What can You do Yourself?
Excessive Hygiene
If you belong to the group of women, who washes themselves several times a day ‘downstairs’, you should try to wash yourself less frequently and avoid using strong soaps, soaps with preservatives and perfume. Excessive hygiene with soap leads to irritated and itching mucous membranes – and even more discharge. External use of hand shower once a day is completely adequate intimate hygiene.
Excessive hygiene removes your lactic bacteria from the vagina and if you lack lactic bacteria in your vagina it can develop into an actual inflammation. Therefore, it is a good idea to add lactic bacteria to your vagina in the form of suppositories and use a mild soap without preservatives, perfume and colouring agents.
Bacterial Vaginosis
If you have typical signs (increased amount of thin discharge and fishy smell) and if the test shows a low sourness (pH level) you are highly likely suffering from bacterial vaginosis.
Bacterial vaginosis can be treated with suppositories containing lactic bacteria. The treatment is effective since 9 out of 10 women with bacterial vaginosis are cured by using lactic bacteria as suppositories. Unfortunately, part of the women have a new round of bacterial vaginosis within a month after the treatment has ended. Women with repeated cases of bacterial vaginosis can try to prevent the illness by regularly using lactic bacteria as suppositories.
There are many different kinds of lactic bacteria and it matters which kind you insert into the vagina. Thus, the lactic bacteria found in different diary products (yogurt, Acidophilus) without effect – whether you put them in the vagina or eat them.
Conditions that bothers the mucous membranes and destroy the natural barrier for inflammation matters in relation to whether you develop bacterial vaginosis. Therefore you should avoid briefs that are too tight and avoid frequent washing with soap and products containing perfume.
In the case of continuous problems it can be necessary to treat with antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.
Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted illness and cannot be transmitted to your partner. Therefore, there is no reason to treat your partner.
Fungal infection
Scientific studies have shown that a fungal infection passes by itself in more than half of all cases – with no treatment.
At the pharmacy you can – over the counter – buy fungicide for local treatment (crème or suppositories). The treatment is effective since 90% are cured for their fungal infection. Ask the people at the pharmacy.
Repeated cases of fungal infection are very troublesome and are not always easy to treat. It is not known why some women have repeated fungal infections. If you have repeated fungal infections you should be examined whether you have diabetes just as stop taking the contraceptive pill is worth a try.
It is not certain which role the good lactic bacteria play in developing a fungal infection. Studies have shown that lactic bacteria prevent fungal infections and therefore you may try and see if lactic bacteria can help you.
In the case of more persistent or repeated fungal infections, you should contact your doctor.
Pregnancy
The increased amount of discharge that is seen during pregnancy is normal and should not be treated. If your discharge bothers you or itch and/or smarting arise in the opening of the vagina you should seek a doctor. Fungal infections are often seen with pregnant women while bacterial vaginosis is more rare.