A strong fishy smelling vaginal discharge is the most commonsymptom of BV.
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Probioticsare good," or beneficial, bacteria that naturally live in the body.
They keep excess bad, or harmful, bacteria away and help maintain vaginal flora balance and health.
Fizkes / Getty Images
This article reviews why vaginal imbalances occur and how probiotics help maintain balance.
It also discusses the best probiotics for bacterial vaginosis, dosage, and alternativetreatment options.
Why Do Vaginal Imbalances Occur?
A healthy vagina has a vaginal flora consisting of bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
The good bacteria and vaginal discharge keep the vagina clean and infection-free.
Typically, the vagina’spH level(acidity) helps the good bacteria to survive.
Vaginal imbalances occur when there is an overgrowth of harmful or unhealthy bacteria in the vagina.
Medications, diet, hormones, sexual activity, douching, and lifestyle factors can disrupt the balance.
This creates an environment in which harmful bacteria can grow and cause bacterial vaginosis.
A pH of 3.8 to 5.0 is ideal for normal flora to thrive.
Semen has a pH level between 7.1 and 8.
You collect a vaginal discharge sample with either litmus paper or a vaginal swab.
Once collected, you could compare your results with an easy-to-read pH color chart.
you’re able to also buy at-home tests to check the balance of the vaginal flora.
The collection is similar to pH tests.
However, they are packaged and sent to a lab, so results aren’t immediate.
Having pH levels above 4.5 may indicate BV.
In this case, contact your healthcare provider to get proper treatment.
How Do Probiotics Help Maintain Balance?
The best probiotics for treating BV are Lactobacilli-based probiotics such asLacticasebacillus rhamnosus,Lactobacillusacidophilus,Lactobacillusfermentum, andLactobacillusreuteri.
The following are probiotics that are lactobacilli-based:
Probiotics for BV are most effective when taken by mouth.
Vaginal administration is usually less effective.
Probiotics Dosage
Probiotic supplements come in capsules, powders, wafers, liquids, and more.
They also come in suppositories that you insert into the vagina.
Probiotics have different strengths, ranging from one to 50 billion colony-forming units (CFUs).
Talk with your healthcare provider to find out what dose and timing would work for you.
How Long Do Probiotics Take to Work?
Whether the probiotics are taken along with antibiotics also makes a difference.
Probiotics can help keep the natural flora in the vagina balanced.
This creates an environment where good bacteria thrive, which keeps bad bacteria from overgrowing.
This effect may last for one month or more.
Side Effects of Probiotics for BV
Probiotics are considered safe for otherwise healthy people.
Sometimes healthcare providers prescribe both oral and vaginal medicines for you to take at the same time.
This is especially true for recurring infections (those that come back repeatedly).
Research has shown that when taken with antibiotics, probiotics are even more effective than either treatment alone.
Summary
Bacterial vaginosis comes up whenever there is an imbalance in the normal flora of the vagina.
Probiotics are good bacteria that can help restore balance in the vaginal flora.
Lactobacilli-based probiotics are best for treating BV.
Bacterial vaginosis is also treated with oral or vaginal antibiotics.
Probiotics are often recommended in addition to these antibiotics to help fight recurring BV.
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