Vaginosis?

Question

I have this 'fishy' type odor down there...yet it only happens once in a while. I have tried special soaps for females and powders...The problem is, is that those things only wash away bacteria on the outside. Are there any OTC things I can use to treat this??

Answer 1

A fish-like smell is a classic sign of bacterial vaginosis; this is a very common vaginal infection caused when 'bad' bacteria increase and the levels of 'good' bacteria that help keep levels balanced reduces. This is most commonly caused by interruption to the vaginal pH (pH ideally between 4.2 and 5 within the vagina) – this Ph keeps bacteria and yeast at a healthy balance, along with this the vagina also produces discharge that helps to push out any excess bacteria and yeast from within the vagina – as such the vagina is self-cleaning.

Common causes of bacterial vaginosis;

-Use of soaps, feminine washes, sprays, perfumes, douching, bubble bath, commercial tampons, commercial sanitary pads or liners. All of these things contain chemicals that can interfere with normal vaginal pH that in turn leads to an imbalance in vaginal micro-organisms such as the bacteria and yeast naturally present often turning into infection. Feminine washes and sprays although claiming to be pH balanced can still cause interruptions, they are marketed because manufacturers know women feel self-conscious about their normal vaginal smell and may not be aware of the harm such products can cause – a note here, you may have noticed on TV an advertisement for Vagisil vaginal treatment cream, sharply followed by advertisements for Vagisil feminine sprays and washes, product placement at it’s best. These things are not needed and very much best avoided, they are more likely to make you smell bad than good. Your vagina is self-cleaning; all it ever needs is water to clean the vulva from dirt and discharge between the inner labia.

- Tampons are absorbent wads of pores material put into an area that is naturally moist warm filled with nutritious menstrual blood bacteria love and where there is naturally occurring bacteria anyway. As such tampons themselves can give bacteria the perfect environment to multiply upon, commercial tampons add to this problem because they are made from super absorbent materials that increase bacterial growth as well as contain chemicals and bleach that can affect vaginal pH. Commercial pads can also cause problems because they are made from synthetics that prevent aeration so giving bacteria and yeast a warm moist area to grow as well as again containing chemicals that can affect vaginal pH. Safer options would be menstrual cups, cloth pads, sponge or organic tampons, etc.

-Sex, although a positive for a lot of women bacterial vaginosis can be something they are on the verge of all the time for one reason or another, sex can cause bacterial vaginosis because bacteria can be introduced into the vagina. Semen is also a different pH to that of the vagina so thus can affect bacterial balance, as well as this many women find they and their partners simply do not mix, often women can have bad reactions to their partners semen, finding themselves having constant infections with one partner while no infections with another. Other naturally occurring reason can also be menstruation as menstrual blood also is a different pH to the vagina, and menstrual blood is much loved by bacteria within the vagina.

Constant bacterial infections can also be a sign of something more serious, not in terms of a serious medical problem but in terms of an internal problem than just something wrong with the vagina – often bacterial vaginosis on constant occasions can be a sign of problems with yeast and bacteria within the gut for example.

Often bacterial vaginosis will go away, thus why you have noticed sometimes the smell comes and goes, but for the most part you are looking at a vaginal infection that needs to be treated – most commonly bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics, however this is best avoided as antibiotics can cause yeast infections thus causing a similar problem all over again. Some women use natural home treatments such as putting tea tree essential oil into the vagina as having a mild antibacterial action without further causing problems. Many women also believe that the vagina can heal itself, with a helping hand by putting natural pro-biotic yogurt into the vagina at night and cleaning out next day, this can help balance out bacteria levels, as well as eating pro-biotic yogurt – this is quite true, there are many home and alternative treatments and often these are far better at dealing with vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis, but I would say for a first test to see a doctor, this also rules out any other infections.

I would highly recommend you stop using things like feminine washes or powders, likelihood is this is what is causing this to carry on because it is causing the infection and in turn causing the smell of fish – the vagina when healthy should not smell bad, nor should it smell like flowers as many such 'feminine washes' attempt to make the vagina smell like. Get yourself to the doctor and have the infection treated rather than trying to cover up your symptoms!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_vaginosis
http://www.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/majeroni.html
http://www.thebody.com/tpan/septoct_00/douching.html
http://depts.washington.edu/wswstd/lesbian_health_information.htm#Bacterial
http://www.msu.edu/user/eisthen/yeast
[last link for yeast infections but both infections share common cures]

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Bacterial vaginosis or very uncommonly vaginal bacteriosis is a disease of the vagina caused by bacteria. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), risk factors for BV include douching and having new or multiple sex partners, although it is unclear what role sexual activity plays in the development of BV.

Answer 4

You have bacterial vaginosis. While it is not an STD if left untreated it could cause Pelvic inflammatory disease which could lead to infertility. The only way to get rid of it is to go to the doctor and they will give you a presciption for flagyl or metrogel.

Answer 5

Yeast Infection Cure Secrets : http://YeastCured.uzaev.com/?EzaU

Answer 6

go to see a doctor

Answer 7

IF YOUR BODY CAN'T FIGHT IT NATURALLY, GO TO THE DOC FOR AN ANTIBIOTIC. DRINK MORE WATER, QUIT DRINKING SODA, AND EAT MORE YOGURT.