Scientific outline of potential BV treatments (part 1)

[ThankfulMama]

I spent a few hours reading through scientific studies and gathering information from two of them into one document. I will continue to read more when I have the time. Most of what I found seemed to show that traditional treatments on their own do not work as well, and present a high probability for reoccurence. I see that the use of vitamin C, as outlined specifically in the first study (try to follow it as they had done in the trials with subjects for an effective outcome) works well, cutting the reoccurence of an outbreak in half. I've outlined the details for instruction of use.

Additionally, the use of traditional medical therapy to treat BV, specifically Metronidazole and Clindamycin, AS WELL AS with alternative therapies seems to show a lot of promise. I've outlined the alternative therapies and everything else in detail.

I really hope this helps! I've been trying to find as many evidence-based studies as I can. Specifically ones that focus on isolating the specific bacteria that's at the source BV, and the biofilm that is the TRUE reason for recurrent outbreaks. I feel very thankful that scientists are actively working to find effective treatment for this problem that supposedly doesn't have a cure. Hope is on the horizon!


​Proposed BV Treatment options [[My personal notes are in double brackets]]

Study name:

Efficacy of Vitamin C Vaginal Tablets as Prophylaxis for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial; Vladislav N. Krasnopolskya, Vera N. Prilepskayab, Franco Polattic, Nina V. Zarochentsevaa, Guldana R. Bayramovab, Maurizio Caserinid, Renata Palmierid, e

-Treatment overview during trials: Within 24 hours of cure from a recent episode of BV by metronidazole or clindamycin, implement vitamin C for six consecutive monthly cycles. Each cycle consists of inserting one vaginal tablet for 6 consecutive days during each month following menses [[Use with tampon to keep the vitamin C inside]].

-Tablets are 250mg ascorbic acid [[though many women on various forums have claimed to use 500 mg with success]] in a silicone carrier that ensures prolonged action [[find one without added sugars, such as Twinlab C-500 Caps, Crystalline Vitamin C capsules]].

-[[No statistical significance was noted within the 3-month period, only becoming apparent during month 5. Conclusion was that the regular use of the tablets for the suggested duration following the success of metronidazole treatment reduces the reoccurrence rate from 32.4% to 16.2%.]]

“A therapeutic approach in the treatment of BV relapse is to re-establish and maintain the physiological acidity of the vagina, as the growth of anaerobes and other faecal bacteria is inhibited by low pH. Attempts to achieve this via re-colonisation with exogenous lactobacilli have not been successful. Another, more accepted approach is to reduce vaginal pH, in order to create a negative environment for pathogen growth and to achieve long-lasting normalisation of vaginal flora using intravaginal ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The use of antibiotics may induce resistance in the pool of bacteria recognised to cause BV and, conversely, could affect the normal flora of lactobacilli [9], favouring recurrence within a few weeks in over 70% of women taking antibiotics for bacterial vaginosis [18]. Ascorbic acid [[250 mg, in a silicone carrier that ensures prolonged action]] plays a vital role in maintaining low vaginal pH values and enhances healing processes in the vaginal ecosystem - recolonisation with lactic acid bacteria. The mechanism of action is simple: through the lowering of vaginal pH to the physiological level of 3.8 - 4.5, anaerobic overgrowth is inhibited and the conditions for the re-growth of physiological lactobacilli flora are re-established. “

“The results of the present study show that 250 mg ascorbic acid vaginal tablets taken 6 days per month safely halves the risk of BV recurrence from 32.4% to 16.2% during a 6-month prophylactic treatment. The O.R. confirms that subjects treated with placebo had a doubled risk of BV recurrence compared with the group of subjects treated with vitamin C. Considering the time to the first BV relapse, treatment of at least five cycles is necessary in order to reduce, at a significant level, the risk of BV recurrence. As this was a prophylaxis study, in women who at the screening visit were healthy and who terminated the study in case of relapse, a between-treatment difference in clinical parameters was not expected. At the same time, differences in pH were not expected but conversely, a reduction in pH was noted for 3-month and 6-month treatment. “

In conclusion, regular use of silicon-coated vitamin C (250 mg) tablets, after the standard antibiotic treatment for BV, protects women by reducing the risk of recurrence probably by re-establishing the normal lactobacilli flora that is able to maintain vaginal pH.”