Hi! What I can take-and it’s safe-for Bacterial Vaginosis? Any Natural Medicine?”
Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring bacterial flora. It was once thought of as just a harmless nuisance, but recent studies have linked untreated BV infections to some fairly serious pregnancy and delivery complications, including premature labor. As of now there’s no home test to diagnose BV, and no over-the-counter treatment or natural remedy has been clinically proven to be effective against it. The only known effective treatment is a round of antibiotics, which in the U.S. are available only by prescription. So if you have any of the symptoms of BV, such as burning, itching, unusual discharge or vaginal odor, then you need to make an appointment with your doctor or midwife to get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment ASAP. Note that treating for BV when you actually have a yeast infection, or treatment for a yeast infection when you actually have BV, can make either infection a lot worse, another good reason to not try to self-diagnose or treat with a home or over-the-counter remedy.
