Home Remedies For Bv | 11 Ways To Decrease BV At Home

Home Remedies for BV can help in some cases like moderate cases of infection. We use normal materials, not chemical medications that can be applied at home.

What is Bacterial vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria.

The vagina naturally has an environment containing “good” and “bad” bacteria. In cases of bacterial vaginosis, an increase in ad bacteria leads to an imbalance in the vaginal environment.

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition common in many women, regardless of whether they’ve had sex. Home remedies for bv can effectively treat and prevent it. Some may be more effective than others.

These treatments will not be as effective as prescription medications but have no side effects like prescription medications.

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is a natural probiotic, which contains plenty of healthy bacteria. By eating yogurt you introduce healthy bacteria back into the body.

This helps make a balance in the vaginal environment and helps fight off the bad bacteria. Eating at least one serving of yogurt per day helps to get the full benefits.

2. Probiotics

Probiotic supplements contain more amounts than Yogurt contains probiotics. Taking probiotic supplements daily can treat and prevent bacterial vaginosis according to a 2014 review by Trusted Source, which focused on the effects of probiotics on bacterial vaginosis.

If you have bacterial vaginosis, try taking probiotics daily to help treat and prevent future cases of bacterial vaginosis. Probiotics have two forms: pill or liquid form.

Probiotic supplements and yogurt can help replace the bad bacteria, but if you take prescribed an antibiotic, this medication can kill off the good bacteria as well as the bad

3. Garlic

Garlic is a good one of the home remedies for bv as it has a strong antibacterial effect, and it’s long been used as a home remedy for bacterial vaginosis.

A 2014 study trusted Source compared the use of garlic tablets and oral metronidazole, an antibiotic, in treating the condition. Study results showed that taking a garlic supplement tablet could be an option for treating bacterial vaginosis.

4. Hydrogen peroxide

A 2003 study, Trusted Source found that about 1 ounce of hydrogen peroxide taken daily for 1 week as vaginal irrigation can help treat bacterial vaginosis like the effect of traditional medications.

Advantages:

1- It has the advantage of a much lower cost than these medications.

2- It is one of the home remedies that has fewer side effects.

5. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial and antifungal effects that can help treat bacterial vaginosis. You can treat bacterial vaginosis with only tea tree oil according to

one small study reported Trusted Source.

To avoid burning tender skin do not use tea tree oil without mixing it with a carrier oil first.

Essential oils like tea tree oil must be diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut, sweet almond, or olive oil. You choose an oil that is not allergic to you and mix 5 to 10 drops of tea tree oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil. Many people are allergic to tea tree oil.

Before you try this home remedy, you must test a small amount of the diluted oil on your skin before using it on your tender vaginal tissue. If the reaction does not appear in 24 to 48 hours, it should be safe to use.

There are different ways to use tea tree oil to treat bacterial vaginosis.

One of them is by mixing tea tree oil 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 if you find any irritation. Repeat this a few times per day. Do not forget to remove this tampon before sleep.

You can also buy tea tree oil vaginal suppositories online.

Tea tree is an essential oil. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t monitor it for safety, quality, or purity. Make sure to buy it from a guaranteed place.

6. Breathable cotton underwear

You must wear cotton underwear. Do not wear underwear made from spandex material insatiable as cotton underwear. This spandex material can trap moisture. This can make a good environment for breeding bacteria and can worsen a bacterial vaginal infection.

According to the University of New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Wellness, to help your bacterial vaginosis heal quickly and to prevent infection in the future, wear breathable cotton underwear. Also, avoid wearing tight pants.

7. Boric acid

Boric acid capsules can be used as home remedies for bv to treat bacterial vaginosis.

A combination of suppressive antimicrobial therapy and intravaginal boric acid was used to treat recurring bacterial vaginosis.

It’s safe to use in the vagina and is as effective as some medical approaches to treatment.

Precautions:

Boric acid is not edible; it’s toxic to eat. It should be kept away from children and animals. It’s also not safe to use as home remedies for bv if you’re pregnant.

8.Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar may help balanced vaginal pH. Apply it as one of the home remedies for bv by using it by rinsing the vulva in a solution of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water twice per day may alleviate symptoms.

9. Don’t douche

Some women douche because they believe it makes them “cleaner.” In reality, it can imbalance in vaginal bacteria and increase the chance of infection.

The vagina is self-cleaning and douching only changes its natural environment.

10. Safer sex

Using condoms now consider home remedies for bv that can help reduce your risk for bacterial vaginosis.

When you have sex with new or multiple sexual partners without using a barrier method can increase your percentage of infection occurrence. Always use condoms or other barrier methods to help in safe sex.

11. Practice good hygiene

Applying good hygiene practices is a very important one of home remedies for bv treats and prevents cases of bacterial vaginosis.

As The anal and vaginal areas are close together bacterial vaginosis may occur currently.

Always use a wipe from front to back after getting out of the bathroom. This means wiping away from the vagina toward the rectum to avoid any contamination from the stool.

Here are several additional tips:

1-Change your pad or tampon several times per day during your period.

2-Always clean your sex toys with soap and hot water.

3-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.

Risks and complications:

If home remedies for bv don’t work, bacterial vaginosis could continue and worsen if it’s not treated.

Some risks and diseases transmitted due to having raw areas of skin in and around your vagina, including:

1-Increased risk of contracting HIV if exposed to the virus.

2-Increased risk of premature delivery if you’re pregnant.

3-Increased risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

4-Increased risk of developing the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

When to call your doctor:

1-In pregnancy: BV is linked to many problems such as preterm labor, miscarriage, low birth weight, and other pregnancy complications. Prompt treatment can reduce the risk. Some home remedies for BV, such as the use of essential oils, may not be safe for pregnant women.

2-If there are other symptoms: A burning sensation during urination, intense pain, blood discharge, or similar symptoms may suggest something other than BV.

3-If they develop a fever: This also may be another infection.

4-If they experience intense burning or itching.

5-If home remedies for bv have failed: Some other infections can mimic BV. Untreated, these infections can get much worse.

6-If women are unsure whether the problem is BV: Women with a history of recurring yeast infections, for example, should see a doctor before beginning home remedies for bv. Some companies now sell over-the-counter vaginal tests, which may be an option for women unsure of the cause of their symptoms.

After a week of home remedies for bv treatment, if your symptoms haven’t resolved or reduced make an appointment with your gynecologist.

Also, must see your doctor right away if your bacterial vaginosis is recurrent.

Try to make your appointment on a day when you do not have your period. This allows your doctor to take a swab of your vaginal discharge for testing.

Your doctor will likely prescribe either oral antibiotics or an antibiotic cream that can be used locally in the vagina.

Summary

You can treat bacterial vaginosis at the home by using some home remedies for bv to decrease its effect or treat your infection by using local or systemic home remedies with some precautions during sex and good hygiene practice.

Read about: Home Remedies

By: Dr. Yasmin Atta