Almost every woman would have experienced at least one vaginal infection at some point in her life. Is it common? Yes. Do you accept it as normal? No.
Our vagina is a very manipulated organ. Things go in and things come out and yet, she is fussy. She likes to be at a precise pH of 3.5 to 4.5. It can be difficult to maintain this idealistic, acidic environment, hence making it common for women to get infections, like yeast, fungal and common bacterial infections like bacterial vaginosis, commonly known as BV.
Factors that may cause your vagina to become more alkaline include menstrual blood which is why many women have vaginal infections that flare up after their period ends. Semen is also alkaline, which is why some women experience more vaginal irritations when their partners ejaculate inside them. Period products like pads and tampons, and vaginal douching may also cause infections.
Just like body odour, our vaginal odour is unique to us. When your vaginal discharge is different from what you are used to, be it in the way it looks or smells, trust that you know that something is not right, that is when you should contact your doctor about the possibility of an infection.
75% of women have experienced vaginal fungal infections at least once in their lifetime. 45% of these women will go on to have recurrent infections.
Treatment Options
The treatment depends on the culprit bug. It could be a bacteria, a fungus or a parasite. It could also have been a sexually transmitted making it an STD.
Recurrent vaginal infections cannot be permanently resolved with just a single treatment. A longer course of maintenance therapy will likely be required.
This can come in the form of oral tablets or vaginal pessaries which are small inserts of antifungal placed into the vagina overnight. Sometimes creams may be used to treat fungus that has progressed to involve areas outside the vaginal canal, like the labia causing extensive itching.
Pills like metronidazole and tinidazole are commonly prescribed to treat bacterial vaginosis. Antibiotics like clindamycin and metronidazole are available in a gel or cream that you insert into your vagina.
We may also provide anti-fungal creams for pre-emptive prevention of a fungal infection, as antibiotics can also kill good bacteria in the vagina, which increases the growth of fungus.
Vaginal laser is a novel method to prevent recurrent vaginal infections from BV and fungus. The painless lasers are applied to the entire vaginal canal. In this way, resetting the topmost layer of the vaginal wall allows it to develop a fresh coat more robust than before. And all it requires is just 1 session!
Suppresion therapy can include the use of anti fungal tablets taken weekly for over 6 months. This is especially useful for women who have recurrent infection where simple, one-off treatment just would not cut it.
If an infection is recurrent, the fungus has likely been dormant for a long time. In such cases, it is imperative to understand that it will take a longer, stretched-out treatment to get rid of the fungus completely.
We’re here to answer even the most sensitive and intimate questions. Take the first step, and we’ll take care of the rest.
FAQ
Is bacterial vaginosis a form of STD?
Bacterial vaginosis is not exclusively an STD. It can even occur in women who are not sexually active, even though it is more common in women who are.
Does bacterial vaginosis increase my risk of acquiring an STD?
Yes, it can. Bacterial vaginosis and the inflammation it causes allow for tracking up of STD into the upper portions of your genital tract. Therefore, it is best to treat BV as soon as possible to reduce your risk of acquiring an STD.
Can my partner contract bacterial vaginosis from me after having unprotected sex?
Yes. If your male partner develops penile itchiness and discomfort after sexual intercourse, please get him to see a doctor.
Is there a chance that my bacterial vaginosis will recur after I have treated it?
Unfortunately, bacterial vaginosis can be very stubborn. Recurrence rates can be as high as 80% so do not be surprised if you are infected again after treatment.
Simply update your doctor, get reexamined to ensure that it’s not any other infection and you will need a second round of treatment and more importantly, a discussion on strategies to prevent recurrent infection.
The crux to proper prevention lies in the maintenance of a stable acidic vaginal conditions with a dominant good lactobacilli bacterial environment.
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