Used By Medical Experts
Dr. Philip Hay's experience of balance activ vaginal gel
I have been a Consultant of Genito-Urinary Medicine at St
George’s Healthcare Trust for over 15 years. I have a specialist
interest in Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), am a member of the British
Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), and draft the
National Guidelines for the Management of BV. These are the
guidelines that are used in GUM Clinics across the UK used to
diagnose, treat and manage BV.
We regularly see new cases of BV in clinic. Many of these
women visiting the clinic for the first time with concerns about
their symptoms are generally unaware of the condition. I also hold
a weekly clinic for women with recurrent BV; these women can have
recurrences every month.
Antibiotics are the most common treatment used for BV, but
it’s not uncommon to see women again at a later date as their
symptoms have returned. Unfortunately the antibiotics prescribed to
treat BV have side-effects, which many of my patients find
unpleasant. Aside from this they, quite rightly, aren’t keen on
repeatedly taking antibiotics and would welcome an alternative
treatment.
I have tried alternative treatment methods, such as acetic
acid preparations such as Aci-Jel; these work by normalising pH. I
have never been truly satisfied with their effectiveness though,
particularly against recurrent BV, and often find myself
prescribing antibiotics again.
Balance activ vaginal gel
appealed to me as the active ingredients offer more than the
previous alternatives I have tried, and there is published clinical
evidence that show that the product is as effective as antibiotics.
I started using the product in my clinic in Spring 2007 and it has
made a huge difference, as an alternative to antibiotics for women
with recurrent BV.
I have used balance activ
vaginal gel both to treat and prevent BV. To treat BV I recommend
one pack of balance activ vaginal gel
is used (apply at bedtime for 7 days). For recurrent BV I recommend
they use 3 tubes around the time they expect recurrence to occur -
this is usually with their period. It seems to work best if started
the day before the period is due. If they are patients in my
recurrent clinic I recommend that the patient continues to use
balance activ vaginal gel to prevent
further recurrences and maintain a healthy vaginal environment. To
date, the use of balance activ
vaginal gel in my recurrent clinic has had a really positive
effect; the majority of my patients are really pleased with the
results.
Another great thing about lactic acid gels is that, unlike
antibiotics, it mimic’s the bodies natural defence mechanism so
it’s safe for women to use as often as they like, as it doesn’t
cause any side effects.
I would recommend women who suffer from BV try balance activ vaginal gel – It offers a much
needed alternative to antibiotics for the treatment and prevention
of the condition.
Dr Philip Hay
Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine,
St George's Healthcare Trust
I have worked as a registered nurse in GU medicine for 10
years. BV is a common reason for women to visit the clinic; in fact
I see it in around half of the female patients I see a
week.
Many of my patients suffer with BV recurrently; commonly
after their periods or after sex, but lots of my patients don’t
notice any particular trigger for it to return.
I’ve tried lots of ways to treat the condition; antibiotics
are the most common treatment and work well, but many of my
patients have returned within a couple of months as BV has returned
yet again. Plus an antibiotic won’t prevent recurrence.
Balance activ offers
everything I need to give a patient to manage her condition. It’s
not an antibiotic but is just as effective in treating BV, and its’
safe for a woman to use as often as she likes. I’ve found in our
chronic BV clinic that most women are using it just before their
period or after sex to prevent recurrence. For the women who
haven’t worked out their trigger, they can use it as soon as they
notice their symptoms returning, some just for one day, and it
keep’s it at bay.
It’s really easy to use, and it’s great that it’s available
for women to buy rather than having to have a prescription. It
means that they can take it away on holiday with them - we get
requests for prescriptions prior to women taking a holiday ‘just in
case’.
Most of my patients love it – in fact, one patient recently
referred to it as her miracle cure!! It’s great for me too - now I
don’t see the same faces in clinic month after month, I’ve finally
been able to help them.
Ade RGN,
London