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The normal vagina has various kinds of bacteria
that live in this area, and these bacterial
forms make up what is called the normal vaginal
flora. These organisms usually do not cause
problems. Various external factors can cause an
imbalance of the normal "friendly" organisms
allowing growth of the more "unfriendly"
organisms (bacteria that cause irritation, but
not true disease). This change in the ratio of
friendly/unfriendly organisms in the vagina will
result in minor vaginal infections that occur
commonly throughout a woman's life.
Probably the greatest external factors inducing
a change in the vaginal flora are: puberty,
wearing synthetic pantyhose (that increases the
moisture and decreases breathing of the area),
and having sex without barrier contraception
(the seminal plasma changes the normally acidic
vaginal pH toward a more alkaline or basic pH).
In addition, using Birth Control Pills causes an
increase in the vaginal fluid sugar content
similar to the elevation observed during a
normal pregnancy. When you increase nutrients
that are available for the growth of bacteria
and yeast their growth increases exponentially.
Another factor leading to growth of unfriendly
organisms is douching with feminine hygiene
products. These products can change both the
both the acid-base balance (pH) of the vagina as
well as remove the protective mucus in the
vagina. Both factors can lead to greater
irritation and promote the growth of bacteria
and yeast. I recommend that women not douche at
all. Unfortunately many women treat themselves
for yeast infections with over the counter
antifungal agents when they assume that they
have an infection (frequently they don't even
have yeast, but are irritated by another
organism). This treatment may alter the content
of the normal vaginal flora by destroying
lactobacillus, the predominant normal vaginal
bacteria. Lastly, the reduction of estrogen
during the perimenopausal years allows the
vagina to become more susceptible to irritation
by friction during sex. This allows bacteria
further grow causing additional vaginal
irritation."
There are several holistic techniques that a
woman can do to reduce the occurrence of minor
infections throughout her life. Reducing the
conditions for optimal growth of bacteria and
yeast may, in many cases, prevent their
occurrence. The simplest method is to make sure
that you use pantyhose with a cotton crotch so
that the area breathes. Most organisms thrive in
warm moist conditions with adequate nutrients,
and low oxygen levels. Allowing the area to
breathe will allow more oxygen to the area thus
hindering bacterial growth. If you swim during
the warmer months don't sit around in a wet
bathing suit all day. Change to a dry suit (to
reduce moisture of the vulvar/vaginal area) if
you plan to be out of the water for several
hours.
Taking antibiotics (even for a short duration)
can significantly reduce the population of
friendly organisms allowing the unfriendly
forms, which may be resistant to the antibiotic
therapy, to gain an advantage. If you have to
take antibiotics for an infection; repopulate
the intestinal tract with friendly organisms by
eating yogurt with active bacteria
(lactobacillus) and/or injest a form of
acidophilus with milk in between taking the
antibiotics. Unfortunately, the yeast organism
is very resistant to most antibiotics, and will
take over as the predominant organism of the
intestinal tract during therapy. A yeast
overgrowth in the intestinal tract can lead to
chronic yeast vaginitis or worse to a rectal
fissure (small cut in the rectal mucosa) causing
severe pain with bowel movements. Repopulating
the intestinal tract will not repopulate the
vagina with lactobacillus after a course of
systemic antibiotics. You have to use vaginal
lactobacillus to reintroduce the normal vaginal
flora. There is not much you can do if you're
using oral contraceptives because the pill will
increase levels of vaginal sugar. But you can
reduce intestinal yeast levels by eating a diet
that doesn't contain yeast or promote yeast
growth (no white flour, no foods containing
yeast such as wine or beer).
If you tend to be plagued with chronic yeast
infections inserting Boric acid capsules in the
vagina is a very effective treatment to control
yeast overgrowth. Boric acid is a very toxic
substance and shouldn't be used if you have cuts
or breaks in the vaginal wall. Use the vaginal
suppositories (Yeast Arrest [YEAS1] twice a day
for 14 days to kill the yeast overgrowth, and
then repopulating the vagina with the normal
lactobacillus organism, Vital 10 [VIT56]. Insert
the Vital 10 vaginally PM for two weeks. You
can purchase both products by calling my office
at 914-722-9300, and we can have them shipped
directly to you. Alternatively you can order
them directly on the web by clicking on the
following link. Please enter the access code:
holgyn.
Click here to buy products
Bacterial vaginosis is commonly associated with
both a reduction of the normal vaginal
lactobacillus and an overgrowth of either
Gardinella vaginalis and/or anaerobic bacteria.
It causes a bad odor in the vaginal secretions
(smells like rotten fish), and it is also
associated with a higher risk of developing AIDS
if you are exposed to HIV. This condition is
very difficult to both diagnose and/or treat by
many physicians. Vaginal cultures are frequently
not helpful in diagnosing BV as the result is
usually reported as "growth of normal vaginal
organisms". Using the simple criteria of Amsel
is the best way to diagnose BV. The criteria
include 1. a thin, white vaginal discharge that
smoothly coats the vaginal walls; 2. the
presence of clue cell seen on a microscopic
examination of the vaginal cells; 3. vaginal
fluid pH >4.5; and 4. applying dilute base (KOH)
to the vaginal secretions (the whiff test)
results in the release of very foul smelling
amines. The current CDC guidelines for treating
BV in nonpregnant women are: Metronidazole 250
mg 3 times daily orally or 500 mg orally twice a
day for 7 days; or Clindamycin 300 mg orally
twice a day for 7 days. Most specialists avoid
providing intravaginal therapy especially during
the later half of pregnancy. It is my clinical
experience that antibiotic treatments although
initially helpful are not effective. Most women
remain asymptomatic for a short duration, and
their symptoms return within two weeks of
completing the course the antibiotic therapy.
The most effective treatment that I have found
is to kill the offending organisms with Boric
acid vaginal capsules, and to restore the normal
vaginal flora with lactobacillus capsules. Once
lactobacillus becomes the main inhabitant of the
vagina it will restore the normal acid pH, and
release hydrogen peroxide to keep the growth of
obnoxious organisms in check. You cannot restore
the normal form of vaginal lactobacillus by
eating yogurt or inserting yogurt into the
vagina! You first have to kill the BV organisms
using Yeast Arrest [YEAST1] inserting them
vaginally AM & PM for 14 days, and then
repopulating the vagina with the normal
lactobacillus organism, Vital 10 [VIT56]. Insert
the Vital 10 vaginally PM for two weeks. You
can purchase them by calling my office at
914-722-9300, and we can have them shipped
directly to you. Alternatively you can order
them on the web, at a slight discount. Please
enter the the access code:
holgyn.
Click here to buy products.
The standard allopathic method of treating
chronic BV or bacterial vaginal infection is to
prescribe systemic antibiotics. Taking
antibiotic orally can result in significant side
effects including severe gastrointestinal
disturbance caused by the colonization of the
intestinal tract with Clostridia difficile. If
you find that in spite of reducing the
conditions that promote bacterial growth in the
vagina (please see above paragraphs) that you
are still plagued by minor infections; repeat
the vaginal capsules protocol as describe above.
I have found that the most effective way to
treat this annoying condition is to: 1. reduce
the offending organisms and 2. repopulate the
vagina with vaginal form of lactobacillus . In
my own practice I have found this to be both a
very effective and inexpensive way to cure a
very annoying problem that I receive daily
emails from women all around the country; and
that I see all too frequently in many women in
my own practice.
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