{"id":626906,"date":"2024-02-20T11:31:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T16:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626906"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:07:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:07:54","slug":"home-remedies-for-bv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/home-remedies-for-bv\/","title":{"rendered":"4 home remedies for BV (and what to do if they don\u2019t work)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bacterial vaginosis (BV)is a vaginal infection affecting <\/span>29% to 49%  of women<\/span><\/a> of reproductive age in the United States. BV is one type of vaginitis, which are conditions that cause vaginal inflammation and infection. Others include vaginal yeast infections and trichomoniasis (a sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite). <\/span><\/p>\n

Antibiotics are the standard therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating BV. However, because long-term effective BV treatment is still a necessity for some women, many are considering other treatment approaches, including home remedies, especially when BV reoccurs after antibiotic treatment. This article provides five potential home remedies for bacterial vaginosis. We’ll also share which are ineffective ways of treating BV to help you sort fact from fiction.<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes BV?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an imbalance in natural bacteria in the vagina. The dominant microorganism in a healthy vagina is the good bacteria, lactobacilli, which make up 90% to 95% of vaginal flora. Lactobacilli has anti-inflammatory properties and maintains a healthy vaginal microbiome by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. An overgrowth of bad bacteria like Prevotella, Gardnerella, Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus, or Bacteroides can disrupt the vaginal microbiome. When the disrupted microbiome lacks lactobacilli—good bacteria—it can lead to BV. <\/span><\/p>\n

BV has been linked to having multiple sexual partners or a new partner, not using condoms, douching, and HSV-2 (the virus that causes genital herpes). Symptoms of BV include gray, white, or green vaginal discharge, fish-like vaginal odor, an itchy vagina, and painful urination. <\/span><\/p>\n

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis is a public health problem. “Recurrent BV refers to three or more <\/span>confirmed <\/span><\/i>BV infections in a year,” says <\/span>Kecia Gaither, MD<\/span><\/a>, double board-certified OB\/GYN and director of Perinatal Services\/Maternal Fetal Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals\/Lincoln in the Bronx. “Recurrent BV could reflect reinfection, inadequate treatment, infection relapse, or antimicrobial resistance, to name a few.” <\/span><\/p>\n

There is a <\/span>high rate of BV recurrence<\/span><\/a>—80% rate of recurrence three months following effective treatment. This is why some women consider alternate treatment approaches. <\/span><\/p>\n

4 home remedies for BV<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before trying any home remedies for BV, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Boric acid<\/span><\/h3>\n

“Boric acid helps relieve bacterial vaginosis by lowering the pH level and eliminating bacteria,” says <\/span>Monte Swarup, MD, FACOG<\/span><\/a>, board-certified OB-GYN in Chandler, Arizona, and founder of Vaginal Health Hub. <\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>study published in 2009<\/span><\/a> suggests that women with bacterial vaginosis treated with a combination of nitroimidazole antibiotics (such as metronidazole) and boric acid achieved an 88% to 92% cure rate. A <\/span>review published in 2011<\/span><\/a> also established a 40% to 100% cure rate for bacterial vaginosis. The review concluded that boric acid was a safe and affordable treatment option for women who have chronic and recurrent symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, especially when standard treatment is ineffective. <\/span><\/p>\n

Always check with your doctor before using boric acid vaginal suppositories, as more research is needed to validate its effectiveness. It’s also important to note that boric acid should only be used as a vaginal suppository. It should not be taken orally nor be used while pregnant to avoid the risk of adverse side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Vitamin C<\/span><\/h3>\n

Vitamin C may help with recurrent bacterial vaginosis. It is used after the standard antibiotic treatment to maintain an acidic vaginal environment. BV-associated bacteria have very limited growth when the vaginal PH is acidic. <\/span><\/p>\n

A <\/span>clinical trial published in 2011<\/span><\/a> suggested that vitamin C had a higher cure rate of 55.3% versus 25.7% for placebo (inactive medicine) in women treated for bacterial vaginosis. <\/span>Another study<\/span><\/a> found that regular use of vitamin C vaginal tablets for six months reduced the recurrence rate of bacterial vaginosis. Both studies used slow-release silicone-coated vitamin C tablets, which are unavailable in the United States. However, experts recommend using enteric-coated vitamin C 250 milligram (mg) tablets—the oral tablets that you find in the vitamin aisle, but you will use them vaginally. After your period stops, insert one tablet vaginally once a day for six days. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Dietary changes<\/span><\/h3>\n

Experts have yet to understand how diet influences the vaginal microbiome. However, some studies have associated bacterial vaginosis with poor diets, such as those that include foods that raise blood glucose and foods that are high in fat, low in dietary fiber, and deficient in vitamins and micronutrients such as B-carotene and betaine. Dr. Geither agrees, saying that deficiencies in Vitamins A, C, D, and E, calcium, folate, and beta-carotene contribute to BV. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, a high intake of folate, vitamin E, and calcium has been associated with a reduced risk of bacterial vaginosis. Additionally, following the <\/span>Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)<\/span><\/a> may also lower the risk of bacterial vaginosis—by helping you incorporate more vitamins and nutrients into your diet and limiting unhealthy foods. The USDA guidelines recommend following a healthy dietary pattern that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, protein foods, and healthy oils from seafood and nuts.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Probiotics <\/span><\/h3>\n

Probiotics<\/span><\/a> containing lactobacillus may help reduce the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. Lactobacillus can kill or inhibit some microorganisms involved in bacterial vaginosis. Some studies suggest that vaginal probiotics (inserted directly into the vagina), administered after antibiotic therapy, reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis recurrence. However, there is a need for more conclusive evidence to support the use of commercially available probiotics. You should always discuss this with your healthcare provider and get their approval before using any such products. Oral probiotics found in foods and probiotic supplements may also help reinstate normal vaginal flora by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus; however, the mechanism of action is not fully understood.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Probiotics 101: What are they? And which are the best?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Natural remedies for BV that don’t work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some purported remedies, like apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil, need more scientific evidence, as they are mostly anecdotal claims supporting their use. Others, such as vaginal douching, shouldn’t be used at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Apple cider vinegar<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many articles suggest that <\/span>apple cider vinegar<\/span><\/a> baths or supplements may be effective for treating bacterial vaginosis. This is based on the fact that apple cider vinegar contains acidic substances (including acetic acid and citric acid) and may keep the vagina’s environs acidic—thus, making it uninhabitable for pathogens responsible for bacterial vaginosis. However, there is a lack of sufficient evidence to support these submissions, as the effects of apple cider vinegar on bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis have not been studied.  <\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>8 health benefits of apple cider vinegar<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

2. Tea tree oil<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are claims that <\/span>tea tree oil<\/span><\/a> pessaries (inserted into the vagina) may treat bacterial vaginosis. In fact, <\/span>one study from 1991<\/span><\/a> found that tea tree oil killed and inhibited the growth of certain types of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis, with the exception of lactobacilli. It’s important to note the study was not peer-reviewed and was not done on human subjects. Hence, there is a need for newer human studies to confirm that it is actually effective for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Vaginal douching<\/span><\/h3>\n

Douching<\/span><\/a> is the practice of washing or cleaning the inside of the vagina with water or other liquids (such as vinegar, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine). It has been linked to an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, as it increases BV-associated bacteria. Some studies suggest that douching depletes lactobacilli. Douching is strictly not recommended because of associated health complications—it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, fertility problems, and increased risk of sexually transmitted infections or sexually transmitted diseases. <\/span><\/p>\n

How to treat BV when natural remedies don’t work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Antibiotics<\/span><\/a> are the standard treatment for bacterial vaginosis. You should reach out to your healthcare provider if the home remedies fail to provide symptom relief. They will recommend some antibiotics that may help. <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/span><\/a> recommends:<\/span><\/p>\n