How To Treat Bacterial Vaginosis

Knowing how to treat bacterial vaginosis is easy in most cases. A woman's vagina naturally contains several different types of bacteria. In bacterial vaginosis, the balance between the different bacteria is thrown off, causing an overgrowth. Luckily, bacteria vaginosis is not dangerous, but the symptoms can be bothersome. Many women experience itching, vaginal discharge and foul order. Treating bacterial vaginosis is simple with proper care.

Things you'll need:

• Doctor's appointment
• Oral or topical antibiotics

1. Typically, bacterial vaginosis can clear up on its own. During this time, a woman must wash her body and vagina daily and wear clean underwear.
2. Seek medical attention if symptoms do not get better. A doctor can run a few tests during a pelvic exam to confirm an infection in the vagina. The test performed will determine abnormal cells, foul odor or off-level pH balance.
3. Have your partner talk to a doctor about proper treatment. The doctor may decide to treat the bacteria overgrowth with an oral antibiotic. The antibiotic is taken for seven days. Another option is a antibiotic topical cream. This cream is also used for a seven-day duration.
4. Take your medication as prescribed. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions and continue taking the antibiotics or applying the cream for the entire seven days. Stopping treatment early, even if symptoms have left, can cause bacterial vaginosis to come back.
5. Avoid future infections. Women should continue to practice proper personal hygiene, but do not use douching products. They do not help clean the vagina. Instead, they mess with the vagina’s natural pH balance and self-cleaning abilities. Avoid multiple sex partners, even though bacterial vaginosis is not sexually transmitted.