What is Cytolytic Vaginosis
Cytolytic Vaginosis (CV) involves an overgrowth of a single dominant strain of lactobacilli (the good bacteria).
Our vagina naturally contains both good and bad bacteria in diverse strains and when these bacteria are in balance we enjoy the benefits of having a happy healthy vagina.
However, sometimes a single strain of our good protective bacteria becomes overgrown and it acts like a pathogen. Typically, lactobacilli are meant to lower our pH from becoming too high. But in this case, it causes our vaginal pH to become too low which then causes pain and burning.
Many women with CV experience pain and discomfort because an acidic environment can cause burning, and inflammation plus cause skin to slough off. This can present as white clumps in our discharge.
Cytolytic Vaginosis symptoms often mimic thrush which is why we often see women being prescribed traditional thrush treatments (including boric acid suppositories). When these don’t work, women are often treated as if they have a resistant type of thrush, and given even more thrush treatments which only makes things worse.
It's not uncommon for years to go by with absolutely no relief for sufferers. And to everyone’s frustration the ‘thrush’ never shows up as positive in tests because ….. it’s NOT thrush at all!
We have been researching and studying this disorder for the last 5 plus years and have helped thousands of women thanks to online media including our Reddit sub. r/Cytolyticvaginosis.
Our baking soda treatment works for many by simply increasing the vaginal pH which is often enough to stop the painful burning and help users get back to enjoying a balanced pH.
Our protocol for CV involves inserting 2 baking soda suppositories (150mg) per week vaginally. These are easy and affordable to make at home using our recipe. We want all women to have access to this treatment.
We have observed that the majority of women with Cytolytic Vaginosis were on antibiotics or long-term thrush treatments first. Especially women who have had Ureaplasma. The consumption of probiotics seems to also be a trigger, or act to worsen symptoms.
Doctors can test for CV by using a wet mount as the excess lactobacilli is easily seen under a microscope. Evidence of shed skin further confirms a CV diagnosis.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of testing available in the wild due to a lack of awareness in the medical field. You might find that some doctors don’t even believe that CV exists Eg some mistakenly believe that it’s impossible to have too much ‘good’ bacteria.
Getting a Juno Bio test will detect whether you have CV as it reports on all the bacteria present including the strains and percentages. This helps us to go forward with a better idea of what we are dealing with. You can use our discount code SERENITY20 for a $20 USD discount.
If you can't find a doctor near you to do a wet mount test and you suspect that you have CV we advise you to go ahead and insert a baking soda suppository because this will do 2 things. It will either help you and help to confirm a CV diagnosis or it will do nothing at all. Don't worry this tiny amount of baking soda won't cause any harm if you don't have CV. So it's worth trying if your thrush-like symptoms haven’t improved with traditional thrush treatments.
Most people with CV find that their symptoms improve during their period because period blood has a high pH which then increases the vaginal pH which is what is needed. Having unprotected sex (where able to be tolerated) will also increase the pH as sperm also has a high pH.
If this resonates with you please contact us for further help and advice or join our Reddit group for CV sufferers from around the world. Over 1000 members and growing!
For more information, Moira from Intimate Ecology has put together an online seminar
https://intimate-ecology-practitioner-training.teachable.com/p/cytolytic-vaginosis-and-lactobacilliosis-disorders-of-vaginal-lactobacillus-overgrowth and consults privately.
Lastly, CV can involve some trial and error because there are different strains, some needing antibiotics, plus it can morph into other conditions. We discuss this in our 'How to treat Cytolytic Vaginosis' fact sheet.
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