Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition that many women can get, regardless of whether or not they’ve had sex. Home remedies can be used to treat and them prevent it. Some may be more effective than others. These treatments likely won’t be as effective as prescription medications. But many come without some of the side effects prescription medications can cause.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU MAY HAVE BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS?
Around half of all women with Bacterial vaginosis show no symptoms. But if you do, you could notice :
- Thin white, gray, or green discharge
- Burning feeling when you pee
- Fishy smell that gets stronger after sex
- itching around the outside of the vagina
Bacterial vaginosis also increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection and inflammation of the upper female genital tract that can have severe consequences, including infertility.
Also Read: The Causes & Treatment of Vaginal Itching
7 HOME REMEDIES FOR BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS
#1 Yoghurt
Yogurt is a natural probiotic. This means that it has plenty of healthy bacteria in it. According to studies. eating yogurt may help introduce healthy bacteria back into the body. This helps establish a balanced vaginal environment and could help fight off the bad bacteria. To get the full benefits, eat at least one serving of yogurt per day.
#2 Probiotics
Yogurt contains some probiotics. But there are plenty of probiotic supplements available. There are evidence-based studies that mention taking probiotic supplements daily can help treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis.
If you have bacterial vaginosis, take probiotics daily to help treat and prevent future cases of bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics can come in pill or liquid form. If you’ve been on an antibiotic, this medication can kill off the good bacteria as well as the bad. So replace the good bacteria with probiotics supplements and yoghurt.
#3 Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help treat bacterial vaginosis. There are different ways to use tea tree oil to treat bacterial vaginosis, including mixing it with coconut oil (or another carrier oil) and soaking a tampon in it. Insert the tampon into the vagina and remove it after an hour. Remove it sooner if there is any irritation. Repeat this a few times per day. Don’t sleep with a diluted tea tree tampon in place.
#4 Breathable Cotton Underwear
Certain types of underwear, including spandex, aren’t as breathable as cotton underwear. Wearing underwear made of these materials can trap moisture. This can cause a breeding ground for bacteria and can worsen a bacterial vaginal infection.
To help your bacterial vaginosis heal quickly and to prevent future cases, wear cotton underwear that’s breathable. Also, don’t wear tight pants.
#5 Don’t Douche
Some women douche because they believe it makes them “cleaner.” In reality, it can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and increase the chance of infection. The vagina is self-cleaning and douching only throws off the natural environment within the vagina.
READ: Vaginal Douching (To Douch or Not to Douch)
#6 Safe Sex
Using condoms can reduce your risk of bacterial vaginosis. Meanwhile, having new or multiple sexual partners can increase your risk. Because of this, always use condoms, especially with new sexual partners.
#7 Practice Good Hygiene
The anal and vaginal areas are close together. By practising good hygiene, you can help treat and prevent cases of bacterial vaginosis. Always wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. This means wiping away from the vagina towards the rectum to avoid any contamination from the stool.
Change your pad or tampon several times per day during your period. Always clean your sex toys with soap and hot water. Assume that your partner also has the bacteria on their sex organs, and you may both need to be treated. All of this will help resolve cases of bacterial vaginosis as quickly as possible.
