Healthy Me 123 » Vaginosis

Some Background Information On Bacterial Vaginosis

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:03:56 +0000

Bacterial vaginosis, also known as BV, is a type of vaginal infection which is also the most common. Although more commonly found in sexually active women, the illness is not defined as a sexually transmitted disease as it is not contagious or transmitted through intercourse. BV is caused by an imbalance of the body’s bacterial flora and features symptoms which are similar to that of a yeast infection.

This type of bacterial infection is often very uncomfortable and may present with a variety of different symptoms. The most common sign is the presence of a white and abnormal discharge in the affected person’s vagina. Excretion in this area of a woman’s body is a normal occurrence but any discharge that isn’t clear or odorless should be noted.

Women who are experiencing foul smelling discharges and other symptoms should make an appointment with their doctors to get checked out. Physicians will swab the inside of her vagina and test the samples for its acidity and clue cells. The results, combined with whether or not a fishy or tainted smell, should provide enough information for a proper diagnosis.

Patients who present with only one or two BV like symptoms may have similar conditions such as yeast infections or Trichomoniasis. All three illnesses are highly treatable and fairly common but receiving a definitive diagnosis is still helpful. It’s also a good idea to seek medical attention as soon as possible since, when left untreated, the illness can lead to serious complications.

Healthy vaginas all contain hydrogen peroxide producing microorganisms normally. These items help keep one another in check and prevent one type of organisms from multiplying so much that they lead to infections. When one or more of the microorganisms responsible for bacterial vaginosis are allowed to multiply and flourish the condition is able to take hold.

Although the reasons for it are not quite yet fully understood, it appears that women who are sexually active and between the ages of fifteen and fifty are much more likely to contract the infection, though it is possible for virgins to come down with it. Recent studies have shown that women who use spermicides and condoms are slightly less likely to get the condition and that girls who are pregnant or already have a form of sexual transmitted disease are at a significantly higher risk.

Mild antibiotics, either in pill or topical cream form, are generally prescribed by physicians to women suffering from BV. The most common regimen is one that is ingested or applied about every twelve hours for seven days. Recently, extended release capsules and other alternative treatments have been found to be particularly successful as well. There is a natural alternative called Femanol that is known to be effective as well.

Unfortunately, although it isn’t yet understood why, it appears that girls who contract and are subsequently treated for bacterial vaginosis are extremely likely to contract the disease again. The illness’s high recurrence rates seem to be related to both the particular antibiotics involved and the way human bodies respond to the original microorganisms. Specialists estimate that roughly one out of every three girls will get BV during their lives.

Help Yourself Avoid Vaginosis

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:50:50 +0000

There are simple steps you can take to keep your vagina healthy. Soap and water are just part of the of what is required. Paying attention to fluid intake is just as important in avoiding the bad bacteria that cause vaginosis.

One of the most common causes of visits to the gynecologist is the bacterial infection called vaginosis. It occurs when bad anaerobic bacteria replace the good lactobacilli bacteria in the vagina. Any female can be prone to this condition. It is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, however it is linked to behaviors that characterize STDs such as multiple partners and frequent activity. Medical studies have shown that anaerobic bacteria will thrive or die under certain conditions created by the food eaten, amount of rest, cleanliness and daily activity.

Most surfaces on the body contain bacteria that are regular residents of a specific area and have an important purpose. The normal flora of the vagina called lactobacilli, helps it to stay healthy and assists with its regular functions. If the vaginal milieu changes, these rod shaped bacilli can no longer live and are replaced. The new bad bacteria grows in large amounts and is responsible for the infection.

A skilled physician can easily detect the signs and symptoms of vaginosis. The vaginal walls are covered with a watery discharge that may or may not be yellowish in color. Burning and itching are typical features in addition to the stench of fish. More serious conditions that are related to vaginosis are fallopian tube inflammation and early labor in pregnancy.

The laboratory test that physicians use to diagnose vaginosis identifies specific bacterial cells that stain a certain color under the microscope. After a positive determination, medication is prescribed in the form of pills or a creme that is placed inside the vagina. Femanol is another possible remedy. Careful adherence to all directions is necessary for the treatments to work. It is suggested that partners be checked for possible STDs.

Once your diagnosis is confirmed, make sure that you speak with your physician at length, regarding alterations to your style of living. This will help minimize the chance of having the infection again. You can adjust your diet so that your body secretions will not be suitable for anaerobic bacterial growth. Remember that certain foods and liquids work better to help cells stay moist and healthy. The correct substances are broken down in the body to be used by bacteria for the benefit of the body.

Sufficient amounts of water, regular physical activity, avoiding weight gain, and using good sanitary habits are ways to avoid infection. It is helpful to stay disciplined if you must make the appropriate changes to your lifestyle.

Watch out for personal products that contain fragrance including sprays and tampons. This may cause issues. Make sure your garments are not too tight or too layered. Do not rub the vaginal area too harshly when cleansing. Talk with your partner about past sexual experiences to be cautious and you will have helped yourself avoid vaginosis.

Things To Know About Bacterial Vaginosis

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:04:56 +0000

A very common infection in women is BV or bacterial vaginosis. One out of three women ends up having it over the course of her life. Statistics estimate that 0.24% of American women have it, among which 16% are pregnant. Unlike common belief, it is not transmitted sexually, though it is fairly common for sexually active women. BV is contracted when there is an overgrowth in a woman’s vaginal bacterial flora.

This infection is usually accompanied with a white-grey discharge that is heaviest right after sex or after a menstruation period. It also emits a rather fishy smell. It’s normally mistaken as a yeast infection due to similarities in symptoms. But, unlike the latter, it doesn’t cause too much itching or soreness. Refrain from self-medicating if you have the symptoms since you may end up using a cure for yeast infection rather than for bacterial infection. It is not uncommon, however, for women to have the infection and not know it.

Causes of this infection are not entirely known up to now. There are lots of natural bacteria in the vagina to help prevent infections. If a certain bacteria flourishes and multiplies more than normal, an imbalance happens, resulting in a vaginal infection. One of the believed causes of BV is excessive washing of the vagina — a direct contrast to poor hygiene as the cause of some infections. Doing so disrupts and changes the natural count of natural bacteria. Other causes are smoking, changes in the hormonal balance, and a poor immune system. In other cases, an IUD or intrauterine device may cause the infection.

Pregnant women are more at risk for any type of infection, and BV is not an exception. An untreated infection can cause problems for the baby and mother alike. It can lead to labor and even miscarriage, and in some instances, the mother develops womb infection after giving birth. Two tests are normally used to check the existence of the infection: taking a vaginal swab sample and testing the acid level of the discharge. A vaginal swab is a way to ensure the identity of the infection. Bacteria is placed in a slide and checked under a microscope. This removes any chance that another infection caused the symptoms. Testing the pH level of the discharge is an easier way. The sample is placed in a pH paper and tested. If it goes beyond the 4.5 level, you have BV infection. Likewise, a whiff test may be done where potassium hydroxide or alkali is added to the sample. A positive indication will bring out a fishy smell in the sample.

Those infected with non-visible to mild symptoms are usually not given any treatment since the vagina’s natural bacteria corrects themselves over time. However, for those with severe symptoms or for pregnant women, a treatment is advised to prevent further complications. Remember to consult your gynecologist if you are pregnant or is currently taking pills or contraceptives to ensure that adverse effects are prevented. Metrodinazole is a common antibiotic prescribed and taken for seven days as a cure. Clindamycin or Metrodinazole vaginal gels can also be used for those who are not willing to risk possible counter indications from using antibiotics. If you’re taking any of the existing BV treatments, refrain from taking alcoholic drinks as the combination can lead to high pulse rate and vomiting. Femanol is a natural alternative treatment.

If you are taking vaginal gels, refrain from engaging in any sexual activity for about a week to prevent the possibility of conception or sexually transmitted diseases (STD). For non-pregnant women, disappearance of the symptoms after treatment is enough for you to be considered cured. To ensure that the infection has been treated for pregnant women, a vaginal swab test a month from the end of treatment may be requested.

Unfortunately, there are reports that a previously infected woman may end up having the infection again after only three months. This is not unique, and one of three women experiences this. You may just need to repeat the treatment you took before to take care of BV. IUD is a common suspect for the infection, so your doctor may ask you to have it removed before treatment. If so, try to look for alternative contraceptives to use. A vaginal swab test may also be requested to disqualify other types of infection that may be causing your symptoms.

Due to the hassles of dealing with bacterial vaginosis, prevention may be the best thing you can do. Do not douche or force water in your vagina. Practice washing your vagina for no more than two times a day. Refrain from taking baths with perfumed oils and bubble baths, as well as antiseptics. When washing your underwear, use only mild soaps and detergents.

About Bacterial Vaginosis

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:35:14 +0000

Lots of people today suffer from BV and are awkward about seeking treatment – however, the condition itself is also awkward, so ordinary solutions are available.

Though many women go to their doctor and pharmacy for pricey cures and ointments and lotions, usually these only help for giving short term help because they don’t cure the main cause. Women can do a few things from the comfort of home to easily cure BV, as they address the direct causes of the condition that you are facing.

When the equilibrium of bacteria within your vagina is disrupted, the damaging bacteria takes over, causing bacterial vaginitis. The symptoms which you experience are because of an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. If your vagina is healthy, you will have a acidic pH level; this is in general what keeps the bacterial balance in check in that area. When there is an disparity, the pH levels become alkaline and this ensures the development of bad bacteria which cause the effects of bacterial vaginosis which include that excruciating itching and burning feeling and the watery discharge, which is gray or white in color.

By using natural home remedies like Femanol for BV, you can give attention to not only on receiving symptomatic relief, but use strategies to improve re-balance the conditions within the vagina to get things back to normal.

Whilst I suffered from vaginitis, one of the easiest things I did was to cool down my vagina and this would help to reduce the itching and burning, although temporarily. If you wrap an ice pack in a damp flannel and take a crack at placing it on the vaginal area for a few minutes, you will find the support immediate. I tend to find this great when I was trying to sleep.

An alternative line of attack is to dress in slim panty pads when doing your thing as these can soak up a astonishingly huge amount of discharge and mask the odor. Just be replacing them frequently, as with bandages.

Don’t wash the spot too much also. You might be encouraged to do so, but BV is your body’s way of attempting to balance out the bacteria in your vagina, which washing can disrupt. Thus cleanse no more than twice each day, and keep away from using harsh perfumed goods.

You can use tea tree oils and natural yogurts to help your body correct the body’s bacterial imbalances. Tea tree oil is fantastically good at killing of harmful bacteria even as being mild on the body. Add 12 drops to a shallow tub and be seated in it for around 20 minutes. Alternatively, tea tree oil pessaries can be purchased from heath food stores. Another way to get the body back on track is to add helpful bacteria straight to the vagina and this can be done by soaking a tampon in probiotic yogurt and leaving it inside the vagina for an a couple of hours. Probiotic yogurt contains dynamic cultures that will ensure you get better much faster.

Vaginitis doesn’t produce bodily harm initially, nevertheless if you don’t get treated, you can develop pelvic inflammatory disease from it, as well as cause reproductive concerns. So, it is always the best idea to remedy the condition without delay. If you keep getting these symptoms, you will be at increased risk.

Just use these natural Bacterial vaginosis cures to give your vagina the balance it needs, and you will rapidly get things the way they should be, regardless of how long you’ve had BV. Three Days To Permanent BV Relief is a great and very detailed book about how to stop BV.