Treatments for Bacterial Vaginosis

How is Bacterial Vaginosis treated?

Bacterial vaginosis treatment is not restricted to medicines alone. If you really want to get rid of it and stop it from recurring, you’ll also need to change or improve your personal or dietary habits. The good news is bacterial vaginosis treatment doesn’t limit itself to over-the-counter medicines, but include herbal remedies for bacterial vaginosis too. However, the bad news is both the conventional and the bacterial vaginosis natural treatments can vary in effectiveness.

Conventional treatment for bacterial vaginosis

To treat bacterial vaginosis, a proper diagnosis has to be made by the physician first. This can either be physical examination of the vagina or laboratory testing of the vaginal fluid. Once the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are ascertained, a line of treatment is recommended.

In over the counter treatment for bacterial vaginosis, antibiotics hold a prized place, despite the fact they’re strong and can give some real bad side effects. The common bacterial vaginosis medication consists of antibiotics, like ampicillin, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, and some others. They can be taken orally or through the vagina, based on the recommendations of the physician.

A common method of treating bacterial vaginosis, especially for those pregnant, is with oral metronidazole, which can be given either as a single dose or a seven-day course, or with metronidazole gel. Even clindamycin cream is as effective. Not only are antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis efficient, they also return the vaginal flora to its normal state. Certain creams, like Cleocin 2% vaginal cream applied for three to seven nights, are also effective alternative treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

Although your symptoms may disappear before you finish your bacterial vaginosis medicine, it’s important to complete the recommended dosage exactly as directed by your physician. In case, the infection is sexually transmitted, treatment of all sexual partners is essential to prevent re-infection. For the duration of the infection, it’s best to abstain from sexual activity while the condition is healing.

Natural cures for bacterial vaginosis

The home treatment of bacterial vaginosis, consisting of herbs and diets, doesn’t have side effects associated with antibiotics. These natural products also support the immune system and its ability to fight the infection and balance the vaginal environment. The treatment may be a long drawn one, but manages to remove the problem from its roots. The diet you should generally adopt to avoid bacterial vaginosis, includes flax seed meal and oil; fresh vegetables and fruits; grains; meats, including fish and poultry; and plenty of fresh water. For best results, use foods that have been raised without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Besides the above, certain nutritional supplements are also important for the natural cure for bacterial vaginosis. Vitamin C in 1,000 mg doses three times daily with meals and zinc 30 mg daily is quite effective. Proteolytic enzymes, like bromelain and wobenzme N, have been shown to increase the effectiveness of the medication. Certain herbal therapeutics like Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and Goldenseal (Vitamin A) vaginal suppository, used twice daily, will help get rid of bacterial vaginosis.

While undergoing the natural treatment, avoid food and beverages, like alcohol, coffee, sugar, fast foods, processed foods, saturated fats from animal products and refined flour products, like bread, pasta, and so on.

Since, the incidence of bacterial vaginosis recurring generally remain high, as the infection doesn’t easily get eradicated all at once; it’s important that the treatment prescribed by the physician is taken seriously and adhered to religiously. Only then will you be able to truly free yourself of this annoying infection.