4 ms·

Alkaline vaginas are more susceptible to BV. As are multiple partners. Sometimes even menstruation. A healthy vagina is mildly acidic and lactic acid supposito

Alkaline vaginas are more susceptible to BV. As are multiple partners. Sometimes even menstruation. A healthy vagina is mildly acidic and lactic acid suppositories were often used but it’s benefits were iffy. If you went back to sex without condoms or multiple partners(male or female) BV will return. It flares in the absence of sufficient acidity in the vaginal environment..as it were.. BV is caused by a cocktail of bacteria and we have masses of bacterial colonies..good and bad..in our bodies. The imbalance occurs due to moving them around. Abstaining from sex will often rebalance or getting rid of all bacteria and repopulating with good bacteria will work. Many times, prevention is better than cure. This isn’t a STD or a terminal condition. BV just needs education and good sexual hygiene. I remain unimpressed by science’s efforts to moderate female sexual organs.

pitaj 7y ago
For those not reading the article: BV = bacterial vaginosis
vonseel 7y ago
And now I am thankful I don’t have a vagina to maintain. I hope this isn’t a black and white issue for women; I.e. if you have a lot of sex without condoms you will get BV eventually (even with only one partner).
- jelliclesfarm 7y ago
  Well..BV comes from a mixture of different flora. If you have sex with someone, you are certainly co mingling their bacteria with your own. All healthy girls from the onset of puberty ..due to estrogen..have vaginal discharge(about 1/2-1 tsp of discharge/day) and the vaginal environment is slightly acidic due to lactic acid. The discharge makes our vagina a self cleaning tube. It is a flexible elastic tube. The walls are made of mucous membrane. Only part of it is visible genitalia. If we don’t have discharge, we can’t flush out harmful bacteria and other ickies. The discharge is also a lubricant. Every time there is intercourse and co mingling of body fluids, there is a chance of BV. It’s not a sexually transmitted disease but more partners = more chance for BV. Or disruption of vaginal Ph. It is less likely to have BV if you have never had sex or you are abstaining. Altho’ it is possible. (Diff topic) You can pick up BV even with condoms. Anything that alters the vaginal Ph has an effect on chances of BV flares.
kaitai 7y ago
Your first paragraph is not quite accurate. The high iron levels that occur during menstruation tend to retard growth of some of the problematic flora (although this is more true of yeast infections).
- jelliclesfarm 7y ago
  Sperm and blood can make BV worse as they are alkaline in the vagina’s environment. That iron retards problematic flora needs some citation. Bacteria will likely flourish more in an iron rich environment. But BV is different kinds of bacteria. At the end of the day, it’s a ratio. If the lactic acid strains become fewer than the pH changes to more alkaline. Sperm and blood increase the alkaline levels by diluting the acid environment of the vagina.

pitaj 7y ago

For those not reading the article: BV = bacterial vaginosis

vonseel 7y ago

And now I am thankful I don’t have a vagina to maintain. I hope this isn’t a black and white issue for women; I.e. if you have a lot of sex without condoms you will get BV eventually (even with only one partner).

jelliclesfarm 7y ago
Well..BV comes from a mixture of different flora. If you have sex with someone, you are certainly co mingling their bacteria with your own. All healthy girls from the onset of puberty ..due to estrogen..have vaginal discharge(about 1/2-1 tsp of discharge/day) and the vaginal environment is slightly acidic due to lactic acid. The discharge makes our vagina a self cleaning tube. It is a flexible elastic tube. The walls are made of mucous membrane. Only part of it is visible genitalia. If we don’t have discharge, we can’t flush out harmful bacteria and other ickies. The discharge is also a lubricant. Every time there is intercourse and co mingling of body fluids, there is a chance of BV. It’s not a sexually transmitted disease but more partners = more chance for BV. Or disruption of vaginal Ph. It is less likely to have BV if you have never had sex or you are abstaining. Altho’ it is possible. (Diff topic) You can pick up BV even with condoms. Anything that alters the vaginal Ph has an effect on chances of BV flares.

kaitai 7y ago

Your first paragraph is not quite accurate. The high iron levels that occur during menstruation tend to retard growth of some of the problematic flora (although this is more true of yeast infections).

jelliclesfarm 7y ago
Sperm and blood can make BV worse as they are alkaline in the vagina’s environment. That iron retards problematic flora needs some citation. Bacteria will likely flourish more in an iron rich environment. But BV is different kinds of bacteria. At the end of the day, it’s a ratio. If the lactic acid strains become fewer than the pH changes to more alkaline. Sperm and blood increase the alkaline levels by diluting the acid environment of the vagina.