Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a very common problem. It affects more than 30% of people with vaginas at least once in their lifetime. This means there are millions of cases of BV every year.
The most common BV symptoms include a strong, fishy vaginal odor and thin, milky white vaginal discharge. Symptoms can appear similar across bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections (UTIs), yeast infections and other vaginal conditions. So BV can feel like a UTI or other vaginal condition. A medical provider will help decipher test results and determine the best treatment—typically a course of antibiotics.
Here’s what you need to know about bacterial vaginosis treatment options. Plus, how to get a BV prescription online through Dr. B’s virtual health platform.
Some cases of bacterial vaginosis get better without treatment. But BV can cause potentially serious problems—even if you don’t have symptoms. So it’s a good idea to talk to a medical provider if you suspect that you have BV.
Potential problems from untreated BV include increased risk of:
Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics. There are no over-the-counter medications that will treat BV. So you can’t cure BV at home without help from a medical provider.
Sexual partners with penises don’t typically need treatment if a partner with a vagina is diagnosed with BV. If partners with vaginas also have discharge or another sign of infection, they should see a medical provider, too.
Avoid having sex until you’ve finished the full BV treatment course and your infection has gone away. Semen is alkaline and can disrupt the pH of your vagina while it’s recovering. And some BV treatments involve creams or gels that can make it more likely for condoms to break.
Antibiotics can cause side effects. And studies show that bacterial vaginosis comes back in more than 50% of BV patients—even with treatment. So researchers are exploring other therapies to treat BV and make it less likely to return. Possibilities include probiotics and other non-antibiotic treatments.
But for now, a bacterial vaginosis prescription for antibiotics is the way to go.
Medications for bacterial vaginosis can be used as a cream or gel that you put in the vagina. There are also BV pills you take by mouth and granules you sprinkle over soft food and eat.
These are the most common medications used to treat BV:
There are several things you can do to help prevent BV.
While antibiotics are effective for BV, some people experience BV that keeps coming back.
You can support a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina by eating products that contain good bacteria like Lactobacillus. A good diet for bacterial vaginosis might include yogurt or probiotic supplements.
But research in this area is still emerging. So speak with a medical provider before starting any supplements, including probiotics.
Bacterial vaginosis can be frustrating. But several BV medication options can help you prevent BV or recover quickly.
And you can explore available bacterial vaginosis treatment online with Dr. B!
Start a health assessment for BV antibiotics online. A licensed medical provider will discuss treatment options. If a prescription BV treatment is appropriate, they’ll call the prescription into your chosen pharmacy.
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