Bacterial vaginosis is an extremely difficult condition to cope with.
Not only does it cause irritation and discomfort, but many women report that the worse aspect of the condition is the fact that it is so embarrassing! The fishy odor which is synonymous with BV makes us feel "unclean" and very often it is pungent enough to be noticeable by those around us.
Having done much research and written many articles on the subject, I would say that the best ways to treat bacterial vaginosis depends on your circumstances.
If this is your first outbreak of BV, the first step is to confirm that you do have the condition.
You may wish to visit your doctor for this who may decide to test the pH level of your vagina, which will show as alkaline if the test is positive.
He/she may also be able to see a white film covering the mucus membranes within the vagina.
However, most of us recognize the classic signs which are a itching and irritation of the delicate vaginal tissues, a watery discharge which is gray or white and which has a foul, fishy odor.
Often, an isolated outbreak of BV will clear up without intervention, so sometimes, the best way to treat bacterial vaginosis is to use a "wait and see" approach.
It can sometimes take time for the body to rebalance itself and sometimes this will happen naturally.
However, if this is just one of many outbreaks, it is a clear sign that there is a root cause which needs attention as it is never really going away.
One of the difficulties is identifying the root cause.
There are many triggers of BV, including smoking, a change of sexual partner, being "under the weather", douching, overwashing, using perfumed products around the vagina and even a long-lasting period.
Very often, it is near-on impossible to isolate just what is triggering repeated outbreaks.
It therefore follows that the best ways to treat bacterial vaginosis are to use multi--faceted approaches which eliminate each and every known cause of BV, whilst at the same time using strategies to enhance the immune system and reintroduce good bacteria into the vagina.
In addition, techniques which quickly kill off harmful bacteria can be very helpful, alongside strategies which give fast relief from the itching and burning sensation.
Although you may be tempted to use one-dimensional approaches and remedies, these do have their place, but only in the context of being part of a robust plan which attacks the condition from all avenues, ensuring that your body is hostile to bacterial vaginosis.
Although not particularly harmful in its early stages, untreated BV can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility.
Therefore, it is always a good idea to treat the condition promptly.
You are particularly at risk if you get repeated attacks.