FACTS ABOUT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

Bacterial Vaginosis is a group of different microorganisms forming a matrix like cluster called bio-film, it occurs when there’s a change in the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina. The cause is not fully known, but you're more likely to get it if; you have had a change of partner, you have a contraception device (IUD), using perfumed products on your vagina.

Microbes that hide in bio-film always evade immune defenses and antibiotics, researchers are making progress to find a means to disrupt the bio-film so that the microbes can be targeted and destroyed easily. Presence of BV in the vagina has been discovered to have been affecting the numbers of healthy bacteria called lactobacilli; which is a protective bacteria against harmful microbes in the vagina, this results to dropping of vagina’s pH since lactic acid is been affected; but research is still ongoing to find out if it is only the invasion of BV that is reducing the numbers of lactobacilli or from the invasion of other microbes.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) has been a recurring problem and a burden on women; they can be re-infected after sex with their partner after treatment, since it has been recorded that men may harbor the infection.

BV is difficult to treat since it always re-occurs after five to six months of treatment, because it seems to be resentfully neglected by most women, if you have it when you are pregnant; it increases the risk of miscarriage, early (preterm) delivery, and uterine infection after pregnancy.

If you have it when you have a pelvic procedure such as a cesarean section, an abortion, or a hysterectomy, you are more likely to get a pelvic infection.

If you have it and you are exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (including HIV), you are more likely to catch the infection.

BV has many symptoms- a fishy odor , frequent vaginal discharge which may look grayish white or yellow., itching at the vulva and may increased the risk of miscarriage, recent research has shown that men that are not circumcised have the bacteria under their foreskin and this makes it easy for women to contract it back  after sex with their partner, Men that are circumcised have reduced risk of being infected by sexually transmitted infections including syphilis, trichomoniasis, Human papilo virus(HPV) and herpes, “However; the bacteria responsible for bacteria vaginosis can outsmart antibiotics most of the times.

Always use water and an emoliant, such as E45 cream

Use plain soap to wash your vagina

 Always use showers than baths

 Breathable cotton underwear may be preferable than some tight underwear that may cause moist and increase bacteria in the body

Always Change your pad or tampon several times per day during your period

Endeavour to avoid using perfumed soaps, bubble bath or shower gel, washes or douches, putting antiseptic liquids in baths, using strong detergents to wash your underwear.

Practicing good hygiene will be better, after using the bathroom, always wipe from the front (vagina) to the back (rectum), to prevent contamination from feces.

Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to treat bacterial vaginosis. They come as pills you swallow or as a cream or capsules (called ovules) that you put in your vagina. If you are pregnant, you will need to take pills.

Antibiotics usually work well and have few side effects. But taking them for too long can lead to increasing in yeast infection.

 This home remedies can as well contribute immensely in treating BV:

Yogurt is a natural probiotic. It has plenty of healthy bacteria in it; therefore eating yoghurt may help to introduce healthy bacteria back into the vagina to balance its environment. Probiotic supplements are also good to prevent bacterial vaginosis and taken probiotic supplements can help to replace good bacteria killed by much taken of antibiotics. Another strong remedy is garlic because it contains strong antibacterial properties and can help treat bacterial vaginosis.