If you have never experienced bacterial vaginosis (BV) or a pesky yeast infection, consider yourself one lucky lady because they can be itchy, uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful -- not quite the walk in the park.
Our vagina is undoubtedly the most intimate and sensitive area of our body, so when it’s out of balance, it can be a tough time to say the least. From the itching to the burning sensation and discharge, it’s a feeling we can all sympathize with. And for anyone who experiences them chronically, it can seem as if there is nothing out there to help.
Thankfully, we've got just the thing: boric acid suppositories. Here's the scoop on what they are and how they can help.
Everything You Need to Know About Boric Acid Suppositories for Vaginal Health
Boric acid -- also called boracic acid or hydrogen borate -- is a “weak” yet powerful acid that has been used for decades as an antiseptic. The natural form of this common compound is found in volcanic areas in North America and Europe and has been used at least since the time of the ancient Greeks for preserving food, cleaning, and other purposes.
Many of the popular medical applications for boric acid are connected to its use as an antiseptic, for example, to treat minor burns, cuts, and even acne. As an acid, it has also been noted to maintain normal pH of the vaginal and used to treat a number of frustrating medical conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and trichomoniasis.
Boric Acid for Bacterial Vaginosis
Believe it or not, as many as 1 in 4 women in the U.S. have BV. Many have no symptoms at all, and some mistake their symptoms for another infection -- such as a yeast infection.
The most notorious symptom of BV is a foul-smelling, strong fishy odor coming from the vagina. Some ladies also experience burning, itching, or a questionable gray discharge.
Usually, BV is treated with a five to seven-day course of antibiotics, but the problem is the infection is relentless and recurs in up to 50 percent of women who have it. When it recurs, doctors consider it to be chronic, and it’s in these chronic cases where boric acid comes to play.
While some antibiotics can get rid of the infection, they don’t entirely kill the bacteria, which is why the infection can come back. Your vaginal pH is so incredibly important for proper vaginal health, and boric acid specifically resets it to keep everything peachy down there -- hence why boric acid suppositories are effective to kick BV to the curb!
Boric Acid for Yeast Infections
Yeast infections are also known as candidiasis or candidal vulvovaginitis. They result from an increased growth of yeast in the vagina, which notoriously causes swelling, irritation, and itching in the area. Other common symptoms include burning and pain when peeing, thick but usually odorless vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese, and pain during sexual activity.
These painful infections are associated with the candida genus of yeast, which is normally always in the vagina -- just in much lower numbers. However, if the balance of normal vaginal bacteria and yeast changes, symptoms of candidiasis can arise.
While it is not an STI by any means, rates of infection tend to increase in individuals with multiple sexual partners. Typical yeast infection treatment is usually an antibiotic or an oral or topical antifungal medication.
Boric acid is an alternative treatment that has been used to treat yeast infections for 100 years, and many functional docs recommended it to their patients. Boric acid suppositories are gentle, non-toxic, and -- except for experiencing a little discharge after insertion -- have almost no side effects.
In case you are wondering, a boric acid suppository is a capsule containing boric acid powder that is inserted into the vagina, where it then works its magic, and it works pretty quickly!
There is research to back up boric acid’s itch-easing properties, too. In one research review of fourteen studies examining boric acid’s effect on yeast infections, cure rates spanned between 40 and 100 percent -- and it was even more effective for ladies with treatment-resistant yeast infections.
The most common cause of a yeast infection is taking antibiotics -- which kills the normal vaginal flora in both the vagina and the GI tract, allowing yeast to flourish. But yeast infections can also be caused by ingestion of high levels of sugar which feeds yeast, and an elevated heavy metal burden in the body. Boric acid is a great first-line treatment.
Boric Acid for Trichomoniasis
Unlike BV and yeast infections, trichomoniasis is an STI caused by the parasite trichomonas vaginalis. Typical symptoms generally include a green or yellow foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching, and pain when urinating and during sex. Trichomoniasis is known to be susceptible to more acidic pH.
Trichomoniasis has difficulty growing in acidic environments in the lab, and infections have been shown to occur more frequently in those who have a higher than healthy vaginal pH. As such, pH-balancing treatments such as boric acid suppositories can be used to keep this unwanted infection at bay.
Just be aware that any sexual partners need to be treated for the infection as well, and you should practice safe sex until treatment has been successful. Otherwise, there is a chance that you could pass the infection back and forth between you and your partner indefinitely.
Which Boric Acid Suppositories Are Best?
There are quite a few options on the market when it comes to boric acid suppositories, but our favorite, hands down, comes from The Killer from Love Wellness.
The Killer is manufactured in an FDA-registered facility and made with pharmaceutical-grade boric acid, which is very important considering where we’re putting it!
These powerful suppositories are not made with any gross chemicals you wouldn’t want in your body, let alone in your vagina.
Developed by a doctor, The Killer is the original boric acid suppository -- often imitated but never duplicated -- and can do wonders to help maintain healthy levels of vaginal yeast and bacteria while balancing a healthy vaginal pH.
You can either use The Killer on the spot as needed or for a few days in a row. All you have to do is insert the suppository vaginally and lookout for a little discharge, which is perfectly normal.
We love to pair The Killer with Good Girl Probiotics, which is a unique probiotic with bacteria balancing powers. Made with eight strains of good bacteria for vaginal health, whereas most probiotics contain only one, this powerful probiotic supports three key areas: reproductive health organs, the gut, and the immune system. Take two capsules every day to maintain excellent vaginal flora.
A Final Word
Boric acid has been used for decades as a natural remedy to keep vaginal pH in check. Whether you’re battling an ugly yeast infection, relentless BV, or painful Trichomoniasis, boric acid suppositories can help bring back balance to your delicate flora to kick these pesky infections to the curb.
The Killer by Love Wellness is our favorite suppository on the market because it is made with only clean ingredients and absolutely no harsh chemicals, which is pretty rare to find these days. Pair this treatment with a powerful probiotic like Good Girl Probiotics, and you’re on your way to perfect vaginal health!
For all of your health and wellness needs, whether you’re looking for a top-notch multivitamin or the best pH balancing cleanser on the market, Love Wellness has your back. Guaranteed.
Sources:
Bacterial vaginosis - Symptoms and causes | Mayo Clinic
Yeast infection (vaginal) - Symptoms and cause | Mayo Clinic
boric acid (vaginal) | UFMO Health
Bacterial vaginosis: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis
Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence | NCBI
Treatment of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis - American Family Physician