Vagina Flora Imbalance Can Cause Recurrent Infections! Prevention Is Key With Dr. Wolff's Vagisan Lactic Acid*!

A healthy vagina is the foundation of comfort and well-being for every woman, but do we really understand its importance?

Many women think that cleaning their vagina with scented soap is sufficient to ensure hygiene and health of their intimate parts.

However, without realising it, this action can disrupt the natural balance of the vagina and cause overgrowth of the unwanted bacterial and can develop into vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), one of the most common vaginal infections amongst women of reproductive ages. 

Studies show that bacteria vaginosis can occur and recur in 50% to 80% of cases within one year after treatment.

Therefore, understanding the vaginal flora and how to maintain its balance is very important to prevent intimate health problems.

In this article, we will discuss in depth what vaginal flora is, symptoms of bacterial vaginosis and how to prevent fishy odour or itchy vagina or in the intimate area.

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What is a healthy vagina flora and why is it important?

Vaginal flora refers to the group of microorganisms that naturally inhabit the vaginal area. 

These microorganisms, especially good bacteria like lactobacillus, play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy vagina environment.

The main functions of a healthy vagina flora include¹:

• Helps produce lactic acid: Lactobacillus helps produce lactic acid as well as maintains vaginal pH at acidic levels (between 3.8 and 4.5), which inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria¹
• Produces hydrogen peroxide: This compound has powerful antimicrobial properties, helping to fight unwanted bacteria and fungi²
• Produces bacteriocins: Antimicrobial peptides that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria³

When the vaginal flora is in balance, the vagina is able to defend itself naturally against infection.

However, if this balance is disturbed, harmful bacteria can multiply and cause unhealthy vagina problems such as BV.

Factors that disturb the balance of the vaginal flora

Several factors can disrupt the healthy balance of vaginal flora, including:^{4 5}

• Antibiotic use: Antibiotics can kill good bacteria along with bad bacteria, causing an imbalance
• Harsh intimate cleaners: Products with strong chemicals can disrupt the natural pH of a healthy vagina
• Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, menopause or the use of hormonal contraceptives can affect the vaginal flora
• Sexual activity: A new or multiple sexual partner can increase the risk of vaginal flora imbalance
• Lifestyle and diet: Stress, a high-sugar diet or excessive hygiene can affect the balance of microorganisms

Understanding bacterial vaginosis: An often-overlooked vaginal infection

BV is a type of vaginal infection caused by an imbalance of the vaginal flora, in which bad bacteria multiply and overgrow, leading to lack of good bacteria such as Lactobacillus³.

Symptoms of BV and signs of unhealthy vagina are:⁶

• Fishy-smelling discharge: Usually more noticeable after sexual intercourse or menstruation
• Gray or white discharge: A more liquidly than usual texture
• Itchy vagina or burning sensation: Especially when urinating

The standard treatment or medication for BV is to take antibiotics.

However, studies show that BV has a high recurrence rate, ranging from 50% to 80% within one year after treatment⁷.

This is because taking antibiotics is not a long-term treatment.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2004, antibiotics can cause bacterial resistance, making infections more difficult to treat when they reoccur⁸.

This emphasises the importance of maintaining the balance of the vaginal flora to prevent recurrent infections and to ensure that the vaginal flora can self-regulate.

How to ensure the balance of the vagina flora?

Maintaining the balance of the vaginal flora is key in helping to prevent against vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis.

Here are some practices that can help you maintain a healthy vagina:^{5 6 9}

1. Avoid unhealthy vagina problems by practicing healthy and safe sex

Limit the number of sexual partners to reduce the risk of vaginal flora imbalance. Practice safe sex with use of condoms to prevent disturbance to vaginal flora pH levels. 

Ensure that if sex tools are used, they are thoroughly cleaned before and after use.

2. Avoid douching!

Avoid douching the vagina internally as it can disrupt the pH balance thus killing the good bacteria and overgrowth of bad bacteria. 

Avoid also the use vaginal sprays or scented products to wash your intimate areas as the chemicals in these products can irritate the vagina and disrupt the natural pH level of the vagina and natural vaginal flora.

3. Seek treatment if you experience symptoms of bacteria vaginosis

If you experience symptoms such as fishy-smelling odour, greyish vaginal discharge, itching or discomfort in the vagina, see a doctor immediately for an examination and appropriate treatment.

Untreated BV can lead to other health complications.

How to treat other BV problems?

Maintaining a healthy vagina is not only about practicing good hygiene, but also ensuring that the balance of the vaginal flora is maintained.

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding factors that can interfere with vaginal pH, choosing the right care products also plays an important role.

To maintain a healthy vagina flora and prevent recurring infections, it’s important to keep the vaginal pH level between 3.8 and 4.4. Using a vaginal product containing lactic acid is advised to sustain this healthy pH level, which promotes the growth of beneficial lactobacilli.

Rapid acidification to maintain healthy vaginal flora 

Dr. Wolff’s Vagisan Lactic Acid* is a vaginal pessary for intra-vaginal use. It supports the restoration of lactobacilli by quickly acidifying the vaginal flora, thereby reducing the chances of pathogenic bacteria and germs developing, while also maintaining a healthy vagina pH level.

 This easy-to-use pessary contains 190mg of lactic acid and also sodium lactate, which assists in restoring and maintaining the vagina’s natural pH balance.

The lactic acid in the pessary helps to support the growth of healthy (“good”) lactobacilli, which essentially make up the vaginal flora and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and germs (pathogens). It is therefore used to maintain and restore natural pH levels in the vagina.

At the same time, Dr. Wolff’s Vagisan Lactic Acid* can be used as preventive treatment for women who are prone to vaginal infections.