Bacterial Vaginosis

So just what are the main bacterial vaginosis Symptoms?

I wont go on about what bacterial vaginosis is or what causes it, I’ll save that for other articles with in this blog. I just wanted to get straight in to it and tell you want the most common bacterial vaginosis symptoms are, how to spot them and follow on with what to do about them.

OK number one of the bacterial vaginosis symptoms is a foul or fishy vaginal odor. As we know all women have some sort of vaginal odor. Some women’s odor will be stronger than others but that is just their smell, the odor can change a varing times thoughout the monthly cycle but will bnne something your used to smelling.  You will soon know when something out of the ordinary is happening. The vaginal odor will become very pungent, quite a nasty fishy smell that is very unpleasant.  This can be very distressing and is usually the first sign something is up. Women are usually very well in tune with their body (unlike most men… so as soon as a vaginal odor occurs that isn’t soemthing normal advice can be taken or a visit to the doctor can be arranged.

Second of the bacterial vaginosis symptoms to watch out for is an unusual vaginal discharge. Again most women will have some sort vaginal discharge but the discharge associated with bacterial vaginosis will be a greyish color, or sometimes yellowish but will not be white or clear in color which is more normal. So if you have a grey vaginal discharge along with a foul or fishy vaginal odor you could pretty much guarentee a case of bacterial vaginosis.

The other bacterial vaginosis symptoms are a little more varied. You may experince some of them or you might not have any, it realy depends on the women. Anyway they can include redness of the vagina, itching, soreness of varying serverity. It is not uncommon to have stomach pains and sometimes a more servere period type pain.

So that just about covers the main bacterial vaginosis symptoms. If you find you have any of these then you know what to do.

Julia Dawson

When we talk about bacterial vaginosis as we know there are many things you can do and take to help treat it. One thing that many women turn to  when it comes to bacterial vaginosis is some sort of vaginal cream treatment.

The most popular treatment for bacterial vaginosis is antibiotics these can be taken orally but also can be directly applied to the vagina in the form of vaginal cream. The antibiotic prescribed is predominantly Clindamycin phosphate which works to stop the growth of bacteria. As I have mentioned before the trouble with antibiotics whether they are taken as a vaginal cream or orally is they fact that they not only kill the bad bacteria they also kill of all of the good bacteria which normally lives with in the vagina. This has the effect of upsetting the bacterial balance with in the vagina.

So how is Clindamycin vaginal cream used? Well i would always suggest reading the accompanying advice and information leaflet. Also follow any special instructions given to you by your doctor. It is also important to note that Clindamycin is not advised if pregnant. Treatment will normally last 7 days and its important to finish the whole treatment.  One other thing you want to make sure is that you have your diagnoisis correct. Dont try taking vaginal cream for bacterial vaginosis if its a sexually transmitted disease you have such as trichomoniasis or chlamydia you have. Your doctor will of course help you with the diagnosis and any prescription for vaginal cream. Its funny that most women will automatically think they have a yeast infection when they get strange symptoms, vaginal odor or unusual discharge. Yeast infection is not the most common form of vaginal infection. In fact it suprise many women to learn that bacterial vaginosis is the most common, with up to 1 in 3 women suffering at some point in their lives. Try to get in tune with your body you will soon learn to notice things that seem out of the ordinary. Saying that do not try to diagnose yourself, always get medical help.

Remember when using vaginal creams the effectiveness of some forms of contriception can be effected. Condoms and vaginal contraceptive diaphragms that contain latex rubber can be weakened. Best to be avoided.

So to sumerize vaginal cream can work well to treat bacterial vaginosis. It has the benifit of getting striaght to the zone to get to work. Always get seen by your doctor to insure correct diagnosis.

Good luck

Julia Dawson.

Hi my name is Julia Dawson, I’m going to try to cover absolutely everything I know about vaginal discharge. What would be considered a normal vaginal discharge and which types of discharge should you be more concerned about.  All women will have some type of vaginal discharge and for a lot of women this discharge may change color and consistency at various times during each month. A women’s vagina is naturally acidic on the pH scale and this helps to prevent infections, the acidic vagina is maintained by the good bacteria contained with in it. This good bacteria is known as lactobacillus Acidophilus.  The vagina keeps itself nice and clean and healthy by secreting unwanted fluids and bad bacteria. There may even be an associated smell with the discharge and all of these things may be completely normal. So lets start there, what is a normal vaginal discharge?

Normal Vaginal Discharge

OK so first of all we have established that vaginal discharge is quite normal and will vary in consistency and have slight color changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Before you ovulate the vagina will produce a lot of mucous this mucous can be watery or slightly elastic or stretchy. A normal vaginal discharge would be about a teaspoon full each day containing bacteria and unwanted fluids.  So a vaginal discharge that is white, clear, watery or stretchy would be considered quite normal. There are a few things that could affect the type of discharge experienced and they include, sexual arousal, diet, stress, pregnancy and medication prescribed or otherwise. What I would say is that any discharge that is accompanied by a vaginal odor or any sort or Vaginal Itch or irritation would be considered abnormal and should be investigated further.  Carry on reading below for more explanation.

White Vaginal Discharge

A thick white vaginal discharge will be present at the beginning and at the end of the menstrual cycle and this is a perfectly normal vaginal discharge. It will sometimes appear cloudy and could be yellowish when dried on clothing. If the white discharge becomes thicker than normal and takes on a ‘cottage cheese’ like appearance this could indicate a yeast infection. There would likely be some vaginal itching as well if a yeast infection was present. The yeast infection is caused by the yeast fungus which actually is present in every women’s vagina but in small amounts. It’s when this yeast fungus grows too much that a yeast infection can develop. There is no need to panic a yeast infection is easily treated with oral medication and tablets or cream that be inserted directly in to the vagina.

Clear Vaginal Discharge

As I mention earlier a clear vaginal discharge is quite normal and will normally be one of two types. Either a clear watery discharge would occur at any time during your cycle and could be more apparent after any sort of physical activity. Or a clear and stretchy vaginal discharge, which occurs during ovulation at the most fertile stage. I think most women would associate a clear vaginal discharge with no odor as their Norma discharge.

Brown Vaginal Discharge

A brown vaginal discharge is basically old blood and may appear as a discharge after menstruating as the vagina goes through a cleaning out process. Again brown vaginal discharge is nothing to worry about and can be a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Although you would expect a normal period to be bright red fresh blood if you are late with your period the discharge could be brown. Or if during your last cycle the entire uterine lining fail to secrete then again you could experience a brown vaginal discharge. What I would say is that its important to keep an eye on your discharge and make a note of any changes from the norm. There are a few instances when a brown vaginal discharge may be cause for concern and these include the menopause, PID or pelvic Inflammatory Disease, cervical cancer, or sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea or Chlamydia. So if you are worried at all that the brown vaginal discharge you are experiencing is something out of the ordinary then get your self booked in for a check up.

Yellow Vaginal Discharge

A yellow vaginal discharge would usually indicate some sort of problem. Sometimes when your normal discharge dries it could have a yellowish color but a bright yellow discharge or a thick yellow discharge would definitely indicate some sort of infection or bacterial imbalance with in the vagina. So a yellow vaginal discharge could indicate a sexually transmitted disease such as Gonorrhoea, PID pelvic Inflammatory Disease, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomoniasis, Chlamydia or even cancer. A yellow discharge will normally come along with a nasty fishy or musty odor and may be itching or irritation. My advice here is to get checked out as soon as possible with your doctor.

Green Vaginal Discharge

The most common form of green vaginal discharge is from the sexually transmitted disease Trichomoniasis.This will also have a fishy or musty odor often the discharge is more of a yellowish green as apposed to a pure green color. As with any of the infections a trip to the doctor is essential. They will take a sample of your discharge and ask you a series of questions that will lead them to a quick diagnosis and the best cause of treatment.

Below is a quick glance guide to vaginal discharge

vaginal discharge

So I have covered quite a bit of information about vaginal discharge. If you are worried at all about anything to do with your discharge then go along and see your doctor. if you wish to just chat and get friendly advice then feel free to contact me via the contact form on this website.

Do not worry about vaginal discharge.

Julia Dawson

Probiotics, or “friendly bacteria,” are live microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and yeasts that are usually available to consumers in the form of dietary foods and  probitics supplements (e.g. capsules, powders, and tablets). They are fairly similar to the beneficial microorganisms that are found in the human gut and can be used as CAM or complementary and alternative medicine so that they can prevent as well as treat different illnesses. They also help to support general well being in people.

There are many different types of strands of probiotics, many of which have a variety of uses. Two similar, but different strands can be used for completely different illnesses. There needs to be much more scientific research done on these microorganisms. Not much is known about their appropriate use as well as how safe they are to use.

There are many foods that contain these probiotics. Examples of these can include anything from yogurt to milk and even some juices and soy beverages. Most of the probiotics in these foods and beverages were there prior to preparation or added during the preparation period.

Although probiotics are supposed to be helpful, there can be many unwanted side effects that are included with probiotics. Since a probiotic is actually an organism, that brings much unpredictability in itself, sometimes they could have no effect at all since there is always the chance that they don’t make it through your gastric system. Make sure you check the labels of products to ensure you can tolerate all of the inactive ingredients, as many of them are mineral and plant-derived substances. Some probiotics have been shown to help in Crohn’s disease according to F Shanahan 2005. It has been also shown to increase mortality rate in patients with severe pancreatitis. Some more common side effects of probiotic users include bloating, lower abdominal pain, and gas when immediately beginning new strands without gradually starting them in small increments.

These are not the only symptoms, but they are not applicable to everyone either. Whatever you do, just be sure that you research what probiotics you are using and make sure that you consult your doctor if you have any questions or issues.

If you want to take my advice I have been using probiotics for many years and have had nothing but good things happen. if you want a fast way to put good bacteria in to the body then probiotics supplements is a good way to start.

probiotics supplements

Any women young or old can get a Vaginal Itch. vaginal itching is where there is an uncomfortable irritation of the vaginal skin and surrounding area. It can be caused from a multitude of things including, chemical irritants such as detergents and sprays, a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, vaginitis, menopause, stress, and even some less common causes such as pin worms or other skin conditions. A Vaginal Itch can be very uncomfortable and you will want to rid yourself of the symptoms almost immediately. Here are some simple yet logical approaches to getting rid of your vaginal itch.

• You can take a sitz bath, which is a type of bath where only your hips and buttocks are soaked. There several types of bacterial vaginosis that will respond very well to this home remedy. To create the bath, you dissolved a half cup of table salt into a shallow tub of lukewarm water. Once you are sitting in the tub, insert your fingers into your vagina to let the solution in. relax. After waiting for a short while, relax for about 15 minutes. You should repeat this process for three nights for the best results.
• Stop using talcum powder as it allows tiny particles to collect near your ovaries over a long period of time. This could increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Abstain for sexually intercourse for the duration of the vaginal itch. The itch may have been transmitted from your partner.
• Use condoms if you don’t already. But if the condition was followed from using condoms, switch to other preventive measures for birth control.
• If all else fails, consult your doctor. They will recommend the best approach for treatment.

Always be sure to carefully monitor and be responsible of what you wear, purchase, use, and eat. All of these actions may contribute to a vaginal itch, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Gardnerella vaginalis

Gardnerella Vaginalis 400 times magnification

Gardnerella vaginalis is an infection, caused by bacteria of the Gardnerella vaginalis strain, in the female genital tract. Another name for the infection is bacterial vaginosis. The infection was originally explained in 1955 by Gardner and Dukes. The infection creates a yellow or gray discharge from the vagina, along with a “fishy” odor that gets stronger when washing the vagina with alkaline soaps.

Gardnerella vaginalis is the most common cause of vaginitis and it is assumed that the infection is a sexually transmitted one since it is usually found in women with a history of sexually transmitted diseases.

If you think you may have gardnerella vaginalis, some of the symptoms include a “fishy” or “musty” smell and discharge. There is usually very little irritation and the odor is the main complaint of patients.

As for the treatment of gardnerella vaginalis, the medication of choice will most likely be oral metronidazole, with doses at 500 mg twice a day for five to seven days. Sometimes only a single dose of 2 g is effective however. Some side effects of the medicine include intolerance to alcohol and the medication is shown to be unadvisable for those that are pregnant or in their lactation period.

If you contract the infection, you need to consult your doctor immediately. Ask them about the drugs you will be prescribed as well as how the odor may be eliminated and if your partner should be treated simultaneously. If your partner is treated, that may prevent future infections.

One of the best things you can do to prevent future infection is to be cautious of your sexual contact with men as well as keep your vaginal area clean and most importantly, ask your doctor if you have any questions or if you think that you may be contracting the infection.

So the advice here for Gardnerella Vaginalis is thge same as for bacterial vaginosis as they are one of the same thing. And although the doctor will rush to prescribe you antibiotics and yes this is actually OK and the best thing to take you must as always be mindful of the return of the infection when antibiotic cover is finished.

Ok. Let me say a few words about vaginal odor.  It’s perfectly normal for a woman’s vagina to have a mild odor, but if the odor becomes offensive, unusually strong or persistently ‘fishy’ then it’s likely there is some form of infection or bacterial imbalance that’s causing it, in which case it’s a good idea to visit your Doctor. Its the advice I always seem to give but there really is never any harm in getting yourself checked out and it can really put your mind at rest.

The main causes of bad vaginal odor are sexually transmitted diseases and overgrowth or imbalance of microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, which normally reside harmoniously in the vagina. The bacterial imbalance is known as Bacterial Vaginosis.

The things that tend to cause bacterial imbalances such as Bacterial Vaginosis and other infections such as Thrush, are generally perfumed personal hygiene products like shower gels, bubble baths, soaps, moisturizers and sprays. Often the smell is accompanied by itching, stinging or burning, as well as increased or altered vaginal discharge, and if this is the case then you definitely need to see your gynecologist to ensure you’re treated quickly with antibiotics.

In most cases Bacterial Vaginosis and other bacterial imbalances don’t lead to any further complications and can be easily treated. It’s not unusual and there’s no reason to be embarrassed, especially as a bad smell is NOT a sign of bad hygiene like many assume.

Sexual Transmitted diseases also need to be treated fast, especially as many of these could lead to complications that affect things such as fertility, so it’s highly recommended to get check out even if there’s only a slight chance that you may be affected by this.

Generally antibiotics clears up every possible cause of nasty vaginal odor, but there are a few tips to follow to ensure you are doing everything you can to avoid infection:

1.    Avoid douching as this disrupts the bacterial balance of the vagina
2.    Change your tampons regularly when menstruating
3.    Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear, and if possible only wear cotton
4.    Urinate after sexual intercourse
5.    Unless both partners have been checked for STD’s then wear a condom at all times during sexual activity

Products specifically designed for feminine hygiene are your best option, as are antibiotics, but there are also a few natural remedies you could try, like natural yoghurt. The bacteria in yoghurt has been said to help restore the balance of the bacteria in the vagina. Manuka Honey also has many antibacterial uses, so adding this to the yoghurt is also a remedy you could try. Remember to wash these off with clean water after ten minutes and should you experience any adverse side effects then go straight to the doctor. Lastly, a healthy diet and lots of water can help to restore the healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina, and often drinking plenty of water can solve the problem and ease the symptoms without any other action being taken.

Remember as well that should the condition persist you definitely need to see your doctor to ensure complications don’t arise, and also to rule out the possibility of other much more serious issues such as cervical cancer.

vaginal odor