The Challenges Of Curing Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis is generally defined as 3 or more episodes of BV in a year and it has been shown that recurrence rates are often as high as 80% within a 6 month period. Although BV is the most common vaginal complaint for women of reproductive age, it is still extremely frustrating for both sufferers and those within the medical profession who seem to be constantly issuing antibiotic prescriptions, with no obvious long term benefit.

What this has taught us is that curing recurrent bacterial vaginosis is far from simple and the general failure of conventional medicine leads many to believe that an alternative approach is necessary.

When a woman has BV, beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli) within the vagina have diminished and an overgrowth of harmful bacteria (gardnerella and mycoplasma) has occurred. This harmful bacteria produces a foul, fishy smelling discharge which is usually watery and gray/white in color and may cause vaginal itching and burning. In addition, it will have caused a switch in the pH levels from a mildly acidic, protective environment to an alkaline one.

Although one-off episodes are unlikely to cause any long term harm, it is known that recurrent bacterial vaginosis can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and may increase a woman's susceptibility to sexually transmitted infection including HIV. In addition, it increases the risk of post surgical infections, miscarriage and low birth weight babies. It is therefore important that a women who suffers from BV takes action, and does so without delay.

The most common prescription handed out by doctors for BV is one for antibiotics, such as metronidazole. One of the challenges of curing recurrent BV is the fact that although antibiotics will kill off the harmful bacteria, they will also kill off any beneficial bacteria which may be left, thus eliminating any last remnants of protection. In addition, antibiotics do not treat the root cause of the condition, and herein lies the problem.

To be successful, treatment needs to incorporate a number of strategies used at once and one of the challenges is ensuring that the patient is motivated enough to see these through. For example, she will need to take a close look at what her personal trigger factors are, and this is not always easy as there are a number of factors which could be responsible, ranging from over-washing right through to smoking, with a whole range of factors inbetween. Then a women will need to use strategies to enhance the levels of beneficial bacteria within the vagina, whilst ensuing that harmful bacteria is eliminated. In addition, it is also necessary to enhance the body's immune system to ensure that this condition is unlikely to flourish within the body.