Over 50% of women treated with antibiotics for bacterial vaginitis will have repeated flare ups within just a few weeks of finishing the medication course. Understanding the nature of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and the work of antibiotics will help us understand why many women turn to alternative methods for BV treatment.

First, let me cover the three different types of vaginitis. The most common are yeast vaginitis, a bacterial vaginitis called bacterial vaginosis and vaginitis related to sexually transmitted diseases such as Trichimonas. Vaginitis shares some common symptoms but each type is treated differently. So, a successful treatment for vaginosis relies heavily in getting correct diagnosis.

Bacterial Vaginitis and Antibiotics

Now, to the nature of bacterial vaginosis and why it is that antibiotic is not the best treatment option.

The vagina normally has a balance of mostly “good” bacteria and fewer “harmful” bacteria. BV develops when the balance changes. With bacterial vaginosis, there is an increase in harmful bacteria and a decrease in good bacteria.

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria, both good and bad as it cannot distinguish bacteria one from the other, so it kills them all. Once your vagina is free from bacteria, BV symptoms are gone as if you get cured. But when the bacteria begin to repopulate in the vagina, the bad bacteria can grow much faster than the good bacteria. As a result, you will have an imbalance of bacteria again, which means another cycle of bacterial vaginosis.

Women looking for natural bacterial vaginitis treatment are certainly going along the right track. Natural treatments for BV focus on giving you immediate effect and lasting cure as it will strengthen your immune system, help restore and keep the balance of bacteria in the vagina and create an environment unfavorable for bad bacteria’s growth.