The use of complementary or alternative medicine, such as probiotics, is gaining ground in the United States. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative medicine, 38 percent of American adults are using some form of complementary medicine. Probiotics include a large variety of microorganisms that are similar to the normal flora, or good bacteria, found in your body. Researchers have looked at the effects of probiotics on various conditions, including bacterial vaginosis.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are defined by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as "live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host." Your body is full of natural and helpful bacteria. They work as a part of your immune system and fight against other bacteria that may cause disease. There are times, such as when you take antibiotics, where this natural balancing act of bacteria is thrown off. Antibiotics are designed to kill the bacteria that are causing your condition, but at the same time they also kill the natural bacteria your body needs as well. The idea behind probiotics is to replace these natural and beneficial bacteria.
Bacterial Vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis occurs where the balance of bacteria in the vagina is altered and an overgrowth of certain bacteria occurs. It is the most common vaginal infection in women and can cause vaginal discharge, odor, pain, itching and burning in the vaginal area. Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics, such as metronidazole and clindamycin, but it can reoccur after treatment.
Medical Research
A 2010 study published in the "International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics" looked at the effects of long-term vaginal administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus and the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. The researchers looked at 49 women with bacterial vaginosis and separated them into two groups. Both groups were treated with a twice daily dose of 500 mg metronidazole for seven days. The second group also received a once a week vaginal dose of 40 mg Lactobacillus rhamnosus for six months. At the 12-month follow-up visit, the patients who had received the regular probiotic treatment maintained a balanced vaginal ecosystem when it came to normal flora, while the group that did not receive probiotics showed an increase in abnormal flora. Therefore, the researchers concluded that the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus reduces the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis.
Considerations
If you suffer from recurring bacterial vaginosis, talk with your physician about the possible benefits of probiotic supplementation. Do not try and supplement probiotics vaginally without the supervision of your physician. Balancing good and bad bacteria in the vaginal area is a delicate matter. There are a variety of different probiotic strains --- and not all of them work the same.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States; December 2008
- "International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics"; Long-Term Vaginal Administrations of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus as a Complementary Approach to Management of Bacterial Vaginosis; V. Marcone et al.; September 2010
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Bacterial Vaginosis -- CDC Fact Sheet; September 1, 2010
- MedlinePlus; Lactobacillus; June 3, 2011
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; An Introduction to Probiotics; August 2008
