Vaginosis Cures
Bacterial vaginosis is sometimes confused with vaginal yeast infections, but the two are not the same. Bacterial vaginosis occurs when there is a disruption in the number of good bacteria and bad bacteria that naturally reside in the vagina. And unlike some other infections, there are not a lot of effective vaginosis cures.
When that balance is upset a Bacterial Vaginosis occurs. While many believe yeast infections (Candidiasis) are the most common vaginal infection, the truth is that Bacterial Vaginosis occurs more often than Candidiasis. Some women misdiagnose their symptoms and treat themselves at home for a yeast infection, when they actually have vaginosis.
Because vaginosis typically clears up on it’s own in a few days, many women who treat for yeast infections assume that the treatment worked. These two infections are not the same, and the symptoms of the two conditions are different.
The most telling symptom of vaginosis is a gray discharge that presents a foul odor. While this infection is not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease, the smell is often worse after having sex. If the discharge is gray and quite odorous, it is likely not a yeast infection.
As mentioned earlier, the infection is usually mild and will clear up on it’s own in a few days. If it does not, a visit to the doctor is necessary. There are some other instances when a visit to the doctor for suspected vaginosis is needed. Those include if you are pregnant and if you have stomach pain or a fever.
Unlike yeast infections, there is no vaginosis cure medically approved for home treatment. If the infection persists, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help rid your body of the infection.
Some women say that yogurt helps with this infection. Medical experts say that the bacteria found in yogurt is not the type that will provide a vaginosis cure. What applying yogurt does is provide relief from the itching. Again, because the infection usually clears up in a few days, many women probably think the cure came from whatever home treatment they were doing.
Some even suggest douching as a home vaginosis cure. Ironically, douching is one of things that doctors recommend STOPPING in order to prevent the infection.
If the infection persists, and you must visit your doctor, there are some things that you can do at home to treat the symptoms while waiting for the antibiotics to do their job.
Warm Bath
Because the symptoms of a mild Bacterial Vaginosis infection are confined to the vaginal area (remember, if there is fever or abdominal pain, an immediate trip to the doctor is needed), there are some options for treating the symptoms.
Sitting in some warm bath water can bring relief from the itching.
Cool Compress
A cool compress can be applied anytime for instant relief of the burning sensation that is sometimes present with this infection. Some women say that applying a little aloe to the compress makes it even more effective.
Avoid Sexual Contact
Because symptoms often worsen after sexual contact, it is a good idea to avoid intimacy until the infection is completely cleared up. Again, this infection is not directly caused by sexual contact, but it can make the symptoms worse.
While there are no home remedies that are medically approved vaginosis cures, there are ways that women can reduce their risk factors. Smoking, frequent douching and having multiple sexual partners all increase the risk for developing this infection.
