What causes BV to keep coming back?
When vaginal pH is too high—that is, too basic or alkaline—it may encourage the growth of bacteria associated with BV. As a result, maintaining a vaginal pH that’s slightly acidic may help prevent reinfection. One way to prevent your vaginal pH from becoming too alkaline is by using gels that contain lactic acid.
How is chronic BV recurrent treated?
Recommended treatment for recurrent BV consists of an extended course of metronidazole treatment (500 mg twice daily for 10-14 days); if ineffective, metronidazole vaginal gel 0.75% for 10 days, followed by two times per week for 3-6 months, is an alternate treatment regimen.
What causes recurrent bacterial infections?
In adults, recurrent infections are usually due to an anatomic lesion, a functional disorder, or to a secondary cause of immunosuppression.
Why do I get BV every month?
BV is very common and results from a change in the bacterial flora in the vagina. It is sometimes hard to treat, as 30% of women who get better after treatment will get BV again within three months, and more than 50% of women will have BV again within 12 months.
How can I stop getting BV so much?
Steps that might lower your risk of BV include:
- Keeping your vaginal bacteria balanced. Use warm water only to clean the outside of your vagina.
- Not douching. Douching upsets the balance of good and harmful bacteria in your vagina.
- Not having sex.
- Limiting your number of sex partners.
How do I get rid of recurrent BV?
How Is Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis Treated?
- Antibiotics – taken either orally or vaginally until they are gone.
- Lifestyle changes – including changes in diet, abstinence from sexual activity until healed, vitamin supplements, and avoiding douches and antiseptic bath products.
What if BV does not go away with antibiotics?
BV may return if you did not complete your course of antibiotics. However, even if you have completed a full course of antibiotics, BV returns within three months in many women. If it does come back, a repeat course of antibiotics will usually be successful.
Can hormonal imbalance cause bacterial infections?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Why do I get BV every 3 months?
Does chronic BV ever go away?
Some women suffer from chronic (recurring) bacterial vaginosis. Medicine can clear up the infection, but it returns again after a few weeks. Some women report that bacterial vaginosis returns after their period each month. Or it can return after they have sex.
How do I get rid of BV that won’t go away?
This can be frustrating. Bacterial vaginosis makes the reproductive tract vulnerable to infection or inflammation. So your doctor will test and treat you with antibiotics if you are: Having symptoms that won’t go away.