1. What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Menopause Quiz
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Bacterial vaginosis facts
• What is bacterial vaginosis?
• What are the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis?
• What causes bacterial vaginosis?
• Is bacterial vaginosis contagious?
• How is bacterial vaginosis diagnosed?
• Are there home remedies for bacterial vaginosis?
• What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis?
• What are complications of bacterial vaginosis?
• Pictures of What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain - Slideshow
• Take the Menopause Quiz
• Pictures of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - Slideshow
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Complications
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Bacterial Vaginosis - Treatment
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Bacterial Vaginosis Index

Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotics (see treatment section). There are no effective home remedies that can treat the condition, although sometimes it may resolve on its own without treatment.

The use of probiotics has been attempted in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, but results have been inconsistent and do not show a clear benefit.

While up to 1/3 of cases of bacterial vaginosis may resolve on their own, it is recommended that medical treatment be given if symptoms are present or during pregnancy to avoid the development of complications. Antibiotics are the recommended treatment for bacterial vaginosis. A few antibiotic remedies are routinely used. Metronidazole (Flagyl) taken by either oral (pill) form or by vaginal metronidazole gel (Metrogel) is an effective cure. Also available is the vaginal clindamycin cream (Cleocin). The oral metronidazole can cause some minor but unpleasant side effects, but is believed to be the most effective treatment. The gels do not typically cause side effects, although yeast vaginitis can occur as a side effect of the medication.

Tinidazole (Tindamax) is an antibiotic that appears to have fewer side effects than metronidazole and is also effective in treating bacterial vaginosis.

Recurrence of bacterial vaginosis is possible even after successful treatment. More than half of those treated experience recurrent symptoms within 12 months. It is unclear why so many recurrent infections develop. With recurrent symptoms, a second course of antibiotics is generally prescribed.