ARTICLES YOU CAN USE TO PROMOTE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS BREAKTHROUGH

1. SHOULD BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS BE TREATED?

YES! Although BV causes no complication in most cases, there are some serious risks if it is left untreated:

It can cause infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes. There is also an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory Disease (PID), which in turn may lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy

BV during pregnancy increases a woman's risk of miscarriage or delivery before 37th week of pregnancy (preterm or premature labour).

For many women the constant repeated attacks of vaginal infection devalues their self esteem. BV causes intense itching, irritation and a terrible fishy odour. This is enough to have a psychological effect on your sexual relationship. Helen M (2004) states that many women sufferers exhibit psychosexual symptoms such as loss of libido, anxiety and fear of sex due to the association that sex might actually provoke attacks of bacterial vaginosis.

KEY POINTS TO HELP YOU TREAT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS:

The main treatment of choice is usually antibiotics mainly Metronidazole or Clindamycin. Although antibiotics does have a place in treating bacterial vaginosis,it can affect bacteria that are harmful as well as those that beneficial which can make women more susceptible to infections when taking antibiotics. Antibiotics disturb the body's natural balance, creating an environment which infections and organisms can survive and thrive. Many women are prone to repeated attacks and taking repeated doses of antibiotics may cause you to develop antibiotic-resistance which can be potentially dangerous.

To effectively treat bacterial vaginosis, you need to deal with the root cause of your infection. Simple lifestyle changes will help your body to heal itself and stay well:

· Eat a balance and varied diet.

· Boost your immune system

· Exercise

· Manage your stress levels

· Try alternative remedies

· Try aromatherapy to relax

· Try and stay positive and boost your self esteem

Lauretta is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Public Health Practitioner with a special interest in finding natural remedies for women's health problems. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS BREAKTHROUGH reveals how to eliminate BV permanently using safe and natural remedies

2. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS-WHAT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV for short) is a very distressing and embarrassing condition. For many women bacterial vaginosis is not normally a serious condition, however for others who get repeated attacks it can cause lasting psychological and emotional damage.

10-40% of women have had bacterial vaginosis at least once.

Yet bacterial vaginosis is not widely known about and can be easily misunderstood by the medical profession.

Bacterial vaginosis is not caused by a particular organism but by a change in the balance of normal vaginal bacteria or a change in the PH balance. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the vagina due to the depletion of lactobacillus. The vagina normally contains a lot of good bacteria called lactobacilli and some other bacteria called anaerobes. Too many anaerobes can cause this imbalance.

In the USA, 16% of pregnant women have Bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is also called Gardenerella-associated vaginitis or non specific vaginitis.It is one of the most common causes of vaginitis symptoms among childbearing women particularly those who are sexually active.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS?

· Excessive, thin gray or white vaginal discharge that sticks to the vaginal walls.

· Fishy or musty, unpleasant vaginal odor, most noticeable after sex.

· Itching and irritation around the vagina.

· Burning during urination.

COMMON SENSE WAYS TO PREVENT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

· Avoid douching: douching disrupts the balance of the vagina's natural organisms. It may lead to infection and may also cause the infection to spread up to the reproductive tract. Most douches also contain hydrogen low concentration (PH) which deviates from the normal level, making you prone to more Bacterial vaginosis.

· Keep the vaginal area dry and clean. Wash vaginal area with clean water and dry thoroughly before and after sex.

· Avoid tight fitting jeans. Wear panties that fit well and are made of breathable cotton. The material should be able to absorb moisture and allow air to circulate. Nylon underwear and tights do not absorb moisture. Wear loose fitting trousers and try to avoid wearing nylon pants and tights under tight trousers, especially at night. In fact if you can, especially at night, wear no panties at all and let your vagina breathe!

· Always wipe from front to back after bowel movements to prevent Escherichia colic entering the vagina (Wipe from Vaginal to anus).

· Avoid scented toilet paper, deodorant tampons and other perfumed personal hygiene products.

· Bathing in perfumed water or bubble baths also cause damage by irritating the vaginal area. Soaps, bubble baths all can cause irritation to the vagina. Pour cold water over the perineum. It also helps to prevent urinary infections by washing away germs before they reach the urethra.

· Change tampons or pads frequently.

· Loss excess weight- it makes itching worse.

· Avoid using biological washing powder. Washing powder contains harsh chemicals which can irritate your vagina.

· Avoid vaginal deodorants as they can irritate the mucous membranes. They can make your vagina dry and itchy and can cause allergic reaction.

· Intra-uterine device or IUD for short can put you at increased risk of vaginal or uterine infections. If you are prone to repeated attacks of bacterial vaginosis and you have one fitted, try and talk to your Doctor about other methods of contraception.

· Try cool cabbage leaves to ease the discomfort of burning and itching. Cabbage leaves are used to treat sore nipples and mastitis. Cabbage leaves can be placed on top of a maxi pad to treat vaginitis. You can experience complete relief from burning and itching within a couple of hours.

· Boost your immunity with foods rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and E, zinc and selenium. Cut down your alcohol intake. An immune system that is weakened by poor nutrition and too much stress does not have a fighting chance of getting back to good health.

Lauretta is a Registered Nurse, Midwife, and Public Health Practitioner with a special interest in finding natural remedies for women's health problems. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS can be cured using safe and effective natural remedies.

3. I HAVE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS: SHOULD I DOUCHE?

NO, you donot need to douche; the healthy, normally developed vagina is able to clean it self. Women are however subjected to constant messages from the media, magazines etc indicating that in order to ‘keep the vaginal clean and fresh' they need a number of feminine products to help them achieve this. This indirectly suggests that in fact the vagina is never clean. Ultimately though women need to recognize that the aims of some these products are to make money and that they do not necessarily have women's best interests at heart.

All healthy vaginas contain some bacteria and other organisms called the vaginal flora. The normal acidity of the vagina keeps the amount of bacteria down. 90% of bacteria found in the healthy vagina belong to the genus lactobacillus. These bacteria control the growth of bad bacteria that can cause infection. Douching can change this delicate balance by reducing the number of protective Lactobacilli,thus creating an environment in which there is an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. This may make a woman more prone to bacterial vaginosis and other vaginal infections due to a depletion of lactobacillus. Douching can also spread existing vaginal infections up into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

WHAT IS VAGINAL DOUCHING?

"Douche" is a French word which means to wash or soak. Vaginal douching is the practice of rinsing or cleaning out the vagina. Women douche mainly for hygienic reasons, to prevent or treat infection. Douching is a common practice among women all over the world. A survey found that in the United States 20 to 40 percent of American women aged 15 to 44 years douche regularly. About half of these women douche every week.

Most douches are made with water and vinegar, baking soda, iodine or a mixture of water and medicinal herbs. Some women use homemade douches of water and vinegar, although most use commercial prepackaged douches.

WHY SHOULD WOMEN NOT DOUCHE?

Research suggests that women who douche regularly have more health problems than women who do not. Douching can cause irritation and inflammation of vaginal tissues, vaginal infections such as BV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pelvic inflammatory disease(PID). PID is an infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes. PID may lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage or delivery before 37th week of pregnancy (preterm or premature labour).

WHAT ARE THE REASONS WOMEN GIVE FOR DOUCHING?

-To clean the vagina

-To rinse sperm out of the vagina after sex

-To rinse away blood after monthly periods

-To get rid of vaginal odors

-To reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Women believe that douching is beneficial, in fact it can be harmful and should be avoided.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN THE VAGINA?

The best way is to let your vagina clean itself. The vagina cleans itself naturally by producing mucous. Women do not need to douche to wash away blood, semen, or vaginal discharge. The vagina gets rid of it alone. Also, it is important to note that even when your vagina is clean, it will still have some amount of odor. As long as it is not unpleasant odor, it is normal for a healthy vagina.

Regular washing with warm water when bathing will keep the outside of the vagina clean and healthy. Pour water over the perineum. It helps to prevent urinary infections by washing away germs before they reach the urethra. Avoid scented tampons, pad, powders, and sprays. These products may increase a woman's chances of getting vaginal infections. Bathing in perfumed water or bubble baths also cause damage by irritating the vaginal area. Soaps, bubble baths all can cause irritation to the vagina. Always wipe from vagina to anus to avoid bacteria entering your vagina. If you experience vaginal odor or unusual discharge, itching, redness, burning, pain when urinating or discomfort during sex, you should seek medical advice as you may have bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease(STD).

References

Baird DD, et al. Vaginal douching and reduced fertility. Am J Public Health 1996 Jun;86(6):844-50.

Jeffrey T. Kirchner. Prevalence of Vaginal Douching Despite its Adverse Effects. American Family Physician Feb 1, 2000.

Zhang J, et al. Vaginal douching and adverse health effects: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health 1997 Jul;87(7):1207-11.

Innacchinoe, Mary Ann. The vagina dialogue: Do you douche? American Journal of nursing: Jan 2004, Vol 104 Issue 1 pg 40

Lauretta is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Public Health Practitioner with a special interest in finding natural remedies for women's health problems. BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS BREAKTHROUGH reveals how to eliminate BV permanently using safe and natural remedies

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