“What you're experiencing isn’t just BV…”
Dr Naidoo leaned in and said softly:
“Most women in South Africa are told it’s just BV… but that’s not the full picture.”
“What’s really happening is bacterial imbalance — and most treatments only focus on killing bacteria, not restoring balance.”
She pulled her chair closer in that quiet consulting room moment…
“Let me explain it simply.”
She drew three circles.
First: Your protective Lactobacillus — the good bacteria your body relies on — gets wiped out by antibiotics.
Second: Harmful bacteria like Gardnerella move in quickly, taking over the space.
Third: Your vaginal pH shifts from a healthy ~4.0 to 6.0+, creating the perfect environment for ongoing issues.
And this is where it gets worse… the environment becomes unbalanced — leading to that recurring smell, unusual discharge, and irritation.
I paused and asked, “So the antibiotics are actually making it come back?”