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It has been proven that many women don’t have much knowledge about the condition we call bacterial vaginosis and even less when it comes to the bacterial vaginosis causes.  Medical science and research have not reached a final conclusion about this condition’s true causes yet.  Nevertheless they are pretty sure they are about to understand its true causes and why they occur. When we have the exact knowledge about it’s true causes, it will be much easier to prevent their occurrence.

What most medical scientists, doctors and other medical professionals do agree on is that a main cause of this condition most likely is an imbalance in the bacterial levels in the vagina. Normally the vagina contains a mixture of what is considered as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria.  When – for some reason – a process is started that causes the ‘bad’ bacteria to overgrow and overwhelm the ‘good’ then the bacterial vaginosis condition occurs.

Then the next question is obvious; what makes these ‘bad’ bacteria overgrow? What we’re asking for actually is what is causing the bacterial vaginosis causes? As already mentioned, the medical science hasn’t reached a definitive conclusion yet, but recently published research pinpoints the imbalance occurring as a result of a change in the pH balance of the vagina.

Let’s take an example; Lactobacillus is a so called ‘good’ bacteria that thrives in the optimal vaginal pH balance which is about 3.5-4.2, a value that’s slightly acidic. Gardnerella vaginalis is a so called ‘bad’ bacteria and this bacteria thrives in a more acid environment with pH levels of 4.3 or more. That’s the reason doctors and other medical professionals are starting to believe that pH balance in the vagina is the crucial trigger of this unpleasant  condition.

It’s impossible to tell the pH balance of your vagina just by looking at it or by the way it feels. You can measure your pH balance by visiting your doctor or using a pH balance strip that you can purchase at a pharmacy or health supplies store. To come out and definitively state that this is the true cause of this condition, require strong proof. The reason doctors don’t do this yet is because the causes themselves can sometime be very difficult prove.

With regard to this condition, medical research has neither been able to scientifically prove that the pH imbalance causes bacterial vaginosis, nor that the bacterial vaginosis causes the pH imbalance.

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It’s good to know that most cures for bacterial vaginosis are normally very simple and have been proven to be highly effective. If you are a woman with recurrent or chronic bacterial vaginosis, be aware that antibiotics are probably not the solution. Even if you suffer from BV for the first time, you may consider alternative treatment with home remedies instead of antibiotics.

A majority of women suffering from chronic BV report that using antibiotics helps for a short time only before the condition returns. The most effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis may actually be with items you have in your home.  There are some home remedies available, and for a price that is significantly lower than the cost of one doctor visit you will find proven instructions to soothe and permanently cure BV.

Types of Antibiotics

Your physician may prescribe to you vaginal antibiotics or oral antibiotics. With oral antibiotics we mean pills taken by mouth.  A Vaginal antibiotic is a gel or a cream that is inserted into the vagina using an application. It’s done this way to make sure you get the right dosage amount. The antibiotic cures for bacterial vaginosis are made to help destroy the bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis and bring the bacteria levels back to normal.

Metronidazole is a popular antibiotic as are Clindamycin, Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, and Tertracycline. There is also an antibiotic by the name of, Tinidazole that is currently being tested. This antibiotic has been said to be effective in European countries for treating BV.  Tinidazole is quite similar to Metronidazole since it is part of the same antimicrobial family.

Some adverse side effects in patients who have taken Metronidazole, gave cause to why the study of Tinidazole was undertaken in the first place. Lots of women have reported that the side effects of Tinidazole are less than those of Metronidazole. Avoid Clindamycyin if possible; this antibiotic has been linked to be the cause of a severe intestinal condition even weeks after taking it.

Do Home Remedies Work Better?

Alternative or natural treatments for bacterial vaginosis are growing in popularity and have worked for a number of women. You can have downloadable instructions for natural home remedies costing you no more or even less than a doctor visit. Women suffering from bacterial vaginosis have tried using garlic, yogurt, tea tree oil, olive leaf extract and goldenseal, just to mention a few.

Other home remedy cures for bacterial vaginosis include changes in activity patterns as well as in diet. An example of diet changes can be as minor as starting to take vitamin supplements, which can help reduce BV symptoms as well as abstinence from sexual activities. Women have also used Lactobacillus supplements, as they claim to help maintain normal vaginal bacteria levels.

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