someone else.

Fishy Odor Caused By Bacterial Vaginosis

Have you noticed that it’s downright embarrassing and may at times, make you feel ashamed? If not, think hard for a moment.

How did you feel at these times when the odor was quite strong?

at holiday meals when you’re around other females who know what the smell is
at work when you’re working late and you notice that the smell intensified during the day
after making love in the morning, then going to work
while socializing or networking at a party after a long day of work (How many great contacts did you really get on these days?)
while out on a date at a restaurant when the waiter’s nose twitches every time he comes to the table
when your children (or the children you are around) ask, “What’s that smell?”
in the locker room at the gym or at school when you’re around other women
while sitting in church on a hot day when the fans aren’t working and you have to climb over everyone in the pews
while working in tight quarters with men at work
during cheer leading practice
during dance practice or during dancing events on weekends

The fact is that the fishy odor follows you everywhere and you must do something about it.

And this fishy odor is found in just about everyone with bacterial vaginosis.

So how can you overcome the fishy odor?

You might think that using deodorant sanitary pads are the answer. Trying to cover it up with a stronger smell seems to make sense.

Well, think that solution through pretty carefully before you use it. Look at the evidence about the link between deodorants and breast cancer. Why is it that the highest number of breast tumors are found in the area of the breast closest to where deodorants are applied in the armpit? And now you want to wear a deodorant pad? Common sense says that this won’t work in the long run.

Let’s face it.

You could spend time trying to trick yourself into believing that the smell isn’t there. You can even get into denial and accusation by asking the question, “What’s that smell?” when you’re amongst a group of people, even though the smell is coming from your vagina. But these coping mechanisms are not based on truth and your body registers every lie you tell.

Really, the only answer is to clear up the bacterial vaginosis and clear it up fast.

What You Can Do About The Fishy Odor

Here are some ways to do just that:

Eliminate the bacterial vaginosis within a few hours by eating yogurt, consuming probiotics or slipping a probiotics capsule into the vaginal area.

Thousands of women report that one little capsule of probiotics in the vagina can clear up the fishy odor in a few hours. Others report that the fishy odor is gone overnight. You can continue the procedure for 7 days, just to make sure there are plenty of Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina.

Again, don’t waste your time with psychological methods to deal with bacterial vaginosis. Go right for the cure.

No related articles.

Why People Have Chronic Bacterial Vaginosis and What to Do About It

Bernie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:22:31 +0000

Having recurrent bacterial vaginosis is downright frustrating!

The fishy odor follows a woman everywhere she goes and she never feels clean. On top of that, she may have vaginal irritation and also a grayish discharge that keeps staining her panties.

Main Reasons Women Have Chronic Bacterial Vaginosis

The main reason why women get chronic bacterial vaginosis is that their vaginal flora is out of balance. This can happen for a number of reasons:

Diet contains too much sugar that changes the pH of the vagina, killing helpful bacteria and promoting harmful bacteria.
Diet contains too little vegetables and is primarily the type of diet that is either fast food or out of the can or package.
Lifestyle contains too much stress. Stress produces hormones and compounds that break down the body tissue, shifting metabolism to catabolism, which leads to increased pH and vaginal pH out of the normal preferred range.
Irritation of the vaginal area from tight-fitting clothes, laundry detergents, or sanitary pads with chemicals in them
Previous usage of an antibiotic that alters the vaginal flora as a side effect

Even obtaining medical treatment may not be a solution.

Studies show that 25% or more of women treated with the standard medical treatments – either Flagyl or Clindamycin – have a recurrence of bacterial vaginosis one month later.

Their life story can start to sound like a broken record:

Get bacterial vaginosis – get treatment – get bacterial vaginosis – get treatment – get bacterial vaginosis – get treatment with no final solution in sight. Treatment from a medical doctor doesn’t guarantee a cure.

Medical doctors report that combining Flagyl with Lactobacillus capsules can make their treatment more effective.

Although sexual intercourse doesn’t cause bacterial vaginosis – it’s not a sexually transmitted disease, it is true that having more than a few partners in the bedroom can contribute. It’s possible that everyone carries their own flora and the mixing of the flora from multiple partners can be enough for the vaginal flora to become confused and not know whose flora should predominate. Consequently, the flora can become high in the types of anaerobic bacteria that are linked with bacterial vaginosis, and they begin proliferating.

What to Do About Bacterial Vaginosis

The best solution for bacterial vaginosis is to work on the body from within, paying attention to your health on a daily basis. By doing this, you can keep your pH within normal ranges. Here are the easiest ways to do that:

A few years ago, alkaline water machines came on the market. These machines can create alkaline water from your tap water. When alkaline water is drunk, the result is that it alkalizes the body, bringing the body’s pH in all body parts to where it should be. You don’t just need a gallon, though. Instead you’ll need a few quarts each day.

Eat more vegetables. We could all use this word of advice! Green vegetables are the ones that can alkalize the body and they do a great job at it. You’ll need about 4 or more servings of green veggies a day to make a difference. That means an omelet with green onions, green peas, tomatoes and mushrooms over a bed of spinach for breakfast. Lunch can include a serving of broccoli and a salad with a few kale leaves. Dinner can include a serving of okra along with another green vegetable of your choice. This type of diet isn’t really that difficult to eat; it just takes a little planning. The advantage is that your flora will love you for it!

Get in a habit of spending 10-20 minutes to de-stress. The way you do this could be exercising, taking the dog for a walk, listening to music, taking an extra shower, a trip to the spa, sitting in the sunshine, praying, singing, or offering someone hope and encouragement.

Eat yogurt and kefir milk in your diet.

At least once a week, open a probiotics capsule partially and insert it into the vagina. The healthy bacteria will then grow and proliferate.

When you actually have an active bacterial vaginosis infection, soak a tampon in yogurt for about 10 minutes and insert it in the vagina. Leave for a few hours, remove it and do it again. Do this twice daily for a week.

These are six changes you can make to cut down on the number of times you get bacterial vaginosis.

What Is A Healthy Vaginal Flora And How to Have One

Bernie — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:33:04 +0000

Just as there are good and bad bacteria found inside the intestinal tract, there are good and bad bacteria found inside the vagina flora.

The good bacteria are bacteria that keep the tissues healthy and do not cause any type of disease.

The bad bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease if their numbers increase.

How A Healthy Vaginal Flora Looks Like

The normal flora of the vagina includes the following bacteria:

Lactobacillus species
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus mitis
Enterococcus faecalis
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pyogenes
Neisseria species
Neisseria meningitides
E. coliProteus species
CorynebacteriaMycoplasmas

From this list, you can see that many of them can potentially cause disease.

For example, Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections that may become antibiotic-resistant. E. coli can cause infections as well.

The good and bad bacteria depend on each other for their survival while they live in the normal flora.

When the numbers of good bacteria dwindle, the bad bacteria take over and cause disease.

In the vagina, symptoms such as discharge, smell, pain, burning and itching indicate that the bad bacteria have taken over.

Healthy vaginal flora protects the body from infection. It also keeps the tissues healthy.

Daily Habits and Ideas to Keep the Vagina Healthy

Eat plain, unflavored yogurt with live active cultures at least three times a week
Wear cotton underwear that fits you well and doesn’t rub against the skin in the wrong way
After going to the bathroom, wipe front to back. This prevents the introduction of bacteria from the rectum into the vagina
If you wear tampons, change them frequently. The longer that you leave them in, the faster the bacteria on them will breed, causing potential infections
Change tampons after you urinate to prevent urine from traveling up the tampon into the vagina
If your vagina feels dry during intercourse, use a lubricant. When your vagina is dry, you risk minor tears in the wall that occur during intercourse
Don’t douche. Douching removes the good bacteria without replacing it
Don’t use feminine hygiene products such as powders, sanitary pads, or sprays with deodorant
Don’t wear tight-fitting pants–they rub against the vagina causing irritation that can contribute to infections
Eat a healthy diet that contains very little processed foods and sugar. These foods change the pH of your vagina
Resist the urge to have multiple sex partners. Studies show a correlation of multiple sex partners with recurring infections of bacterial vaginosis even though it isn’t a sexually transmitted disease
Never re-use a condom
Once you find out you have bacterial vaginosis, clear it up as soon as possible. If you choose to use natural methods, make sure that you go back to the gynecologist for another test that shows it has cleared up.
Give serious consideration to the type of sanitary products you use. Pads or tampons that contain deodorant are an ‘insult’ to the delicate vaginal tissues. Most sanitary pads and tampons are not sanitary at all! Instead they contain bleaches, plastics, and dioxins from recycled materials. These chemicals are absorbed by the reproductive system. It’s no wonder that women suffer from cramps, PMS, fibroids, and reproductive cancers at such high rates. Teenagers are now being diagnosed with ovarian cancer! Switch to a brand that keeps you dry, has no chemicals at all, is biodegradable, and prevents infections with unique technology.
Often, sanitary pads are stored underneath the sink in the bathroom where it’s really not that sanitary. Moreover, many sanitary pads or tampons may not be wrapped to keep out infectious bacteria. Store your box of pads or tampons in the bedroom, not the bathroom where germs become airborne every time you flush the toilet.
Sanitary pads have an expiration date on them. Beyond this expiration date, the pads will have accumulated too much bacterial contamination, even though they are in a ‘wrapped’ package. Throw them out if they’re past the expiration date.