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Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Treatment Guide

As a refresher, Bacterial Vaginosis, commonly known as “BV” is a condition occurring when there’s an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in the vagina. BV symptoms, like inflammation and a strong “fishy” odor, happen because the pH levels of the vagina have become less acidic than normal.

>##### BV increases your risk of contracting and spreading STDs, like HIV, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea. - Center for Disease Control, CDC.GOV

While BV can affect people of any age, it commonly occurs during one’s sexually-active years. Other than unpleasant odor, the primary reason to address BV is that untreated inflammation may increase your risk of contracting and spreading STDs, like HIV, Chlamydia, and Gonorrhea.

Whether you are looking for prescription BV meds, over-the-counter BV treatment, or a home remedy for Bacterial Vaginosis, this guide will walk you through all your options to get rid of BV for good.

How to treat BV?

The good news is that wisp offers quick and easy access to BV treatment for treating AND preventing chronic BV online. Depending on your symptoms or preference, there are three ways to treat BV:

  • Acute Treatment
  • Preventative Treatment
  • Holistic Treatment

What is acute BV treatment?

When you have uncomfortable BV symptoms and want a fast and effective treatment, prescription antibiotics work most effectively to clear “acute” symptoms like odor and inflammation. Metronidazole and Clindamycin are the two most common medications prescribed for acute Bacterial Vaginosis. These FDA-approved meds go to work quickly and your symptoms should begin to lessen almost immediately. BV antibiotics must be prescribed by a licensed medical provider, but you do not need health insurance or in-person consultation to receive treatment:

  • Metronidazole and Clindamycin are most commonly taken as a daily oral pill
  • It is important to take all of the meds you receive to eliminate the infection and prevent a recurrence

Metronidazole and Clindamycin are also available as topical BV treatments. This medication is applied directly into the vagina and begins to work immediately. Topical BV treatment is a popular option for individuals who experience unpleasant side effects with oral antibiotics. You may request topical BV treatment by selecting this option during checkout. This will let the medical provider know of your preference before beginning the consultation.

To begin acute BV treatment, begin by requesting a prescription for BV antibiotics. After signing up for wisp, your consult will begin immediately. Simply answer a few quick questions online and a US-based physician will review and prescribe treatment if it is considered safe and appropriate.

Acute BV Prescription Treatment

What is BV prevention?

If you struggle with chronic BV or experience mild infections where symptoms feel more manageable, then over-the-counter Boric Acid may be all you need to reset your pH.

Using Boric Acid to get rid of BV is especially common for individuals who prefer to self-manage recurrent BV symptoms. But the key is to use boric acid suppositories to “prevent” a full-blown infection. This may mean using boric acid daily—whenever you feel like your pH is off—and especially using boric acid suppositories after sex, which can help your body proactively manage the onset of BV symptoms.

Remember that you may not be able “prevent” acute BV symptoms if an infection is already active. In this case, it’s better to use boric acid in addition to antibiotics, because boric acid treatment “prevents” the onset of recurrent symptoms. Patients struggling with chronic BV often take boric acid and metronidazole, to help restore a healthy PH balance to the vagina and prevent another infection.

How to cure BV at home with holistic treatment?

If you are wondering how to cure BV at home, you may also be wondering how to cure BV without antibiotics. We believe the first line of defense against BV is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, so it’s important to support the systems of the body that help to maintain a balanced pH.

Reproductive Probiotics are a clinically-formulated blend of Lactobacillus acidophilus (the good kind of bacteria), used to improve and restore your flora, especially during or after antibiotic treatment. Taken daily, probiotics promote vaginal wellness by supporting good bacterial balance in the gut and reproductive system. Maintaining a healthy vaginal balance is the key to keeping infections like vaginitis, candida, and UTI, from crashing the party.

Final thoughts about treating BV

While curing BV at home essentially means not having to sit in a waiting room, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a prescription for BV symptoms without going to the doctor. Even if you practice great holistic health with daily probiotics and boric acid after sex, sometimes you just want to be done with a BV infection. One round of Metronidazole or Clindamycin will clear the infection so you can reset your pH and work to build that holistic defense back up again to avoid the recurrence of symptoms.

Treating BV from home is as simple as selecting the treatment(s) you would like to begin. If you choose preventative or holistic care, these trusted over-the-counter treatments will ship immediately to your home. If you need to treat acute symptoms with a BV prescription, simply select the product you would like at checkout. After completing a 2-minute form, our medical providers will review and prescribe quick—discreet—care, all without ever having to leave the house. You can choose to pick up your prescription from a local pharmacy or have meds shipped to your home in a few days, for free!

Treatment FAQ