Bacterial Vaginosis - How to Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis Home Remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis

Your vagina is riddled with bacteria, but don’t worry—most of them are harmless and fall into a category called lactobacilli, also known as the “good” kind of bacteria.
The vagina also plays host to the “bad” kind, called anaerobes, and sometimes the anaerobes get too plentiful and throw off the balance, creating a situation called bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a form of vaginitis, an inflammation of the vagina.

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, there is an excess of bad bacteria. This throws the vaginal environment out of balance.

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 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.

What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

As mentioned, bacterial vaginosis occurs when the anaerobe bacteria in the vagina multiply to the point where they disrupt the normally lactobacilli-dominated environment. This usually happens because something has caused lactobacilli levels to drop. It’s a trigger that can play out across similar overgrowth disorders that can appear in other places, such as the intestines or the mouth. However, the exact cause of bacterial vaginosis is unknown and nor is it clear just how low lactobacilli levels need to be in order for an anaerobe surge to develop. What is known is that certain activities can increase the likelihood of developing BV, including:

• Vaginal douching;
• Unprotected intercourse;
• Intercourse with a new partner or multiple partners;
• Using antibiotics; and
• Using any vaginally delivered medications.

Symptoms

• Thin graying colored discharge
• A strong, unpleasant (often fishy) odor
• Vaginal itching or irritation

It can, however, occasionally be asymptomatic until bigger problems crop up.

Almost 30 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 50 have BV – or more accurately, are in a state of BV – enough vaginal dysbiosis at any given time that their flora is significantly disrupted. Unfortunately, conventional doctors know surprisingly little about how to treat it outside of prescribing antibiotics, which often don’t work, leading to multiple rounds of treatment which may eventually reduce the overgrowth of the annoying bacteria, but don’t help to reset your vaginal ecology – and may wipe out even more good microorganisms along with the symptom-causing ones.

How to Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

There are numerous home treatments for bacterial vaginosis that can be applied in concert with conventional medical treatment. It is important when using any BV home remedy that you do not do so at the expense of any doctor-prescribed medication. The good news is that natural remedies for bacterial vaginosis and medical treatments are not mutually exclusive, so you can use them both at the same time without incident. With that in mind, here are some tips for how to get rid of a vaginal bacterial infection.

• Hydrogen Peroxide for BV
  This is one of the more reliable methods for how to treat BV at home. Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that can be applied to the vagina to help kill any bacteria that have set up shop. Since hydrogen peroxide is quite strong and because you are applying it to a sensitive area, it’s important to dilute the substance first. To create this natural treatment for bacterial vaginosis, use a solution of equal parts water and 3% hydrogen peroxide then soak a tampon in the resulting mixture. Insert the tampon and leave it in place for 20 to 30 minutes before removing.
• Apple Cider Vinegar for BV
  Apple cider vinegar is another liquid with purported antiseptic behavior. Using apple cider vinegar for bacterial vaginosis lets you throw off or restore the pH balance of the vaginal environment, to make it more inhospitable to anaerobes. The usual recommendation when making this natural cure for bacterial vaginosis is to use a solution of two cups of water and one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, then apply it as a douche once per day. Alternatively, you can add a half cup of apple cider vinegar to a bath and soak in it for 30 minutes.
• Coconut Oil for BV
  Another method for how to cure BV at home is to use coconut oil. Less antiseptic and more antibacterial, coconut oil can be used preventatively or as a direct treatment option. Soak a tampon in coconut oil until it becomes saturated, then insert into the vagina and leave for about two hours. Rinse the area after removal and repeat each day until symptoms go away.

• Probiotics
  Yogurt contains some probiotics. But there are plenty of probiotic supplements available. According to a 2014 study, there is evidence that 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 yogurt.

• Cold Compress
  One of the main home remedies for vaginitis is a cold compress. Should you experience vaginal inflammation or irritation, a cold compress can help soothe the site and lessen the pain for a short period.

• Garlic
  Garlic has strong antibacterial properties, and it’s long been used as a home remedy for bacterial vaginosis. One study found that taking a garlic supplement tablet could be an option for treating bacterial vaginosis.

• Hydrogen peroxide
  A 2003 study found that about 1 ounce of hydrogen peroxide used daily for one week as vaginal irrigation was able to help treat bacterial vaginosis as well as traditional medications. It comes with the advantage of a much lower cost than these medications. It also has fewer side effects.

• Tea tree oil
  Tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help treat bacterial vaginosis. One small study reported successful treatment of bacterial vaginosis with only tea tree oil.

  Essential oils like tea tree oil need to be diluted with a carrier oil such as coconut, sweet almond, or olive oil. Choose an oil you know you are not allergic to and mix 5 to 10 drops of tea tree oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil. Do not use tea tree oil without mixing it with a carrier oil first as it can burn tender skin.

  Many people are allergic to tea tree oil. Before you try this home remedy test a small amount of the diluted oil on your skin before using on your tender vaginal tissue. If there is no reaction in 24 to 48 hours, it should be safe to use.

  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. You can also purchase tea tree oil vaginal suppositories.

  Tea tree is an essential oil and not monitored for safety, quality, or purity by the FDA. Make sure to buy it from a reputable source.

• 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.

• Boric acid
  Boric acid capsules can be used to treat bacterial vaginosis. According to UWHealth, boric acid capsules can be inserted into the vagina every night for two weeks to treat bacterial vaginosis.

  It’s safe to use in the vagina and has been found to be as effective as some medical approaches to treatment. However, note that 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 if you are pregnant.

• 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. According to the Mayo Clinic, the vagina is self-cleaning and douching only throws off the natural environment within the vagina.

• Practice good hygiene
  The anal and vaginal areas are close together. By practicing 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 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.

Risks and complications
If home remedies don’t work, bacterial vaginosis could continue and worsen if it’s not treated. Having raw areas of skin in and around your vagina increases a number of risks, including:

• increased risk of contracting HIV if exposed to the virus
• increased risk of premature delivery if you’re pregnant
• increased risk of contracting other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• development of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Ways to Prevent & Treat BV Naturally

Here are the key steps to restoring your vaginal ecology:

• Balance your blood sugar. Trouble-making gut and vaginal microorganisms thrive on sugar, so keeping sugar intake low and blood sugar balanced are two of the best things you can do to support whole-body ecology and vaginal ecology. The primary dietary culprits are the added sugars found in most processed foods and the refined grains in most breads, pastas, and baked goods. At the same time, even natural sugars can add up. The dollop of honey in your morning tea or the dash of maple syrup on mashed sweet potatoes can cause blood sugar spikes for some women. The sugar in alcohol is a major trigger for BV, too. So if you’re working to prevent or treat BV, and especially if you struggle with persistent BV, watch the amount of sugar you eat, both added and natural, and know that even small amounts of sugar can add up. It’s smart to avoid alcohol entirely when you’re treating BV and trying to keep it from recurring, and then keep it to small amounts only if you’re susceptible and notice an association between alcohol intake and recurrence.
• Your vagina is self-cleaning. Don’t douche. Douches should be avoided at all costs because they disrupt the natural vaginal ecology. Regular douching – even with natural products – has been shown to double the risk of developing vaginitis. Also, avoid scented products: That includes soaps, toilet paper, and menstrual products. The fragrances in these products are extremely detrimental to vaginal ecology and do more to trigger bacterial vaginosis than keep it at bay.
• Sad but true, say goodbye to thongs. If you’ve ever worn a thong, you know that it can start to feel like you’ve got a tightrope down there. But that uncomfortable feeling isn’t the only problem with this sexy underwear: Because thongs inevitably ride up, bacteria from the anus can use that thin strip of fabric as a literal tightrope to travel to the vagina. Instead wear boy shorts, briefs, or bikinis, all of which are way more sexy when you think about the tightrope! Whatever underwear you choose, make sure the crotch has a cotton lining (which is more breathable than other materials).
• Take antibiotics only when necessary. Antibiotics save lives, to be sure. But up to 70 percent of the antibiotics prescribed in the United States are unnecessary. Consult with your healthcare provider carefully any time you’re considering taking antibiotics and avoid them when they aren’t necessary. When antibiotics are necessary, take a high-quality probiotic daily for up to 3 months afterward. Ok, and here’s another crazy thing – up to 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the US are going into our meat – and this has been associated with a variety of resistant infections in humans! So if you struggle with BV that just won’t go away or keeps coming back, try going organic with meat, dairy, and poultry for 3 months and see if this helps.

When to See a Doctor
It takes about three days to a week for antibiotics to treat a case of bacterial vaginosis. During this time, you should feel free to attempt any of the above natural BV remedies. In addition to knowing how to get rid of bacterial vaginosis, it’s important to know when it might be time to seek a reevaluation. There are certain situations where it’s highly advisable to speak with your doctor in order to make sure there are no extra complications going on, including the following:

• You have a fever alongside vaginal discharge.
• You have had vaginal infections before, but the discharge this time seems different or new.
• You have recently had sex with new or multiple partners; some STDs have symptoms similar to BV.