How to Insert Boric Acid

Women visit their gynecologist more than 10 million times each year due to problems with vaginitis. Bacterial vaginosis -- an infection whose symptoms include a fishy-smelling discharge and itching -- causes about 40 percent of vaginitis cases. Another 25 percent of cases are due to yeast infections, a condition characterized by severe itching and a discharge that looks like cottage cheese. Increasingly, women are experimenting with alternative treatments for vaginal infections, especially if they suffer from chronic cases of bacterial vaginosis and yeast. One alternative treatment that may effectively treat both infections is the inexpensive and easily accessible chemical substance, boric acid.

Things You'll Need

• Size 0 gelatin capsules
• Boric acid powder

Instructions

1. Purchase boric acid powder from a pharmacy. Buy size 0 gelatin capsules from a pharmacy or natural foods store.

2. Scoop boric acid powder into a gelatin capsule. Fill a size 0 capsule halfway to provide the recommended dosage of 600 milligrams of boric acid powder unless directions on your container of boric acid specify a different method for measuring 600 milligrams of powder.

3. Wash your hands with a mild soap and dry them thoroughly. Don't touch the capsule with wet fingers, since this may make it start to dissolve. Insert the gelatin capsule into your vagina, pushing it as far up as you can reach.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 once a day for the next 13 days to complete treatment of a bacterial vaginosis or yeast infection.

Tips & Warnings

• You can insert boric acid capsules any time during the day, but usually before bed works best. If you lie down after putting the capsule in, medication is less likely to leak out. Since you may still leak a little bit, wear a pantyliner to catch any excess medication.

• If your skin is irritated, the boric acid capsules may cause some burning and discomfort. Stop using the capsules if you experience severe pain or develop other problematic side effects.

• Prevent the recurrence of an infection by inserting a capsule twice a week for four to six months.

• Do not take boric acid orally, use it on broken skin or allow oral-to-genital contact within 24 hours after inserting a capsule, since boric acid is toxic when taken internally.

• Do not use boric acid if you are pregnant.

• Do not use spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 during treatment. You may use lubricated condoms if they don't contain a spermicide.

References

• "Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey;" Common Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Yeast Vaginitis and Bacterial Vaginosis: A Systematic Review; Katherine Van Kessel, et al.; May 2003
• FamilyDoctor.org; Vaginal Discharge: Changes That May be Signs of a Problem; August 2010
• ClinicalTrials.gov; BASIC (Boric Acid, Alternate Solution for Intravaginal Colonization) Study; September 2010
• University of Michigan Health System: Prescriptions for Vulvar Diseases
• Bowling Green State University; Boric Acid Vaginal Inserts; January 2009
• Peace Health; Boric Acid; December 2009