Bacterial vaginosis occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in your vagina is disturbed. Numerous types of bacteria naturally occur in the vagina without being harmful or causing symptoms. If numbers of certain bacteria increase or decrease, this balance is disrupted, which can lead to bacterial vaginosis.

BV is not dangerous. In fact, many women have it without noticing any symptoms. You only need to get treated if you are experiencing symptoms. In many cases, BV heals by itself as the natural balance in your vagina is restored.

Bacterial vaginosis can lead to complications during pregnancy. It is important that you get tested and treated if you are pregnant and experiencing BV symptoms. Please note, that Superdrug Online Doctor does not treat pregnant women.

BV is treated with a course of antibiotics. You can choose between tablets which need to be taken orally, or a cream or gel, which you insert into your vagina. The standard treatments for BV are metronidazole and clindamycin. Both antibiotics kill the bacteria which cause the infection. We offer metronidazole in tablet form and as a gel, as well as a cream which contains clindamycin.

Metronidazole tablets

1-day course: 5 metronidazole 400mg tablets are taken together in 1 day as a single dose. You should swallow them whole with water.

7-day course: metronidazole 400mg tablets are taken twice daily over a course of 7 days. You can take the tablets during or after a meal and should swallow each tablet with a drink of water.

Note: You must not drink alcohol during your treatment with metronidazole – this goes for the tablets and the intravaginal gel.

Metronidazole 0.75% gel (Zidoval)

Metronidazole gel is administered by inserting it directly into the vagina. The gel should be used every day before going to bed, and the course lasts 5 days. The gel comes with an easy to use applicator, which helps you insert it.

The use of the gel is not recommended during your period.

You should abstain from having sex while undergoing treatment for a vaginal infection.

Clindamycin 2% cream (Dalacin)

Clindamycin cream is similar to metronidazole gel, as it is also inserted into the vagina using an applicator. Clindamycin is usually prescribed for a course of 7 days and needs to be used every evening before going to bed.

Clindamycin cream can weaken barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms and contraceptive diaphragms.

If you have had bacterial vaginosis before, you will most likely be familiar with the symptoms.

However, there are a number of conditions which cause very similar symptoms. Many sexually transmitted infections, for example gonorrhea and chlamydia, also cause discharge. Bacterial vaginosis is also easily confused with thrush (also known as yeast infection).

If you notice discharge and have had unprotected sex with a new partner in the past months, you need to get an STI test to make sure you have not been infected with an STI.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as an itch or pain while urinating, then your symptoms are not caused by bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis is not commonly associated with itching, pain or irritation.

If you are unsure as to what is causing your symptoms, you can visit your GP for a test. Your GP will collect a sample of the discharge to confirm the diagnosis.

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it causes very similar symptoms as some of the most common STIs. If you have had unprotected sex and think you have BV, you should get tested for STIs to ensure you get the correct treatment.

Although BV is not a sexually transmitted disease, having sex without a condom and having sex with multiple partners increases your risk of BV. If you repeatedly suffer from bacterial vaginosis you may find it helpful to use a condom during sex to avoid recurrent bouts.

Bacterial vaginosis can be treated with a cream, gel, pessary or oral tablets. Treatment is not always necessary and the infection often goes away by itself.

For a fee you can also arrange a telephone consultation with one of our doctors.