Read up on Bacterial vaginosis treatment options at Consumer Reports Health.

Bacterial vaginosis

Key points about treatments

Bacterial vaginosis often gets better without treatment. But it often comes back, whether you have treatment or not.

antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Antibiotics can help get rid of bacterial vaginosis, but the infection often comes back.
There are things you can try to prevent bacterial vaginosis coming back. To learn more see Is there anything I can do to prevent another infection?
You can use antibiotic pills, or creams and gels that you put in your vagina. All these methods work equally well.
If in the past you have had a baby too early (before the 37th week of pregnancy), using antibiotics to treat your bacterial vaginosis can help reduce the risk of you having a small (low birth weight) baby if you are pregnant.
If you are having an abortion, using antibiotics to treat bacterial vaginosis will help prevent you from getting an infection afterward.

This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2008

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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