How is Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) treated?
A. If you have BV, your health care provider will prescribe medication that you will need to take for seven days. Pregnant women will take pills by mouth and non-pregnant women will take pills by mouth or use a vaginal medicine. Since BV is not sexually transmitted, male partners will not need treatment. Q. Should I douche when I am NOT pregnant? A. No. Douching when you are not pregnant can still cause infections that may affect future pregnancies. Q. My mother and/or grandmother told me that douching is important for a woman to be clean. Isn’t it “nasty” or unclean to stop douching? A. It is normal for women to have a mucous vaginal discharge that passes naturally out of the vagina. Douching is not necessary and it upsets the natural process, encouraging the overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria. Douching may also hide symptoms of infection, such as vaginal discharge and/or odor. For good vaginal health, experts NOW recommend that you: • Wash the outer parts of your genital (private) area
