Do You Suffer From Minor Vagina Infections or Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
Most women suffer from minor vaginal infections at some time in their life.
Symptoms can include chronic vaginal discharge which may have an unpleasant odor, itch, or painful intercourse.
Using neutraceuticals (natural food, herbal or chemical products) can relieve these symptoms allowing you to lead a more comfortable and productive life.

MINOR VAGINAL INFECTIONS AND BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS (BV)

Please note that I'm limiting my discussion to non-disease causing organisms (nonpathogenic organisms) in contrast to disease causing organisms (pathogenic organisms). A discussion of the disease causing organisms will occur be presented in a separate section. 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" forms (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 two external factors inducing a change in the vaginal flora are using synthetic pantyhose (that increases the moisture and decreases breathing of the area), and having sex without barrier contraception (seminal plasma changes the normally acidic vaginal pH toward a more alkaline or basic pH). In addition, taking Birth Control Pills for contraception 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 caused by 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 a yeast infection (frequently they don't even have a yeast infection). This treatment may alter the content of the normal vaginal flora by destroying lactobacillus, the predominant vaginal organism. Lastly, the reduction of estrogen in the perimenopausal years allows the vagina to become more susceptible to irritation by friction during sex. The damaged cells are more susceptible to bacterial infection.

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 you 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 when the more friendly bacteria are significantly reduced. 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. Wiping from front to back after a movement will also decrease the chances of infection from the intestinal tract. 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. If you cannot locate boric acid vaginal capsules you can obtain them by calling my office and providing your credit card. Using the boric acid vaginal capsules twice/day for 7 days should kill off the yeast.

Bacterial vaginosis is commonly associated with both a reduction of the vaginal lactobacillus and an overgrowth of either Gardinella vaginalis and/or anaerobic bacteria. It is characterized by 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. If you cannot locate boric capsules or lactobacillus vaginal capsules you can obtain them by calling my office and providing your credit card we can have them shipped to you. You cannot restore the normal form of vaginal lactobacillus by eating yogurt or inserting yogurt into the vagina because the form of lactobacillus normally found in the intestinal tract or in yogurt is a different form than the lactobacillus that lives in the vaginal tract. You have to restore the variety of lactobacillus organism that usually inhabits the vagina.

The standard allopathic method of treating chronic bacterial vaginal infections 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 and yeast 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.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.