BV 101:
BV Myths Busted: Not from dirty bathrooms or an STI. BV is about maintaining a bacterial balance in your own ecosystem.
Holistic Vibes: Keep BV at bay with a balanced diet, breathable undies, and gentle hygiene—treat your bits like royalty.
Game Plan Against BV: From probiotics to prescribed treatments, we've got your back. Asking for help is as cool as your favourite playlist.
When to Ring the Alarm: While BV isn't always a big deal, red flags or discomfort mean it's time to consult your doctor.
You're Not Alone: BV is common but rarely discussed. Break the stigma and share the knowledge.
Bottom Line: BV might be a party crasher, but armed with knowledge, you can show it the exit. Ready to kick BV to the curb? Let's dive into the Ultimate BV guide …
Let's Get Nerdy!.......
A guide to Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
The Vaginal Microbiome maintains a vital balance within the complex environment of the vagina. This microbial community prevents dangerous bacteria from growing in the vaginal environment. Every now and then, this balance breaks down and the vaginal microbiome’s balance is disrupted, sometimes leading to a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV).
This guide explores the symptoms of bacterial vaginal infections (BV), common misconceptions about the vaginal infection, the need for early treatment along with some strategies for preserving a healthy vaginal microbiome.
Come with us as we dispel myths, discuss the intricacies of BV, and provide advice on how to promote the best possible vaginal health.
What is BV?
The vagina is full of a wide range of good bacteria called Lactobacillus that keep it healthy and stop bad bacteria and yeasts growing where they are not wanted. This is called the Vaginal Microbiome.
Sometimes, these good Lactobacillus bacteria get out of balance and bad bacteria called Gardnerella vaginalis can grow like weeds and disrupt the health of the vagina. This imbalance can cause several symptoms:
- A thin white/grey discharge
- A fishy odour, especially around the time of periods or after sex
Some women can have BV but have no symptoms, this is called asymptomatic. You can find out if you have BV by taking a vaginal pH test, this will reveal the potential bacterial vaginosis pH level which can help you make sense of your symptoms. The bacterial vaginosis pH level is anything above 4.5 so, if your pH is higher than 4.5 then you may have BV even though you don’t have symptoms.
If you think you may have bacterial vaginosis but you aren’t sure, we would highly recommend using one of our vaginal pH Test Kits to help find out what’s wrong.
Why do I get BV?
BV is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it is much more common in women that have sex. It is thought that sex changes the environment in the vagina which allows the bad bacteria to grow. You are more likely to get BV if you:
• Are sexually active (although some people do get BV who don’t have sex)
• Have had a change of sexual partner
• If you wash (douche) your vulva and vagina with scented or irritant products.
How much of a problem is BV?
For many years, BV was not considered important enough to treat. It has given rise to the stereotype that women’s vaginas smell of fish….. well, they shouldn’t!
A smelly vaginal discharge is very distressing, affects your confidence and is reason enough to seek treatment for bacterial vaginosis, but more recent research has shown that a BV infection can cause much more serious problems if left untreated. The American Pregnancy association says:
“BV, and other infections in general, can decrease fertility in a number of ways: Increasing inflammation and immune system activity, making a toxic environment for reproduction. Causing damage to sperm and vaginal cells. Interfering with the production of healthy cervical mucus during ovulation.”
In pregnancy, BV has also been linked to pre-term birth where the baby is born before its due date which may result in problems for the child.
BV can also increase your likelihood of catching Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea and getting Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) which can cause more serious problems like infertility.
What can I do to fix BV?
There are many treatments for bacterial vaginosis on the pharmacy shelf and nearly all of them just treat the symptoms for a short time.
The Vagina is protected by good bacteria called Lactobacillus. These bacteria create a mildly acidic environment in the vagina which prevents bad bacterial from thriving and causing an infection. The best way to keep yourself free of BV and other vaginal infections is to look after your vagina…… this means NOT DOING MUCH AT ALL! The vagina cleans itself and is happy to be left alone.
DO NOT:
- Use soaps and scented products on and in your vulva and vagina
- Douche your vagina – this is really bad for it!
- Use ‘feminine’ sprays, wipes, perfumes or deodorants on your vulva
If you do get BV, the standard treatment for bacterial vaginosis from your doctor is antibiotics (make sure you finish the course! ), which will treat the infection by killing most of the bacteria in the vagina.
Because antibiotics are not very specific, they kill the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria so it is a really good idea to take a specific women's live bacterial supplement that contains specific vaginal Lactobacillus strains- alongside the medical treatment, and for a couple of months afterwards. This will help your vaginal microbiome recover with the right kind of good bacteria. A healthy vaginal microbiome will have a low pH which stops BV coming back.
One way to keep your vaginal microbiome in tip-top condition is to take a daily vaginal Lactobacillus supplement for women. VJJ Health has worked with one of the worlds leading experts in women's probiotic research and manufacturing and has developed Perfect V a supplement which contains four specially selected strains of vaginal microbiome specific Lactobacillus which has been shown to reach the vagina.
Recurrent BV
It is very common for BV to come back. In fact around 30% of women who have a case of BV will have a recurrence within a few months.
One thing that it is really important to know is that BV is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD), however frequent unprotected sex, or sex with multiple partners does often lead to BV.
The main microbe that causes BV is called Gardnerella. Most women have this bacteria living in your vagina, just in small enough amounts that it causes no problem. It is kept under control by the good bacteria (Lactobacilli). Sometimes things happen to make your vaginal microbiome go out of balance which causes an increase in your ph. A ph of over 4.5 lets the BV bacteria take-over.
This can be for a number of reasons:
- Sexual activity- spermatic fluid is very alkaline (has a high ph 8/9) so sex without a condom can cause a change in the make-up of your vaginal microbiome and increase your vaginal ph balance. This can allow BV to increase and cause an infection. If this is the case, try to use a condom without a spermicide (spermicide kills good bacterial as well as sperm) to protect yourself. A daily Perfect V will supplement your vaginal microbiome.
- Antibiotic resistance- you may have a strain of the BV causing bacteria which is resistant to antibiotics. If you have recurrent BV, try improving your vaginal balance with Perfect V which will supplement your vaginal microbiome with the right Lactobacilli.
- You are washing or douching your vagina too much - You should NEVER douche. Using washing products or scented wipes on your vagina kill the good bacteria that keep your vagina acidic and protected from BV. Over-washing and douching are a major cause of BV.
A healthy vaginal microbiome is important in stopping vaginal infections like BV. Try supplementing your vaginal microbiome with the specific researched women's bacteria that are in Perfect V.
