It depends on the gender of your sex partner.

If your partner is a man, he does not need any bacterial vaginosis treatment. Even though a man cannot suffer from bacterial vaginosis, he can be the carrier of it. One of the common ways bacterial vaginosis is transferred between women via a man is that he has oral sex with both the women, and one of the woman has bacterial vaginosis.

If your partner is a woman, then both of you needs to be treated if any one if diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis because it could spread easily through oral sex or physical contact of the vagina.

Bacterial Vaginosis FAQ

1. Is Bacterial Vaginosis Common Among Women?
2. How Can I Get Bacterial Vaginosis?
3. What Are The Risks Involved if I Have Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy?
4. What Are The Health Complications of Bacterial Vaginosis?
5. What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?
6. What Treatments Are Available for Bacterial Vaginosis?
7. I Have Bacterial Vaginosis. Does My Partner Needs Treatment Too?
8. Do I Need to Routinely Test for Bacterial Vaginosis During My Pregnancy?
9. How Can I Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis?

There are 2 types of bacterial vaginosis treatments widely used today. Antibiotics and home remedies.

First time sufferers are usually given antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl) or Clindamycin.  They are usually prescribed in the form of vaginal cream or you can also opt for oral medications for these.

The purpose of antibiotics is to kill off all the good and bad bacterias found in the vaginal flora and hopefully bacterial vaginosis will go away. This usually works well for first time suffers.

But there are a lot of cases where the woman complained about recurring bacterial vaginosis after the first one was cured, usually about 1-2 months earlier. This is the time where antibiotics will not work as effectively as it was before which leads us to the second kind of bacterial vaginosis treatment – home remedies.

Home remedies are becoming popular these days because of effectiveness. They range from yogurt, liquid probiotics, folic acid supplements, apple cider vinegar and oatmeal poultice.

Bacterial Vaginosis FAQ

1. Is Bacterial Vaginosis Common Among Women?
2. How Can I Get Bacterial Vaginosis?
3. What Are The Risks Involved if I Have Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy?
4. What Are The Health Complications of Bacterial Vaginosis?
5. What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Bacterial Vaginosis?
6. What Treatments Are Available for Bacterial Vaginosis?
7. I Have Bacterial Vaginosis. Does My Partner Needs Treatment Too?
8. Do I Need to Routinely Test for Bacterial Vaginosis During My Pregnancy?
9. How Can I Prevent Bacterial Vaginosis?

Apple cider vinegar has an effect on the body where it corrects the pH. In most people their pH is off because they are eating foods such as processed foods, sweets, candies and even chocolates loaded with sugar. They are drinking beverages laced with fructose, sucrose, corn syrup and corn syrup derivatives, and sugar. These sugars also change the pH of the body. By adding a slightly weak acid, that of apple cider vinegar to the diet, you can begin to shift the body’s pH back to normal.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks

Some websites on the internet will say that you can simply add 2 oz. apple cider vinegar to 6 oz. water and drink it three times daily for bacterial vaginosis. I disagree.

Here’s why. For many years, I’ve watched what happens to women that take apple cider vinegar. Many of them take a tablespoon in a glass of water and drink it down. Others take a teaspoon. A tablespoon is too much! It can precipitate fatigue, joint swelling, joint pain, headaches, and skin breakouts. One tablespoon is too much!

Can you imagine how bad the poor women that used 2 oz. apple cider vinegar in 6 oz. water three times daily felt?

One teaspoon in water once or twice maximum per day is the recommended amount if you wish to drink it. Make sure you get the raw unfiltered version. Even though it looks like something’s growing in it, know that it’s supposed to look like that.

Apple Cider Vinegar Douche

Other websites will say that you can use the apple cider vinegar as a douche. This is correct, but again, don’t go using too much or you’re in for some hard times. Use one teaspoon in about 2 cups of water in a douche bag and douche away. You will no doubt have to repeat it a few times for it to work.

Repeat it once daily until the bacterial vaginosis is gone.

Apple Cider Vinegar Baths

Another way to use apple cider vinegar to treat bacterial vaginosis is to add it to the bathtub water. Before you do this, clean out your bathtub really well. Then fill it with warm water and add one cup apple cider vinegar. Sit in the tub for about 20 minutes. The slight acidity of the water will be soothing to the irritation on the labia and around the vagina. You may also want to douche with the apple cider vinegar as well.

Remember that bacterial vaginosis is improper pH AND not enough of the right vaginal flora so just by changing the pH, you may not have enough good results. You must replenish the flora.

Bacterial vaginosis is an interesting phenomenon.

It’s not a disease but it causes symptoms such as bad smell emanating from the vagina, grayish discharge, and itching. Sometimes bacterial vaginosis is accompanied by burning as well. The most interesting point about bacterial vaginosis is that it results simply because the pH and vaginal flora are out of balance. So it’s not a disease persay.

The cure for bacterial vaginosis lies in restoring the pH and restoring the vaginal flora. This can never be accomplished with a drug. Prescription medications just don’t do these simple things!

The cure becomes something that you must find for yourself. And when you go on the internet, you will find many different natural remedies for bacterial vaginosis. One of them is apple cider vinegar.

Goldenseal and Bacterial Vaginosis

You can opt to take herbs that could help re-balance the flora. Goldenseal herb has a long history of being used for bacterial vaginosis and it’s definitely one you should know about. Its official botanical name is Hydrastis Canadensis and its common name is yellow root. The reason why it is called yellow root is because of its obvious yellow color. The herb can also be used as a yellow dye.

Goldenseal root is an endangered plant in 25 different states of the U.S. Some say that it is endangered because the herb has been found to hide THC levels from marijuana drug tests; it does this by increasing the metabolic breakdown of THC. This makes ambitious drug dealers and/or drug users motivated to find the natural herb, say some reports. Those reports don’t realize that if the drug users really wanted to find the goldenseal, they could easily find it online or at any health food store. Why go through all the trouble to search it down like Sean Connery in the movie Medicine Man traipsing through the Amazon jungles?

Here are some characteristics about Goldenseal that you will be impressed with:

• Goldenseal has been used for vaginal infections as serious as gonorrhea. The National Institutes of Health reported this in its report on the herb. Their report can be found here. However, remember that the government only hires scientists and not herbalists. The problem with this is that scientists only know the technical and not the practical aspects about herbs.
• As mentioned above, this Goldenseal can be used to treat vaginitis. This is a specific indication for its use, not some hypothetical one where it could work.
• Goldenseal can also be used as a mouthwash. When using it to gargle after intercourse, it can kill any harmful bacteria that may have migrated into your partner’s mouth and that he then passed along to you while kissing. Goldenseal has long been used in mouthwash formulas that are natural.
• Goldenseal’s antibacterial properties are due to two alkaloid medicinal constituents, berberine and hydrastine. Both also act as a mild sedative. They are also antiviral and antifungal.
• Goldenseal’s berberine helps reduce Candida and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the vagina.

The typical dosage of goldenseal is 465 to 500 mg two to three times daily. Read the label to see how much each capsule contains. If you obtain an extract or tincture, the dosage varies based on how potent the company made the formula, so use it according to the label instructions.

Goldenseal can stimulate uterine contractions and is not an herb of choice for women that are pregnant.

I’ve actually heard a lot of good reviews about Bacterial Vaginosis Freedom when I communicated with many BV sufferers. So I decided to get it myself. I wanted to see what’s so good about it myself rather than listening to all the rumors and hypes. And I know that if it’s NOT delivering what it claims to be, I’m entitled to  my 110% money back guarantee. Paid $39 for the book.

And when I finished reading it, I could really understand why so many women gave two thumbs up for it.

The main reason is because it was written by Elena Peterson, who is a chronic bacterial vaginosis sufferer for many years. She wrote in detail about her own experience in curing her chronic bacterial vaginosis.

It is broken down to a 3 step plan which has proved to be a fast, effective and safe solution for thousands of women around the world.

If you’ve been searching around the internet for bacterial vaginosis cure for sometime, you will notice that there are too many cures available today that focuses on the signs and symptoms.

However, Elena chose to tackle the problem head on. She focuses on the disease itself. And her unique approach to fight bacterial vaginosis would really blow you away. Be rest assured that Elena knows what she is talking as she’s a full time medical researcher.

In short, Bacterial Vaginosis Freedom will give you :

1. A 3 step plan how to use natural remedies to eliminate BV once and for all
2. How to immediately relieve yourself from the fishy odor, itching and burning caused by bacterial vaginosis using cheap and general ingredients you can find at home
3. 5 very serious and common mistakes women tend to make which eventually leads to bacterial vaginosis
4. Valuable free bonus books -  Natural Yeast Infection Cure, 100 Love Making Techniques, Candida Control Diet

The results?

Honestly, this varies among individuals. Elena claims it takes only 3 days. It took me 7 days. For some, it took 14 days. But one thing for sure, you WILL see results.

I wish I could have written more about BV Freedom. But Elena has done it on her website. So what could be better than listening from the author itself?

Click here to find out more about BV Freedom now.

When you have bacterial vaginosis, your medical physician will most likely send you home with a prescription medication that he believes will eliminate it and get you better in no time. One of the prescriptions commonly used for bacterial vaginosis is called Clindamycin.

Every medication has side effects. With Clindamycin, there are several different side effects that you should know about before you start taking the prescription. With knowledge, you’re always in a position of power. By knowing potential side effects before they occur, you can easily avoid disaster!

By knowing potential side effects before they occur, you are able to spot problems before they become life-threatening. It’s a lot easier to research something before it goes into your mouth than while you’re writhing in pain with diarrhea on the toilet! How can you get onto the internet then? It just doesn’t happen!

So with this in mind along with your ultimate preservation of health, let’s go through these top symptoms.

Diarrhea

If you notice you’re in the bathroom a lot more frequently than before with loose, runny stools that are not formed, you have identified diarrhea. Diarrhea is not just increased bowel movements; it’s loose, runny stools that are not formed. It’s not due to what you ate or your nerves. If you’re taking Clindamycin, it’s a side effect.

Nausea and Vomiting

If you start noticing that your stomach feels queasy, it’s not the vitamins that you’ve been taking for several months or the probiotics. You’re not on a ship so it’s not seasickness. This is nausea and if you’re taking Clindamycin, then it’s from the drug.

If you have actually had some episodes where you felt queasy and then threw up, identify this as nausea and vomiting associated with Clindamycin.

Genital Itching and Burning

Bacterial vaginosis is bad enough to cause itching and burning but when you get more itching and burning after taking Clindamycin, then you are experiencing a side effect of the medication. When this side effect shows up, it is a signal that your body’s flora is out of balance even more than it was before. The burning and itching is indicating that the proper flora have been killed by the medication and now one of the hardy strains of pathogenic bacteria that cause disease is trying to take over. This needs to be stopped immediately so call or visit your doctor.

Pain

When you’re on an antibiotic, you should never have more pain. You should only have less pain. If you have more pain, then it indicates that the proper strain of bacteria or microbe causing your illness is not being killed. Pain is a red flag indicating that the proper flora have been killed and a hardy strain of disease-causing bacteria is being established. You will need medical attention. Don’t go another day without getting in to see your doctor.

Vaginal Discharge

You probably already had a vaginal discharge with bacterial vaginosis. If you develop a new discharge, this indicates that you are having a side effect from Clindamycin for the same reason as in the 2 points above.

Hives, Difficulty Breathing, Chest Tightness,Swelling of the Mouth or Face

If you ever have any of these symptoms, it’s an indication that you are allergic to the prescription medication you are taking. Don’t mess around with these symptoms; call the doctor. If he’s not in, you may consider having a friend or family member take you to an emergency room or ambulatory care center. Allergy reactions can be life-threatening. Don’t take a chance. And don’t take another dose of Clindamycin before you go.

Headache

Headache is one of the mild side effects from Clindamycin, but nevertheless, it still is real. If you suffered frequently from headaches before, the headaches you get now may actually be increased as a result of Clindamycin.

Side effects can be frightening. A drug is supposed to cure a problem, not cause another, right?

Remember that there are always options for treating bacterial vaginosis. You don’t have to put up with symptoms while you are overcoming bacterial vaginosis. Try natural remedies and you may just be amazed at their lack of side effects.

What is folic acid and why is it recommended for bacterial vaginosis?

How much should be taken daily for it to be effective?

Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Most of the B vitamins – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 are known by their B vitamin name but a few – biotin, folic acid, choline, PABA and inositol are known by their word names.

Folic acid is one of the most important vitamins needed for pregnancy. Without adequate folic acid, babies are born with neural tube defects, disorders of the development of the brain and spinal cord. The most common neural tube defect is spina bifida or opening of the spine. Another problem that can occur in those with folic acid deficiency is cleft palate.

The scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health discovered that a supplement of 400 mcg per day reduced the incidence of cleft palate by 33%. (Source)

Other research studies have determined that a high percentage of pregnant ladies and even adults are deficient in folic acid (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1988-91). It takes four months for deficiency signs and symptoms to show up.

Deficiency symptoms include the following:

• headache
• difficulty focusing
• heart palpitations
• fatigue
• weakness
• red painful tongue
• diarrhea
• anemia

How Folic Acid Works In The Body

Folic acid works in DNA during cell division. The vitamin repairs DNA, synthesizes DNA, is necessary to create red blood cells, anemia. Folic acid is very important for times when there is rapid cell division and this occurs regarding the bacteria in your intestinal tract as well as during pregnancy.

What Foods Are High In Folic Acid?

Foods that are high in folic acid include liver, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, juice, dried beans and legumes, and fortified cereals, flours, pasta, bread and rice.

What Destroys Folic Acid?

Folic acid is destroyed by heat. If you have malabsorption problems (celiac disease, IBS), then it’s possible that you are unable to absorb this important B vitamin. Alcohol interferes with the metabolism of folic acid. And other deficiencies such as vitamin B2, B3, B12 and zinc also affect folic acid absorption.

Connection of Folic Acid to Bacterial Vaginosis

Healthcare practitioners don’t really know what specifically it is about folic acid that helps in cases of bacterial vaginosis. Most likely, the vitamin increases the replication of Lactobacillus acidophilus strains in your vaginal tract. This then helps restore the pH of the vagina, which in turn results in a decrease in harmful bacteria. The Lactobacillus bacteria also produce lactic acid, which feeds the tissues of the female reproductive tract, keeping it healthy.

Troubling Finding About Folic Acid Supplements

Scientists are a little perplexed to find out that those who take folic acid supplements are more prone to different kinds of cancer. The reason for this could be simple – most folic acid supplements may not be manufactured in a way that agrees with the body. Folic acid is a vitamin that is absolutely essential for the body and when food sources that are eaten in high quantity, there is no increase in cancer rates.

This tells us that there is definitely something about the supplements themselves and their manufacturing that is not totally correct. It could also be a problem because B vitamins are only found in nature together with other B vitamins; taking one B vitamin without the others can create new deficiencies.

What You Can Do About Folic Acid Intake

Folic acid is most likely okay in supplement form for short periods of time such as for a week or two. Amounts of 800 mcg daily up to 4000 mcg daily have been recommended by health care practitioners. However, it makes more sense that someone with bacterial vaginosis takes a supplement of about 800 mcg daily in addition to a B complex as well. In the meantime, don’t forget your probiotics!

Is douching safe?

Many people believe that douching is harmful because it washes away the flora in the vagina. In fact, many physicians have stayed with the old feminine hygiene rule to not douche and recommend this to their patients.

In 2003, two doctors, Dr. Martens and Dr. Monif tried to set the record straight and published their findings about douching in the journal called Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. In their study, they found that douching has little effect on the microbial flora.

Another physician, Dr. Mustaf, had previously proven that the vaginal bacteria counts after a vinegar and water douche were only temporarily decreased and these decreases did not lead to vaginosis or upset of the vaginal flora.

This is good news to women, because douching does leave a woman with the feeling of internal cleanness and freshness.

The Hydrogen Peroxide Douche

Besides the vinegar and water douche, there’s another way you can douche, and that’s with hydrogen peroxide. Researchers found that 89% of women with bacterial vaginosis had no fishy odor for three full months during the study. The method that they used in the study was a nightly douche with 2 tablespoons 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in water. They repeated this once daily for 7 days.  It’s such a simple cure with such a simple and natural type of solution.

What’s the Alternative to Douching?

In fact, when you examine the current medical treatments prescribed by gynecologists, every one of them results in a high percentage of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

Clindamycin and Flagyl are the two most commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments for bacterial vaginosis. Clindamycin is available as a vaginal suppository that is taken for three nights or for seven days as a vaginal cream. Because this antibiotic can cause serious diarrhea and possibly Clostridium infection in the intestines that becomes life-threatening, it should not be taken orally. These side effects do not occur in the cream or suppository forms.

Clindamycin cream can also cause antibiotic resistance.

Flagyl is also prescribed for bacterial vaginosis, at an oral dose of 500 mg twice daily for 7 days. This medication should not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Here’s the major problem with the treatments mentioned above:  After each of these prescriptions were used for one week, the cure rate was 83% but a month later, 25% of those cured will have a recurrence. In studies that follow women’s cure rates even longer, the cure rates fall even lower.

There are other problems with these medications:

• Clindamycin will kill healthy Lactobacillus bacteria in the vagina.
• Flagyl gel isn’t clinically proven although the Lactobacillus bacteria remain intact.
• Clindamycin can damage condoms.
• Treatment can get pricey. Clindamycin vaginal suppository treatment is about $50 while the vaginal creams are up to $70. Flagyl taken by mouth is less than $20.
• Flagyl taken orally can cause nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting.
• Women who combined probiotics capsules taken twice daily for 30 days along with oral Flagyl prescription medication had twice the cure rate as those who only received Flagyl by itself.
• Clindamycin cream treatment is associated with antibiotic resistance of the vaginal anaerobic bacteria in 53% of those who take it. The resistance lasted more than 90 days after treatment.
• When antibiotic resistance occurs from Clindamycin, the resistance usually includes the antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin. These are in a group of antibiotics called macrolides. The problem that occurs is that if a Group B Streptococcus bacterial infection occurs, these antibiotics won’t work, which can be a major issue in women during late pregnancy.

Bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of the vaginal flora. It has characteristic symptoms such as a grayish discharge, vaginal irritation, fishy odor to the vaginal secretions; however, all women with the disorder won’t show symptoms.

The irritation felt in the vagina from bacterial vaginosis can easily be handled with these simple and natural ways:

1. Douche With Yogurt or Probiotics

To do this, add a few tablespoons of plain yogurt with live active cultures into the water in a douche bag. Mix thoroughly and douche. The process can be repeated daily for a week or more. If you use probiotics, simply empty a capsule of probiotics into the douche bag water, mix, and then douche.

When you douche, make sure you use either distilled water or water that has been filtered. You want clean and pure water. Tap water is not a good choice because studies have found that from time to time, tap water can contain high amounts of bacteria that can cause disease.

2. Use Tea Tree Oil

For this method, drop 2 drops of pure tea tree oil suitable for human consumption onto a tampon. Insert the tampon. Remove after a few hours. Then repeat again at night. Do this for a few days.

3. Vinegar baths

Vinegar is slightly acidic which can be soothing to irritated tissues. It’s also anti-fungal and antibacterial. Pour a cup into the bathtub that you’ve already filled with nice warm, soothing water. Then get in. Sit there and relax for about 10 minutes. Shower and dry yourself thoroughly afterwards.

Note: Make sure you disinfected the tub before you added the water to it! You don’t want to expose irritated tissue to a full load of bacteria swimming in the water!

4. Eliminate Wearing Your Tight Clothes

5. Use Anti-inflammatory Agents That Are Natural Such As Cat’s Claw

Cat’s claw is an herb found in the Amazon rainforest. It’s well known there (and by scientists) for its anti-leukemia properties and antidepressant properties. Cat’s claw’s official Latin name is Uncaria tomentosa and its nickname is Uncaria tomentosa.

The herb has also been used to help heal stomach ulcers. But that’s not all. This herb has great skin healing properties and can be taken orally. Take two 500 mg capsules daily until the irritation goes away. This herb will also boost your immune system. You can also make a paste with it and apply it to the area. To do this, just add a little water, make a paste and then apply it to the irritated area. Next, cover the area with a bandage or gauze. Let it soak into the skin.

You can see that by using these methods, it is pretty easy to continue on with your daily lifestyle; at home, work and in public places without having to worry about scratching because the area itches or having to worry about any pain caused by the irritation.

Don’t get overzealous and do all five at once! If you want to create better success, first do the douche or tampon with tea tree oil, next take the vinegar bath, and thirdly, take the cat’s claw. You may be pleasantly surprised at the quick results from such simple measures to deal with the bacterial vaginosis irritations.

Since Flagyl (Metronidazole) is a drug that is used for many different diseases, it’s important to check to make sure that you are using the correct Flagyl dosage. As you are no doubt already aware, it’s entirely possible for a physician to prescribe an incorrect dosage or a pharmacist to fill the prescription incorrectly.

Flagyl Dosage to Treat Trichomonas

If you are using Flagyl for an Trichomonas infection, the correct dosage is either 2000 mg at one time or 1000 mg twice daily. This is only taken for one day.

There are times when a physician may decide to use less for a Trichomonas dosage. In these cases, 250 mg will be taken three times daily or 375 mg taken twice daily, both for seven days.

Flagyl Dosage to Treat Anaerobic Infections In The Body

Anaerobic infections often require the use of Flagyl. In some situations where these anaerobic infections have become pretty serious, an IV of the drug is given. If an oral dosage is given for an anaerobic infection, the recommended dosage is about 3.4 mg per pound every six hours. There’s a maximum that the medical doctors don’t exceed, which is 4000 mg in any 24 hours. This medication is usually taken for 7 to 10 days or more if the infections are stubborn.

Flagyl Dosage to Treat Bacterial Vaginosis

The anaerobic infections of the vagina are different. The pharmaceutical companies have created a long-acting version of the drug, which is called Flagyl ER. In bacterial vaginosis, 750 mg of Flagyl ER is given once daily for seven days. The regular Flagyl tablets and capsules that are short-acting are not the correct ones to use. Similarly, the Flagyl ER tablets are not to be used for other types of infections.

Long-acting Flagyl ER taken for bacterial vaginosis must be taken at least one hour before or two hours after a meal. Do not take it with food.

Always take your dosage at the same time each day.

The drug is created so that a certain amount of the active ingredients are released in a specific amount of time. If you take Flagyl ER at 10 a.m. on one day, then at 2 p.m. the next day, you have extended the amount of time that the bacteria can multiply by four hours. This decreases the drug’s effectiveness.

Similarly, if you take Flagyl ER for three or four days instead of 7 days, you have decreased its effectiveness.

Other Uses for Flagyl

Flagyl is also used to treat cases of amebic dysentery and for amoebic liver abscesses. The recommended dosage is 750 mg three times a day for 5-10 days for dysentery; 250-500 mg three times daily for 5-10 days. Children’s dosages are based on weight.

What to Do When You Take Too Much or Too Little Flagyl Consumption

If you think that you have taken an overdose, call your physician.

Similarly, if you have missed a dosage, call your physician and find out what to do.