The Relation Of Bacterial Vaginosis To Monthly Periods
May 14th, 2012It is common for women of child-bearing age to experience their menstrual cycle. This is because the body is undergoing monthly changes in preparation of a possible conception. During menstruation, the hormones in a woman’s body fluctuate to certain levels along with vaginal pH. Typical pH is around 3.5-4.5, good enough to keep in check the number of bacteria naturally found in the genital area. When a woman has her monthly period, blood released from her vagina or use of tampons could elevate the pH. Such changes could provide an opportunity for pathogenic bacteria to multiply beyond normal levels, causing bacterial vaginosis (BV). Studies revealed that the BV commonly affects women in the first week of their period. These unwanted bacteria give rise to symptoms such as irritation, fishy odor, and infection. There are cases though that this disease remains undetected because it might not manifest the aforementioned symptoms. The only time bacterial vaginosis will be addressed is when it already causes pelvic inflammatory disease or at times, sexually transmitted infections. The first logical thing to do when you believe you have BV is to notify your gynecologist. He/ she will perform diagnostic screenings to verify its presence.
Curing vaginitis usually means restoring the healthy pH balance so that the good bacteria will balance the population of pathogenic bacteria. Doctors may require their patients to take oral medications or topical creams in case the disease is detected. Antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis however may not be that effective especially for recurrent infections. If such condition persists, going back to your gynecologist is highly advised so that you will be given additional cure or different type of antibiotics. Natural treatment for bacterial vaginosis also exists like yoghurt. This dairy product is believed to bring back the level of lactobacillus or good bacteria. Other medications include tea tree oil, garlic, and apple cider vinegar.