Bacterial Vaginosis is a hormonal imbalance of the good and the bad bacteria innate in the vagina.
Severe cases of bacterial vaginosis or BV, could increase the risk of acquiring trachomatis, gonorrhea, HIV, and other viral STDs.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends immediate treatment to help relieve signs of infection and reduce the risk of acquiring STDs by taking either oral or topical treatment.
The recommended medicines include:
- * Metronidazole tablet 500 mg taken twice a day for 7 days
- * Metronidazole gel 0.75%, one full applicator of 5 g intravaginal once a day for 5 days
- * Clindamycin cream 2%, one full applicator of 5 g intravaginal at night for 7 days
Other recommended treatments are: - * Tinidazole 2 g taken orally once a day for 2 days
- * Tinidazole 1 g taken orally once a day for 5 days
- * Clindamycin 300 mg taken orally two times a day for 7 days,
- * Clindamycin ovules 100 mg used intravaginally once at bedtime for 3 days
- * Metronidazole 750 mg extended-release tablet taken once a day for 7 days
However, you should take these treatments only upon the advice and directions of your doctor.
BV treatment up close
The two most common treatment for bacterial vaginosis is Metronidazole and Clindamycin.
Metronidazole
Metronidazole is the generic name of U.S. and Canadian brand names like Flagyl, Flagyl ER, Flagyl 375, Helidac Therapy, and Protostat. It comes in oral capsules/tablets or in vaginal gel forms.
Some of the worldwide brand names include Amibazol, Amiyodazol, Acromona, Anerobia, Apo-Metronidazole, Arcazol, Anaerobes, Arilin, Asiazole, Asuzol, Clont, Debetrol, Metro gel, and many others.
If you are taking Metronidazole, stop drinking alcohol to avoid severe flushing, nausea, abdominal cramps. Vomiting, chest or stomach pain and headaches.
Flagyl ER 750 is an extended release tablet and works best on an empty stomach.
If you are pregnant, do not take Metronidazole during the first trimester of your pregnancy as it crosses the placenta spreading in the fetal circulation at a fast rate. Metronidazole is secreted in breast milk so if you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for an alternative treatment.
One of the best features of Metronidazole is that during treatment, it only targets the bad bacteria, not the lactobacilli, and the other aerobic microorganisms in your vagina.
Do not be alarmed if your urine turns dark brown or black while taking Metronidazole as this is normal.
Clindamycin
Clindamycin is the generic name for U.S. and Canadian brand names of Cleocin, Clindesse and Dalacin.
Some of the worldwide brands include Basocin, Akne Gel, Cleocin T, Dalacin 2% Vaginal Cream, Dalagis, Sobelin and others.
Clindamycin can cause diarrhea so if you have colitis or stomach problems, inform your doctor before taking oral Clindamycin.
If you are using Clindamycin cream and your monthly period start, switch to sanitary pads instead of tampons (tampons will soak up the medication) and just continue the treatment.
Clindamycin cream also contains oils that could affect latex so avoid using condoms, cervical caps, or diaphragms as contraceptives. This means you should not use latex for seventy-two hours after treatment. Avoid sexual contact while on treatment.
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