Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, often described as “fishy”. Vaginal discharge that is white or grey and may look foamy Burning on urination Itchiness and irritation around the vagina Keep in mind that not all women with BV have symptoms.
An abnormal vaginal discharge. The discharge can be a watery, white discharge to a thick, white, and chunky discharge. This is often described as looking like cottage cheese. Itching and burning of the vagina and labia Painful intercourse Painful urination Redness and swelling of the area just outside of the vagina.
Vaginal discharge that is usually smelly or itchy Vaginal discharge that is typically frothy or foamy Vaginal itching Yellow or a gray-green discharge Painful urination
Knowing your menstrual cycle will help you keep track of changes that you’re experiencing.
If you suspect you might have an infection, see your doctor. Trichomoniasis can be transmitted to sexual partners. If you suspect you have trich, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
Having a new sexual partner Having multiple sexual partners Having sex without a condom Douching Using an intrauterine device (IUD) as a method of birth control
Wearing tight underwear or non-cotton panties. These styles of panties can increase the temperature, the moisture levels and can be irritating. A weakened immune system Using vaginal douches and/or perfumed feminine hygiene sprays Vaginal trauma. This can be scratches in the vagina that occur during insertion of a tampon or other objects, or during rough sex.
In BV, there is no specific cause, but it typically results from an imbalance of the normal bacterial populations. Yeast infections can result after antibiotic use; the antibiotics kill off the normal bacterial populations, allowing the yeast to get a “foothold. ” They can also come about as a complication of diabetes, or during hormonal changes, including a normal menstrual cycle or the use of birth control.
At the doctor’s office, your physician will likely take a sample of the vaginal discharge, ask for a urine sample and perform a vaginal exam. This exam may be uncomfortable but it is usually over quickly. The discharge will be tested for the presence of bacteria, yeast or other organisms such as Trichomonas. It’s important to get a specific diagnosis from your doctor. The approaches for treating vaginal infections differ depending on the type of infection.
There is no improvement in your symptoms after three days. You develop a fever. You experience difficulty or pain on urination. Sexual activity is painful. You have abdominal pain. The amount or characteristic of the vaginal discharge increases or changes (such as changing odor or color). You have a new rash that appears anywhere on your body.
Tell your doctor that you are using these approaches. If you are successful, perhaps your physician can recommend the method to others.
If trichomoniasis is the diagnosis, then home remedies are not appropriate.
Douching is actually believed by many physicians to increase the risk of BV. [12] X Research source Jenny L. Martino and Sten H. Vermund. Vaginal Douching: Evidence for Risks or Benefits to Women’s Health. Epidemiol Rev. 2002; 24(2): 109–124.
Start by getting into the shower or bath. Most women find it easier to prop one leg on a surface like the edge of the tub. Be careful not to slip. Then, with one hand, spread the labia (the “lips” that are on either side of the vagina) and find the vaginal opening. Hold the bottle or bag in the other hand. Gently squirt the douche upward through the tube or nozzle into your vagina. The mixture will come back out through your vagina.
Get a douche kit from a drugstore. You will use the equipment that is included with the kit. Or, you can use an enema kit, which has the same equipment as a douche kit. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one cup of warm filtered water. Don’t use white vinegar, as this is too acidic. Use the douche twice a day for four days and then daily until all symptoms disappear. [14] X Research source
Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of warm distilled water and douche with this mixture. Use distilled water because the water should be sterile and bacteria-free. Use as a douche twice a day for four days and then daily until all symptoms disappear. [16] X Research source Cardone A, Zarcone R, Borrelli A, Di Cunzolo A, Russo A, Tartaglia E. Utilisation of hydrogen peroxide in the treatment of recurrent bacterial vaginosis. Minerva Ginecol. 55(6), 483–492 (2003).
For yeast infections, try douching with two to three drops of essential tea tree oil in eight ounces of distilled water. Repeat twice a day for one week. Repeat twice a day for four days and then daily until all symptoms disappear. Never ingest tea tree oil. [18] X Research source You can also apply two to three drops of the oil on a tampon and insert the tampon into your vagina. Leave it in for about one hour. Do not use essential oil treatments if you are pregnant, nursing, or expect to become pregnant in the immediate future.
Use plain yogurt and a 10 mL syringe (you can buy this syringe at your local pharmacy). Every night, fill the syringe with the plain yogurt and fill your vagina by inserting the syringe and depressing the plunger. Go to bed as usual, but wear a sanitary pad. The messiness comes in the morning when you get out of bed. You should also wear a thin pad during the day. Repeat every night until the symptoms disappear. You can also use a tampon coated with yogurt, but tampons without the applicator can be difficult and uncomfortable to insert.
Probiotic capsules can be expensive and can be found in most groceries and drugstores. Use gelcap suppositories, since hard suppositories may not be as effective. Buy a brand that has Bifidobacterium longum; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; Bifidobacterium infantis; Lactobacillus acidophilus; or Lactobacillus reuteri HA-188. There is not a lot of evidence showing if probiotics as a supplement or in yogurt are helpful in preventing trichomoniasis.
Peel a clove of garlic. Poke some holes in the garlic so that the allicin can be released. Insert the clove into your vagina. Replace the garlic every four hours for seven days or until symptoms have disappeared. [28] X Research source Van Kessel K, Assefi N, Marrazzo J, Eckert L. Common complementary and alternative therapies for yeast vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2003 May;58(5):351-8.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage. You must not be the recipient of oral sex while using boric acid because boric acid is poisonous to your partner.
If your symptoms don’t clear up after three days, talk with your doctor about taking medication. You should also see your doctor if your symptoms return or worsen. Your doctor may prescribe an anti-fungal medication to suppress the infection. You will likely need to take this medication every week or month for six months to a year. [32] X Research source
BV is generally treated with either metronidazole or clindamycin. These are considered safe if you are pregnant. Male partners usually don’t need treatment, but female partners should be informed and tested. [33] X Trustworthy Source US Office on Women’s Health U. S. government agency providing resources for women’s health Go to source Trichomoniasis is usually treated with a single dose of either metronidazole or tinidazole. These are considered safe if you are pregnant. [34] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection, so make sure your sexual partner(s) are treated as well and wait for seven days after treatment to have sex. [35] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Examples of these treatments are butoconazole (Gynazole-1), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin), miconazole (Monistat 3) and terconazole (Terazol 3). Your doctor can prescribe them or they are available (in weaker doses) over-the-counter at your pharmacy.
Most often, your partner won’t need treatment. However, this may change if you experience recurrent infections. [37] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Check with your doctor about treating vaginal infections during this time.
You can also take probiotic capsules according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Experts don’t know exactly how ingested bacterial cultures in yogurt or probiotic supplements can populate the vagina, but there is evidence that they do. [39] X Research source Shalev E, Battino S, Weiner E, Colodner R, Keness Y. Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus compared with pasteurized yogurt as prophylaxis for recurrent candidal vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Archives of Family Medicine. 1996;5(10):593–596
Avoid scratching or rubbing your genitals. Keep irritation at a minimum by leaving your genitals alone. Don’t scratch or rub the area.
Avoid wearing thong underwear because these tend to be irritating.
Double-rinse your underwear to ensure that all detergent is gone. Detergent residue can cause irritation.
Do not leave tampons in overnight. Use sanitary pads instead.
Avoid bubble baths, bath oils, talc, or powder, especially powder that contains cornstarch. Cornstarch provides food for microorganisms.
Since some symptoms are common among multiple types of vaginal infections, self-diagnosis is both difficult and risky. An official diagnosis from your doctor is the only safe way to identify the type and degree of vaginal infection you have. Tell your doctor if you have a strong preference for natural remedies. Some doctors are willing to work with you to accommodate this preference, and they should be able to guide you on which remedies would be best to try for your specific needs. Note that trichomoniasis is technically an STI. Natural remedies will not be sufficient to cure an infection caused by trichomoniasis; you will need medication to treat it. [41] X Research source
That being said, if you have a vaginal infection during pregnancy, you should still ask your doctor about treatment. Active yeast infections, in particular, can pass to your baby during birth and result in thrush. [42] X Research source
As a reminder, douching can be used sparingly if you have BV. It is not recommended for vaginal infections caused by yeast or trichomoniasis. Similarly, periodontal gel and garlic cloves should only be used for BV. On the other hand, a yogurt suppository or probiotic suppository might be effective for both yeast and BV. [43] X Trustworthy Source Go Ask Alice Medical advice site with content written by health promotion specialists affiliated with Columbia University Go to source Boric acid suppositories are only recommended for use against yeast infections.
In particular, exercise extreme caution when taking boric acid suppositories. Boric acid is toxic when ingested, making oral sex especially dangerous. [44] X Research source
Vaginal infections—especially those caused by yeast—that won’t go away or continually return may suggest a more serious underlying cause, including diabetes, cancer, or certain STIs. While this won’t always be the case, it’s important to rule out the possibility by asking your doctor to test you. [45] X Research source If your symptoms worsen or do not improve after three days of treatment, contact your doctor. It’s important to completely get rid of your vaginal infection. If left untreated, you may suffer from future complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease, an increased risk of pre-term deliveries, and an increased risk of contracting STIs. Even if you think you cured your infection naturally, consider asking your doctor to re-test you to make sure.
