Let’s talk about BV (Bacteria Vaginosis). 

Here is the truth of why you continue to struggle with it…

BV is an inflammation of the vagina that occurs when there is an abundance of bacteria that causes imbalances in your vaginal biosphere. We’ve all heard that too much of anything can be bad-- and the same goes for your vagina. Even though some of the bacteria is beneficial and necessary for your body, an overgrowth of it can lead to complications and health problems.

The vaginal environment is dominated by a community of bacteria we all hear about called Lactobacilli, with common species being L. crispatus, L. iners, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri. There are other bacteria strains but research has shown that these are the gatekeepers (the bouncers at the club). 

The overgrowth of pathogenic microorganisms (the troublemakers) are what usually causes an imbalance or BV. One of the main culprits being Gardnerella vaginalis.

These unpronounceable words are annoying, I know, but stay with me…

The good bacteria thrive in an acidic lower pH environment while the bad guys thrive in an alkaline, higher pH environment. To make matters even more confusing about our wonderfully complex system– research has shown that women with an imbalance or missing one of the Lactobacilli species, are more prone to getting BV. This means that randomly taking any probiotics to replace “good bacteria” without knowing which Lactobacilli species it contains or that you need, may not be helping you. You may already have plenty of that particular species. 

What causes BV?

BV can be triggered from having sex, and while it’s not considered a sexually transmitted disease, it can be transmitted if your partner transfers pathogenic microorganisms that disrupt your vaginal flora. Hormone fluctuations such as birth control, pregnancy, and menopause can also cause your natural microbiome to get out of whack causing BV. Douching and other products used to clean your vagina can also mess with the pH levels and kill off the good lactobacilli bacteria that works to protect you.

Symptoms:

One of the main symptoms of BV is the fishy odor, but some women have reported not having any odor rather experiencing dryness during sex, while others may deal with a discharge, but…

…about 84% of women who have BV don’t show any symptoms at all. This might seem like a good thing, but it’s actually NOT– according to the Dept of Veteran Affairs BV, when left untreated, can lead to major health issues such as:

• Fertility issues

• Premature births and low birth weights

• Higher chances of getting an STI

• Pelvic inflammatory disease

• An infection on the female organs after surgery

If you're asymptomatic and you go regularly to your GYN appointments you could still have BV if the doctor isn’t specifically looking for BV. Annual exams (pap smears) only check for cervical cancer.

Treatments:

• Prescription antibiotics can be used to treat BV, but it’ll often come back because antibiotics can kill both the good and bad bacteria. 

• Taking certain probiotics can help prevent BV from returning, but as we discussed above, which species of the Lactobacilli should you take?. 

• Boric acid has become super popular in treating vaginal infections in the past few years, but there’s not enough research to prove its effectiveness or if it’s safe for your body. Research is also finding it may act as an antibiotic, killing both good and bad bacteria. 

The best way to fight BV is to prevent it altogether. First—if you feel you must use feminine wash, it’s important to find the right one that’s not adding to the problem. And keep it only on the vulva. Don’t let it get inside the vaginal canal. Check out a list of our fav washes here. Practice safe sex, change your pads and tampons regularly, and thoroughly wash any sex toys. 

Another way you can monitor the health of your vaginal microbiome and prevent BV is through microbial testing.

Microbial Testing

Microbial testing is a test which measures ALL of our vaginal microbes. We have 100s of vaginal microbes in our vaginal environment. This test is something that’s not usually done in a doctor’s office, so companies like Evvy that provide in-home microbial testing have been coming on the market. Based on the physician-reviewed results, they’ll inform you as to what beneficial microbes you are missing and the next steps to get you (and hopefully keep you) balanced.

The test comes with a swab kit so you can swab your vaginal walls yourself in the comfort of your home. You’ll then take the sample you collected to send to a lab in the tube they provide along with a prepaid return mailer.

The company Evvy launched the first at-home microbiome test in July 2021, and multiple other companies such as Juno Bio, Daye, and Ombre have since released their own at-home tests. 

Knowing information about the microbiome of your vagina can help us finally fight back against recurring vaginal infections. The study of vaginal microbiomes is a fairly new science, and new research is constantly coming out to help us make educated decisions on how to protect and treat our bodies. These companies use science-based research to create kits that will deliver beneficial information to us so we’re not left in the dark when it comes to our health.

Have you ever tried a microbial testing kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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