Bacterial Vaginosis: Free Yourself From This Stage 5 Clinger

5 MIN READ

As we waited for the little man on the crosswalk to blink green, I struck a pose.

Hands on hips, legs spread and planted firmly into the ground, staring straight ahead as the breeze flowed through my skirt. My best friend looked at me with furrowed brow.

“What are you doing?”

“I think my vagina smells. I’m airing it out. Can you smell it? I think I can smell it.”

This is just one of the many ridiculous things you do when you are filled with the paranoia that comes with what seems to be everlasting bacterial vaginosis (BV).

You stand on city corners like Wonder Woman and ask your friend if she can catch a whiff of your lady parts while you wait to cross the road (she couldn’t, but I still swear I could).

You take drastic measures into your own hands as you search the interwebs for any clue as to how to get rid of this menacing thorn in your hoo-ha as you cry, wondering what you ever did to deserve smelly sex and milky underpants.

This is where my pain becomes your benefit. I’ve done all the deep dives into medical journals, foreign websites, hippie remedies, and outlandish theories to see what works in curbing what good ole WebMD calls a “mild problem that may go away on its own.”

(Any woman who has ever dealt with it would hardly call it a mild problem, especially when it continually reappears in your life.)

What is bacterial vaginosis?

First, let’s talk about what it’s not. It’s not a sexually transmitted infection, although it is often lumped together with such classifications when you’re looking for information on it.

It doesn’t make you dirty. And it should no longer be a hushed infection that many women deal with behind closed doors and in shame.

As my nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood explained, it’s simply an imbalance in your vaginal bacteria. When your pH levels become too high the “good” bacteria—lactobacilli—can’t keep up with the body’s productions of naturally occurring “bad” bacteria that thrives and takes over in high pH environments.

That’s it. An imbalance. Nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, BV is the most common infection in women aged 15-44.

Symptoms and causes of bacterial vaginosis.

Some women have no symptoms at all. For those who do, symptoms usually include:

So what causes it? While it’s the most common vaginal ailment, the causes are largely unknown. While having a new (or multiple) sex partner(s) and douching are thought to increase your chances of bacterial vaginosis, these aren’t the only factors, and they don’t always cause it.

The Center for Disease Control warns of serious health risks if BV isn’t treated. These include:

What affects vaginal pH?

Bacterial vaginosis comes down to an imbalance of your vagina’s pH levels. The normal range for your vagina’s pH is 3.8 to 4.5. Several things can cause it to be thrown off, making your body an invitation for BV:

Normally, your body produces enough “good” bacteria to keep things in check. But when your body is struggling to produce lactobacilli or your pH is already elevated, it needs a little extra tender, loving help to avoid getting bacterial vaginosis.

Medical treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

The most common treatment—and one I have intimate, first-hand knowledge of thanks to years of recurrences—is metronidazole. Your doctor will perform a vaginal wet mount (basically just a swab of your vagina to see if you have an infection) and, if you do have BV, give you 7 days’ worth of metallic tasting, chalky pills to take every 12 hours, not to be mixed with alcohol. For many women, these pills do the trick and they can go on with their lives.

But then, there are the rest of us. According to the Mayo Clinic, even after treatment, BV is likely to recur within 3-12 months. Doctors can prescribe a more rigorous round of metronidazole in a gel form, administered directly into the vagina over the course of two weeks to six months, depending on the doctor’s recommendation.

For me, neither worked. And I dealt with BV coming back every 6–8 weeks for almost a decade. It was a vicious cycle of treatment that wiped out all bacteria, followed by an occasional yeast infection which was then treated, only to come back to the “bad” bacteria over-multiplying once again because my body was never given the chance to let the good bacteria flourish. And while it’s up to you and your doctor whether you take the antibiotics, I have come to realize that there are other things I can do to make sure that the bacterial vaginosis stays away once the antibiotics have done their job.

How to balance your pH.

I’ll warn you now, this is an extensive list, and everyone’s body is unique. What may work for one woman may not work for the next but a few of these things are bound to help.

At the end of the day, know that you aren’t alone and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Follow these tips and the next time you do your open-legged power stance on the side of a city street, it will be because you feel like Wonder Woman.

Please note you should consult your doctor if you think you might be experiencing symptoms of bacterial vaginosis. 

Reasons Why You Might Have Swollen Vagina or Vulva

3 MIN READ

Vaginal swelling can be, as expected, a rather unpleasant experience.

 After all, who wants to feel any irritation or discomfort down there?

However, if you are experiencing vaginal swelling, there are various possible reasons as well as solutions.

Here are some of the things that may be causing you to have a swollen vagina or vulva, when it’s a problem, and what you can do about it.

After sexual intercourse.

“Women may notice a slight swelling in the vulva or vaginal area after sex. This is usually nothing to worry about,” says Sara Twogood, MD, FACOG, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Southern California. “Sexual arousal causes increased blood flow to the genital area and may look like swelling.” 

Sex is “like any other impact activity,” explains Kathryn Garren, WHNP-BC of Ideal Gynecology in Atlanta, Georgia, and if you “continuously impact an area, the area will begin to swell.” (This explains why you may also experience vaginal swelling after exercise, like bike riding, too.) 

This can be especially prevalent during rough sex, which Twogood says “can cause swelling due to friction and the body’s response.” Swelling from sex, particularly that of a rougher nature, is usually nothing to worry about and typically only lasts a few hours. Twogood says, however, “if the irritation doesn’t resolve or there is associated bleeding then you may want to be examined.”

During pregnancy.

Vaginal swelling is incredibly common during pregnancy because of things like increased blood flow, hormones, the pressure placed on the pelvic area as the baby grows, and the general swelling that occurs in the body. “Most women notice this in their extremities (hands and feet), but it can be significant in the vulvar region as well,” Twogood says. 

She also notes that pregnant women may notice what’s known as vulvar varicosities, “which are prominent blood vessels seen under the skin. These can make the vulva appear larger and heavier, just like swelling.” 

Reactions to the skin.

“Allergic reactions cause an immune and inflammatory response that includes swelling, redness, or itching,” says Garren. 

Another reaction, Twogood explains, is due to something called contact dermatitis, which is sometimes confused with an allergy. “Contact dermatitis is when a substance—laundry detergent, perfume, etc.—causes damage to the skin or exposed area itself.”

In order to avoid swelling from this, Garren suggests avoiding fragrances in your soaps, tampons, pads, and detergents whenever possible. “Also, it is important to wear cotton underwear that is not irritating to the skin,” she says.

Due to a yeast infection.

The inflammation that occurs during a yeast infection can, in fact, cause mild swelling. This is because, Garren explains, “Anytime there is an infection (yeast, bacterial, or sexually transmitted), the body releases inflammatory markers that cause swelling in order to help rid the body of infection.” 

Temporary swelling and irritation can also occur, unfairly enough, in certain vaginal topical treatments for yeast infections. This is “more common with the one and 3-day course [treatments],” Twogood says, adding, “ I usually recommend the seven days course for this reason.” 

Garren notes that the swelling will go down as soon as the body is done fighting the infection. “Swelling should never last longer than seven days if treated correctly.” 

Other reasons you may be experiencing swelling.

“Infection, like cellulitis or an abscess, can cause swelling. This type of infection in the vulvar area is more common in immunocompromised women, such as those with HIV/AIDS and very poorly controlled diabetes,” explains Twogood. 

Cysts may also be a cause for vulvar or vaginal swelling, the most common of which is known as the Bartholin gland cyst, which can also be an abscess, Twogood says. 

“Vulvar or vaginal ulcers, from STIs, or even cancer or precancerous lesions can cause swelling,” she says, adding, “An open sore can increase the risk of infection, and it can be difficult to tell if the sore caused the infection or the infection caused the sore.” 

So, in any of these cases—particularly if the swelling becomes noticeable or uncomfortable, or there is abnormal bleeding, skin changes, lumps, bumps, change in odor, and/or discharge—Garren says “it is best to see a provider to determine the source of swelling.”

How to soothe swelling.

There are a number of ways you can help relieve swelling at home, including, Garren suggests, “applying cool ice packs to the area.” 

If you’re having an allergic-type reaction, Twogood says “antihistamines, like Claritin and Benadryl, may help.” The same goes for applying a topical hydrocortisone cream, and “Ibuprofen can help with inflammation and pain.” 

“Sitz baths can help with irritation and inflammation,” Twogood says. “However, topical treatments can sometimes irritate or temporarily hide the underlying cause, so if the symptoms are persistent or return despite home remedies, it’s a good idea to see a gynecologist for a diagnosis.” 

In fact, it’s better to go see your healthcare provider when you’re having your symptoms, so you can be evaluated and get to the root cause of the swelling.