Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common but often recurring condition that affects many women. It develops when there’s an imbalance in your vaginal microbiome, allowing harmful bacteria to overtake the good. While treatment is typically straightforward, some experience repeated episodes despite following medical advice.
Hormonal shifts, hygiene habits, and even diet can influence recurrence. Understanding why BV keeps coming back involves looking beyond surface-level symptoms and identifying patterns in your lifestyle, health routine, and biological factors.
What Is BV?
Bacterial vaginosis occurs when the healthy balance of vaginal bacteria is disrupted, typically resulting in an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria. This imbalance can lead to symptoms like unusual discharge, odor, discomfort, or itching.
Unlike yeast infections or sexually transmitted infections, BV is not caused by a single pathogen and isn’t technically classified as an STI, though sexual activity can influence its development. BV often responds well to prescribed antibiotics, but many find that relief is temporary. Knowing what BV is and how it behaves is a critical step in recognizing why it may continue to return.
Why Does BV Keep Coming Back?
Recurring BV is more common than many realize. One major cause is the incomplete restoration of the vaginal microbiome after treatment, which makes it easier for harmful bacteria to return. Repeated antibiotic use can sometimes strip away beneficial bacteria along with the bad, weakening the body’s natural defenses.
Sexual activity, especially with new or multiple partners, can also trigger BV by introducing unfamiliar bacteria. Even everyday hygiene habits like using scented soaps or vaginal douches can alter your pH balance and disrupt bacterial stability.
In some cases, hormonal fluctuations and stress may lower your immune system’s ability to maintain a healthy microbial environment. It’s important to recognize that recurrent BV isn’t necessarily due to poor hygiene or personal neglect. Instead, it reflects a complicated interaction between your internal biology and your external behaviors.
Identifying and adjusting these contributing factors is often key to reducing recurrence and supporting long-term vaginal health.
How Can Hormonal Factors Influence Your Menstrual Cycle?
Hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle can influence vaginal pH and microbiota. Around menstruation, a temporary drop in estrogen levels can shift the balance of bacteria, making the environment less acidic and more favorable for harmful microbes. This can lead to a recurrence of BV symptoms either before, during, or after your period.
Some individuals may notice a consistent pattern linked to ovulation or premenstrual phases. Understanding the connection between your hormones and vaginal health may help you identifty personal triggers. Tracking symptoms in relation to your cycle can also be useful when discussing long-term prevention strategies with a healthcare provider.
What Are Common Lifestyle and Behavioral Triggers?
Certain daily habits can increase the likelihood of recurring BV. Douching, for example, removes beneficial bacteria and alters vaginal pH, making infections more likely. Frequently using scented soaps, wipes, or bath products can also disrupt your microbiome.
Sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or having multiple partners, can introduce new bacteria that upset the existing balance. Smoking has also been linked to higher BV risk, and synthetic underwear or tight clothing can contribute to moisture buildup, further affecting microbial health.
Making small changes to your routine can reduce recurrence and support a healthier vaginal environment over time.
What About Diet and Immunity?
From period supplements like FLO to URO probiotics, our diets have an outsized effect on our overall vaginal health.
In regards to BV, your immune system plays a key role in maintaining vaginal health, and your overall diet can influence that immune response. A balanced intake of vitamins, minerals, and probiotics may help create conditions that support beneficial bacteria. Some research even suggests that oral and vaginal probiotics containing Lactobacillus strains can assist in restoring and maintaining microbial balance.
Staying hydrated and limiting excess sugar, which can fuel the growth of harmful bacteria, may also contribute to prevention. While diet alone won’t eliminate BV, it can act as part of a broader strategy that includes medical treatment and behavioral adjustments.
When To See a Healthcare Provider
Frequent BV flare-ups should not be ignored. If symptoms persist or return often, it’s essential to consult a doctor for further evaluation. Underlying issues like undiagnosed infections, hormone imbalances, or resistant bacterial strains may require a different treatment approach.
Extended use of antibiotics, alternative therapies, or prescription-strength probiotics may be recommended based on your individual history. A provider can also rule out similar conditions like yeast infections or STIs, which sometimes mimic BV symptoms. Early and accurate intervention is required to reduce discomfort and break the cycle of recurrence.
Breaking the BV Cycle Starts With Understanding
Recurring BV can feel frustrating, but it’s often the result of interconnected factors, not something caused by a single behavior. From hormonal shifts and sexual activity to hygiene routines and diet, each plays a role in maintaining vaginal balance. Identifying and managing these contributors, along with proper medical guidance, can help reduce recurrence.