recurring bv is a signal, not a symptom

I recently started working in virtual urgent care early 2025, and I was surprised to see how many women struggle with BV.

And it is not just the “one-time BV, treat and close” case, it's the “I have had BV 4x in the last 6 months, and it keeps coming back” cases.

In all of my years, I have never seen it so prevalent.

At first, I was like “oh okay, easy acute patient case. Just take 5 days of flagyl and you’ll be fine”.

But now I am starting to view it in the same boat as a chronic disease…especially if it has been 3 months since the person has been dealing with it.

And the worst part about it is that the individual is rarely able to point to what is causing or increasing the risk of the condition.

That's concerning.

And us providers don't make it any better if all we do is slap antibiotics down like a band aid. Like “here take this and go” like you are talking to a disgruntled toddler or something.

The problem is that, when we do this, we are sweeping the real problem further underneath the rug.

And then we wonder why the individual ends up with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), preterm birth, miscarriage, infertility, STDs, and other infections. Yall…untreated BV may be reason behind all of these things because it is a risk factor.

So, yeah if you are struggling with BV especially more than 3 months, that's your body's way of telling you “baby, we have problem…deeper than what any antibiotic is going to solve”.

This is why I started focusing my understanding from a functional lifestyle medicine lens because this modern healthcare system will push you into a deep dark hole with no help to get out. No ladder, no rope, no nothing. Actually, they’ll give you a rope. [Too dark?]

But, I am not here for that. My morale and ethical mood board won’t let that happen.

I truly think that every disease that we treat is actually a symptom of a bigger problem that we fail to address in time.

So instead of the antibiotics or the creams for the BV, why not go deeper?

• Is my BV due to my partner or (s) and are we unequally yoked?

• Is it my perfume or hygiene products throwing off my PH?

• Is my gut tore up from the sea food boils, alcohol, and sweets?

• Or maybe it’s a call from my spirit to confront me about what I am hiding or ignoring. Or the boundaries I am crossing that is causing imbalance in the temple.

Or perhaps it’s a combination of all of these things and if I don't address it, then I wont be able to get undressed without feeling uncomfortable.

You know, our current standard of care doesn’t address any of this.

But you know what can address this...

YOU.