What Is The Treatment For Bacterial Vaginosis?

The usual treatment of bacterial vaginosis is antibiotics. The most commonly used antibiotics are Flagyl (metrondazole) either by pill oral or vaginal  creams.

Metronidazole is not given during early pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. It also is not used when breast feeding because of the risk to the baby.

The challenge with using these antibiotics is antibiotics change the balance in the vagina leading  to a yeast infection. Then you have not just one but two problems at the same time. Bacterial vaginosis is especially difficult to treat.

It can reoccur even with successful treatment. Almost 50% of al women treated have another episode within one year. It still is unknown as to why this happens.

What are complications of bacterial vaginosis?

If the symptoms disappear there is no special follow up needed.

In pregnancy it is important to closely monitor the mother  and the baby. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is much more serious. It can lead to premature labor, low birth weight babies, and infection of the amniotic fluids and uterus.

This is why if you have a history of premature births you will be screened for bacterial vaginosis during subsequent pregnancies.