Metronidazole

How does Metronidazole work?

Metronidazole 400mg tablets are a type of antibiotic. Bacterial vaginosis is thought to be caused by a change in the natural balance of bacteria that live in the vagina. Metronidazole helps to kill some of the excess bacteria that occur in BV and return the balance of bacteria to normal.

Metronidazole (also spelled Metronidazol) can be used to treat a number of different infections however, it can be supplied online by The Independent Pharmacy to treat Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) in women. It is an effective BV treatment, that can typically clear symptoms in two to three days and should be taken for the full one week course.

 

Treating bacterial vaginosis online

Metronidazole is suitable to buy online if you have previously suffered from bacterial vaginosis before that has been diagnosed and successfully treated by your GP.

You may qualify for BV treatment online if you have had it:

• Diagnosed by your doctor before or have had a positive home test for bacterial vaginosis
• Been prescribed Metronidazole and it has treated the infection successfully
• Your symptoms include fishy odour and may include a thin discharge

If you have not suffered from BV before, your symptoms are not typical of BV or you have had a negative test result, you should see your GP or local sexual health clinic for further investigation. Vaginal discharge and odour can be caused by a number of different infections, including STIs, so it’s important to make sure you are receiving the correct treatment for your condition.

 

Metronidazole for bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease and normally presents as white, grey or yellow vaginal discharge that is thin and watery – not to be confused with thrush. It may have a ‘fishy’ smell that is particularly strong after sex. To find out more about the condition, see our Bacterial Vaginosis treatment page.

BV does not usually cause a rash or lesions – if you experience these symptoms, this could be a sign of genital herpes, while small bumps could be a sign of genital warts. It is not normally associated with any pain or inflammation of the vagina.

BV is also different from a yeast infection (thrush) caused by the candida fungus —  and vaginal yeast infections have their own specific treatments. You can suffer from BV and a yeast infection at the same time, however, to be sure you should consult a doctor or you can contact us for free impartial advice if you suspect you have more than one infection.

Metronidazole tablets can also be used to treat recurrent bacterial vaginosis. It is not uncommon for BV to return within three months of first treatment. As long as your symptoms fully cleared after the first course of metronidazole was completed and your symptoms are the same, treating a repeat BV infection with metronidazole is fine. If you have BV more than twice in 6 months or 4 times in 12 months, you should see your GP or sexual health clinic for investigation.

  

Other treatment options for BV

Metronidazole is the only oral option for treating bacterial vaginosis, however, there are other treatments available:

• Zidoval is a vaginal gel that contains metronidazole. The gel is inserted into the vagina daily for 5 days and treats the infection locally. It is a prescription-only treatment that can be purchased after a short online consultation.
• Balance Activ BV gel is a non-prescription alternative to treat BV. It helps to lower the pH of the vagina, making conditions more favourable for the regular bacteria that normally live in the vagina to flourish. It can be used alongside Metronidazole.