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STDs (Expert Forum)
treatment
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomoniasis, Warts, Yeast Infection.All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
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Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Mar 03, 2005 12:00AM
, Mar 03, 2005 12:00AM
Your symptoms should start improving 2-3 days after starring treatment, but sometimes 4-5 days.
Yogurt is inefffective in treating or preventing BV or any other infection. Unscientific recommendations for yogurt arose because bacteria called lactobacillus, normally present in the vagina, help protect against various infection and are depleted in BV; and non-pasteurized yogurt and other dairy products contain lactobacillus. Replace the lactobacillus, is the idea. In addition to vaginal yogurt, people have said just eat the stuff; use lactaid or other lactobacillus-enriched dairy products; eat cottage cheese; and so on.
The problem is that the lactobacillus speces in the vagina shares name only with Lactobacillus casei and others normally found in dairy products; they are entirely different bacteria. The lactobacilli in yogurt do not survive in the vagina and have no effect in treatment or health protection. Even supposedly physiologic vaginal lactobacilli (marked in certain health food stores or via the internet) do not survive in the vagina.
Research is underway to prepare the right kind of lactobacillus as a therapeutic product, while preserving the ability of the bacteria to colonize and survive in the vagina, and someday there may be a lactobacillus product that might help treat or prevent BV or other inecitons. But so far, that research has not been highly productive.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Yogurt is inefffective in treating or preventing BV or any other infection. Unscientific recommendations for yogurt arose because bacteria called lactobacillus, normally present in the vagina, help protect against various infection and are depleted in BV; and non-pasteurized yogurt and other dairy products contain lactobacillus. Replace the lactobacillus, is the idea. In addition to vaginal yogurt, people have said just eat the stuff; use lactaid or other lactobacillus-enriched dairy products; eat cottage cheese; and so on.
The problem is that the lactobacillus speces in the vagina shares name only with Lactobacillus casei and others normally found in dairy products; they are entirely different bacteria. The lactobacilli in yogurt do not survive in the vagina and have no effect in treatment or health protection. Even supposedly physiologic vaginal lactobacilli (marked in certain health food stores or via the internet) do not survive in the vagina.
Research is underway to prepare the right kind of lactobacillus as a therapeutic product, while preserving the ability of the bacteria to colonize and survive in the vagina, and someday there may be a lactobacillus product that might help treat or prevent BV or other inecitons. But so far, that research has not been highly productive.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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