If you have recently got over a bout of this very uncomfortable and embarrassing condition, you may well be wanting to know how to prevent bacterial vaginosis returning.
Unfortunately, this is a quest which many women have tried at, and failed, with BV being one of those conditions which seems to come and go with alarming regularity.
Understanding a little about BV can help you understand why it can seem to be so difficult to shift and just what you can do about it.
Bacterial vaginosis is the result of an overgrowth of harmful bacteria within the vagina.
Under normal circumstances, both good and bad strains live harmoniously, with the beneficial bacteria maintaining overall control.
When the status quo is disrupted, the healthy bacteria is weakened and allows the harmful strains to grow out of control and it is this which causes the symptoms, including the foul, fishy smelling discharge and the irritation and itching around the vagina.
One common mistake many make is to see the symptoms as a simple infection and assume that once the symptoms have disappeared (as they often will after a course of antibiotics) then that is the end of it.
The problem is that the treatments you can get from your doctor or pharmacist will not eliminate the root cause and prevent bacterial vaginosis returning, meaning that once the symptoms have been dealt with, this is only temporary and your symptoms are likely to recur within a few weeks.
If you would like to know how to prevent bacterial vaginosis returning, it is necessary to use a range of strategies to eliminate the root causes and not just the symptoms.
Common Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis Include:- * Overwashing * Using perfumed products near the vaginal area * Douching * Smoking * Eating a poor diet * Having a lowered immune system * A change of sexual partner * Using an IUD As you can see from the list above, the causes can be varied and therefore it can take a little detective work to establish what might be your trigger points.
However, great starting points for those wanting to know how to prevent bacterial vaginosis returning would be to eat a healthy diet, and consider taking a nutritional supplement.
You could also take steps to stop smoking, if this applies and use a condom whilst the condition settles.
In addition, enhancing and strengthening the levels of good bacteria within the vagina will mean that the levels are high enough to help prevent further outbreaks, in some ways giving an "immunity" to the common trigger points even if they are present.
Unfortunately, this is a quest which many women have tried at, and failed, with BV being one of those conditions which seems to come and go with alarming regularity.
Understanding a little about BV can help you understand why it can seem to be so difficult to shift and just what you can do about it.
Bacterial vaginosis is the result of an overgrowth of harmful bacteria within the vagina.
Under normal circumstances, both good and bad strains live harmoniously, with the beneficial bacteria maintaining overall control.
When the status quo is disrupted, the healthy bacteria is weakened and allows the harmful strains to grow out of control and it is this which causes the symptoms, including the foul, fishy smelling discharge and the irritation and itching around the vagina.
One common mistake many make is to see the symptoms as a simple infection and assume that once the symptoms have disappeared (as they often will after a course of antibiotics) then that is the end of it.
The problem is that the treatments you can get from your doctor or pharmacist will not eliminate the root cause and prevent bacterial vaginosis returning, meaning that once the symptoms have been dealt with, this is only temporary and your symptoms are likely to recur within a few weeks.
If you would like to know how to prevent bacterial vaginosis returning, it is necessary to use a range of strategies to eliminate the root causes and not just the symptoms.
Common Causes of Bacterial Vaginosis Include:- * Overwashing * Using perfumed products near the vaginal area * Douching * Smoking * Eating a poor diet * Having a lowered immune system * A change of sexual partner * Using an IUD As you can see from the list above, the causes can be varied and therefore it can take a little detective work to establish what might be your trigger points.
However, great starting points for those wanting to know how to prevent bacterial vaginosis returning would be to eat a healthy diet, and consider taking a nutritional supplement.
You could also take steps to stop smoking, if this applies and use a condom whilst the condition settles.
In addition, enhancing and strengthening the levels of good bacteria within the vagina will mean that the levels are high enough to help prevent further outbreaks, in some ways giving an "immunity" to the common trigger points even if they are present.