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Bacterial Vaginosis
A Vaginal Imbalance Is Perpetuated By a Life Imbalance.
Bacterial vaginosis is a silent women’s health crisis.
Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. women has BV right now, and most don’t even know it. Across a lifetime, over 80% of women will experience BV, and 1 in 3 will struggle with it returning after treatment.
BV is the most common vaginal condition in adult women. It is more common than yeast infections, UTIs, and STIs, yet it’s still dismissed as “just discharge.”
But it is NOT.
BV is a sign of a disrupted vaginal microbiome, not just a nuisance. If it is left unaddressed, it raises the risk of UTIs, STIs, pelvic infections, and complications in pregnancy. Rates are even higher in Black and Brown women.
BV isn’t just a woman’s issue.
It’s a microbiome issue that needs root-cause healing, not another round of antibiotics.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition caused by an overgrowth in the bacteria normally found in the vagina. It happens when there is a decrease in beneficial bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus, and an overgrowth of other types of bacteria, like Gardnerella.
This shift can lead to changes in the vaginal environment, which may result in symptoms like unusual discharge and odor. The fish-like smell comes from when these bacteria start to break down the proteins and amino acids that are in the vaginal fluid.
Spirit Listening
We usually treat BV as just a physical nuisance - something to silence quickly with a pill. But it is really an invite to pause to listen.
Your vaginal ecosystem is delicate and protective.
When something or someone disturbs that balance, BV will echo that internal conflict or boundary breach in the form of annoying symptoms.
It is not just your physical body imbalanced and showing out on you.
It is a signal that your inner environment is overwhelmed and calling out for attention.
The Gatekeeper: Check Your Inputs
Your vaginal health is a constant, living reminder of the principle of the Gatekeeper.
Just as the vaginal microbiome is sensitive to pH changes, your spirit is sensitive to inputs.
Ask yourself: What are you allowing in?
Relationships: Those that drain rather than pour into you.
Words: Spoken over you that bring shame or stress.
Energies: Influences that disrupt your peace.
If the gate is left open to things that do not honor you, the ecosystem shifts into chaos.
Recurring BV can be a sign that your boundaries - emotional, spiritual, or physical - have become porous.
You may be over-giving and under-protecting your own vessel.
The Invitation: Reframing the Diagnosis
Instead of viewing BV as a burden or a failure, view it as an invitation.
Because maybe it is a call to stop running, stand still, and restore order.
This is a Call to Purity.
This is not about shame; it is about alignment.
It is an invitation to clear out the clutter, noise, and toxicity that have been neglected for too long so you can hear Yah clearly again.
The Practice: Standing Still
This condition serves as an overarching reminder to stand still.
In a world that demands you keep moving, caregiving, and working, your body is demanding a pause.
The Spirit Action: Do not just treat the symptom; nurture the source. Use this time of healing to slow down.
Stop: pushing through the discomfort.
Reflect: Where have I neglected my own peace to accommodate others?
Restore: Healing is not just about clearing bacteria; it is about restoring the sanctity of your inner home.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23
Rhythms that Heal
One of the most important parts of treating BV is understanding where it comes from.
Our everyday lifestyle and exposures shape our vaginal health, meaning our choices are directly involved in every symptom.
BV is a wake-up call.
It is an alarm system from the body that is letting you know: "I need support."
When we learn to look at a condition as a message rather than just an annoying occurrence that needs quieting, we learn how to cope and how to approach our healing.
To manage BV, we must connect to the root, both physical and spiritual.
Connection to Self: The Physical Audit
Before you panic or shame yourself, pause and ask the hard questions.
Connect the dots between your life and your symptoms. Ask yourself:
Is it my sexual activity? (Frequency, new partner, or lack of barrier protection?)
Is it my gut health? (Have I been eating high sugar, processed foods, or ignoring digestion issues?)
Is it my immune system? (Am I run down, not sleeping, or fighting off a cold?)
These are the first questions you must ask to better understand the message your body is trying to tell you.
Connection to Spirit: The Spiritual Odor & Audit
We must go deeper than the physical.
You have to understand this from a spiritual level.
The odor associated with BV is often loud and strong.
It demands attention. I encourage you to consider your spiritual odor, too. Is there a loud and strong message that the spirit needs care?
Just like the body speaks to us through physical imbalances, the spirit speaks to us through disruptions in our peace. Ask God:
What boundaries have been crossed? (Have you let people or situations encroach on your peace?)
What things have been left unresolved? (Is there lingering bitterness or unforgiveness rotting the soil of your heart?)
Are there any "unclean" influences in your life? (Not just hygiene, but toxic relationships, harmful media, or negative environments?)
If the Holy Spirit highlights an area, a boundary to reset, or an influence to remove, act on it.
Sometimes, clearing the spiritual "air" is the first step to clearing the physical body.
Connection to Partner: The "pH Talk"
Once you have identified that boundaries have been crossed (physically or spiritually), you must communicate that to your partner.
Intimacy can be a trigger for BV because semen is alkaline, while your vagina needs to be acidic to stay healthy. If you are constantly battling BV, you must have an honest, non-blaming conversation.
The Physical Boundary: During the healing phase, barrier protection (condoms) or pulling out is not just about birth control; it’s about pH control.
The Script: "I'm working on healing a recurring issue with my body's pH balance. To stop this cycle of infection, we need to use protection for a while so my body can stabilize. This is about my health, so I can be my best self with you."
A partner who cares about you will respect the boundary.
The Virtual Dispensary
Did You Know?
Protection preserves your pH
Since semen can shift your pH for hours or even days, using barriers (condoms) isn’t just about preventing pregnancy or STIs. It’s a valid strategy for keeping your internal pH stable while you are healing.
Breathability is the boundary.
Yeast and BV bacteria love dark, damp, stagnant environments. Cotton underwear allows airflow (ventilation), while synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester trap heat and moisture, creating a greenhouse for bacteria.
The "S" Fluids (Semen, Saliva, Sweat) change your pH.
A healthy vaginal pH is acidic (3.8–4.5). Semen and saliva are alkaline (much higher pH). When they enter the ecosystem, they temporarily neutralize your acid, which can give BV bacteria a chance to spike.
BV bacteria are smart; they build "bunkers.
Chronic BV often comes back because the bacteria build a biofilm, a slimy, protective shield that antibiotics can’t always penetrate. This is why you might feel better for a week, only to have symptoms return.
Your vagina is a self-cleaning garden, not a dirty room.
Think of your good bacteria, acids, and immune cells as your internal Security Team. When they are strong, they naturally keep the "bad guys" in check without you having to scrub or douche.
Sugar feeds the enemy.
Harmful bacteria and yeast have a sweet tooth. High sugar intake (from sweets, sodas, or simple carbs) provides the direct fuel source these bacteria need to overgrow and overpower your good flora.
Your period is a monthly "Alkaline Wave."
Blood has a pH of 7.4 (neutral), which is much higher than your vaginal environment. This is why many women notice BV symptoms right after their cycle ends—the blood temporarily lowered the acidic defense shield.
The "Fishy" Odor is chemistry, not poor hygiene.
Please stop scrubbing! That scent is simply the result of bacteria releasing amines (chemical compounds) when the pH rises. It is a chemical reaction, not a sign that you are dirty.
L. crispatus is the MVP of your defense team.
This specific strain of good bacteria is your best friend. It pumps out lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, creating an environment where BV bacteria simply cannot survive.
Let’s restore your balance and reclaim your confidence.
Recurrent symptoms are a signal from your body, not a sign of failure. You are not "dirty," and this is not your fault. We are building a system to help you break the cycle of recurrence so you can get off the antibiotic hamster wheel and feel at home in your body again.