Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow to UseSide Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
How to Use
Side Effects
Boric acid suppositories are a cost-effective alternative treatment method that may be used to treat vaginal infections, such asyeast infectionsorbacterial vaginosis.
This article discusses what boric acid suppositories may be used to treat. It will also cover the benefits and risks associated with using them.
Boric acid suppositories are not FDA-approved.It’s important to speak with your healthcare provider before using them to treat any vaginal infection.
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What Does Normal Vaginal Discharge Look Like?
Benefits of Boric Acid Suppositories
Boric acid may help improve vaginal health and has been shown to have anti-microbial and anti-fungal activity.
Research suggests that when used appropriately, boric acid suppositories can help reduce the risk of recurrent infections. At times, boric acid suppositories work more effectively than traditional medications, like some antifungals, which are used for treating yeast infections.
Boric acid may be recommended in some cases for:
Boric Acid for Yeast Infections
A review of studies found that:
A healthy vagina is naturally acidic which reduces the growth of many pathogens, like those commonly associated withsexually transmitted infections. When the pH is disrupted, you may be more prone to vaginal infections and irritation.
How Vaginal Yeast Infection Is Treated
Boric Acid for Trichomoniasis
That said, laboratory-based studies have shown that boric acid can effectively inhibit the growth of trichomonas. This supports the idea that boric acid may be an appropriate treatment option for this condition.
Trichomonas has difficulty growing in acidic environments in lab settings, and infections have been shown to occur more frequently in people who have a higher than healthy vaginal pH. If your infection has been difficult to treat, it may be worth discussing boric acid suppositories with your healthcare provider.
Just be aware that sexual partners need to be treated for trichomoniasis as well, and you should avoid sex or at least use condoms until treatment has been successful. Otherwise, there is a risk that you could pass an infection back and forth.
How Trichomoniasis Is Treated
Boric Acid for Bacterial Vaginosis
There is little evidence for the use of boric acid to treatbacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance in the vaginal flora. However, small studies suggest that it can be an effective treatment when used alone or as an adjunct therapy.
In a study, about 77% of participants reported feeling satisfied with how their symptoms resolved, however, the average treatment time was a little over a year.
BV is not generally thought of as a sexually transmitted infection. However, it and other forms of non-infectious vaginitis (such as yeast vaginitis) may still be associated with sexual activity.
What Is Bacterial Vaginosis?
How to Use Boric Acid Suppositories
Before you use a boric acid suppository, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly. Use an applicator or your finger to insert one suppository into your vagina in the evening. Consider wearing a panty liner or washable period underwear, as there may be discharge.
Typical treatment for a yeast infection involves inserting one suppository daily for 10 to 14 days. Forrecurring yeast infections, daily use for 21 days may be called for.
How long you should use boric acid suppositories can vary and should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
Side Effects and Risks
Using boric acid suppositories can come with risks. Always tell your healthcare provider about other medications and supplements you are taking, as these could interact with the suppository. Never take boric acid suppositories orally, and don’t use them if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant.
Side effects and risks associated with boric acid suppositories may include:
A Word From Verywell
Alternative remedies range in quality. Some are heavily researched, well understood, and known to be effective. Others have no evidence behind them, just a lot of marketing dollars.
The quality of the evidence for the use of boric acid in vaginal health is moderate. There have been a number of human studies and in vitro studies showing its effectiveness.
The evidence has not always been consistent, but it is strong enough to suggest that boric acid treatment may be a safe, reasonable option for treating some vaginal health problems. In particular, it may be worth consulting with your healthcare provider about trying boric acid suppositories when standard yeast, BV, and trichomoniasis treatments have failed.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zeron Mullins M, Trouton KM.BASIC study: is intravaginal boric acid non-inferior to metronidazole in symptomatic bacterial vaginosis? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:315. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0852-5University of Maryland, Baltimore.Boric acid: summary report.Gavilanes-Martínez MA, Coral-Garzón A, Cáceres DH, García AM.Antifungal activity of boric acid, triclosan and zinc oxide against different clinically relevant Candida species.Mycoses. 2021;64(9):1045-1052. doi:10.1111/myc.13302ScienceDirect.Boric acid.Iavazzo C, Gkegkes ID, Zarkada IM, Falagas ME.Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Aug;20(8):1245-55. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2708Mendling W.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072), S2k (excluding chronic mucocutaneous candidosis).Mycoses. 2015;58:1-15. doi:10.1111/myc.12292Brittingham A, Wilson WA.The antimicrobial effect of boric acid on Trichomonas vaginalis.Sex Transm Dis. 2014;41(12):718-722. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000203Reichman O, Akins R, Sobel JD.Boric acid addition to suppressive antimicrobial therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis.2009;36(11):732-734. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181b08456Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians' use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians’ use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Farr A, Effendy I, Frey Tirri B, et al.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072, level S2k).Mycoses. 2021;64(6):583-602. doi:10.1111/myc.13248
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zeron Mullins M, Trouton KM.BASIC study: is intravaginal boric acid non-inferior to metronidazole in symptomatic bacterial vaginosis? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:315. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0852-5University of Maryland, Baltimore.Boric acid: summary report.Gavilanes-Martínez MA, Coral-Garzón A, Cáceres DH, García AM.Antifungal activity of boric acid, triclosan and zinc oxide against different clinically relevant Candida species.Mycoses. 2021;64(9):1045-1052. doi:10.1111/myc.13302ScienceDirect.Boric acid.Iavazzo C, Gkegkes ID, Zarkada IM, Falagas ME.Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Aug;20(8):1245-55. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2708Mendling W.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072), S2k (excluding chronic mucocutaneous candidosis).Mycoses. 2015;58:1-15. doi:10.1111/myc.12292Brittingham A, Wilson WA.The antimicrobial effect of boric acid on Trichomonas vaginalis.Sex Transm Dis. 2014;41(12):718-722. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000203Reichman O, Akins R, Sobel JD.Boric acid addition to suppressive antimicrobial therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis.2009;36(11):732-734. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181b08456Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians' use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians’ use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Farr A, Effendy I, Frey Tirri B, et al.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072, level S2k).Mycoses. 2021;64(6):583-602. doi:10.1111/myc.13248
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Zeron Mullins M, Trouton KM.BASIC study: is intravaginal boric acid non-inferior to metronidazole in symptomatic bacterial vaginosis? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:315. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0852-5University of Maryland, Baltimore.Boric acid: summary report.Gavilanes-Martínez MA, Coral-Garzón A, Cáceres DH, García AM.Antifungal activity of boric acid, triclosan and zinc oxide against different clinically relevant Candida species.Mycoses. 2021;64(9):1045-1052. doi:10.1111/myc.13302ScienceDirect.Boric acid.Iavazzo C, Gkegkes ID, Zarkada IM, Falagas ME.Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Aug;20(8):1245-55. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2708Mendling W.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072), S2k (excluding chronic mucocutaneous candidosis).Mycoses. 2015;58:1-15. doi:10.1111/myc.12292Brittingham A, Wilson WA.The antimicrobial effect of boric acid on Trichomonas vaginalis.Sex Transm Dis. 2014;41(12):718-722. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000203Reichman O, Akins R, Sobel JD.Boric acid addition to suppressive antimicrobial therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis.2009;36(11):732-734. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181b08456Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians' use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians’ use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063Farr A, Effendy I, Frey Tirri B, et al.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072, level S2k).Mycoses. 2021;64(6):583-602. doi:10.1111/myc.13248
Zeron Mullins M, Trouton KM.BASIC study: is intravaginal boric acid non-inferior to metronidazole in symptomatic bacterial vaginosis? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:315. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0852-5
University of Maryland, Baltimore.Boric acid: summary report.
Gavilanes-Martínez MA, Coral-Garzón A, Cáceres DH, García AM.Antifungal activity of boric acid, triclosan and zinc oxide against different clinically relevant Candida species.Mycoses. 2021;64(9):1045-1052. doi:10.1111/myc.13302
ScienceDirect.Boric acid.
Iavazzo C, Gkegkes ID, Zarkada IM, Falagas ME.Boric acid for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: the clinical evidence.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011 Aug;20(8):1245-55. doi:10.1089/jwh.2010.2708
Mendling W.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072), S2k (excluding chronic mucocutaneous candidosis).Mycoses. 2015;58:1-15. doi:10.1111/myc.12292
Brittingham A, Wilson WA.The antimicrobial effect of boric acid on Trichomonas vaginalis.Sex Transm Dis. 2014;41(12):718-722. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000203
Reichman O, Akins R, Sobel JD.Boric acid addition to suppressive antimicrobial therapy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis.2009;36(11):732-734. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3181b08456
Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians' use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063
Powell A, Ghanem KG, Rogers L, et al.Clinicians’ use of intravaginal boric acid maintenance therapy for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis.Sex Transm Dis. 2019;46(12):810-812. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001063
Farr A, Effendy I, Frey Tirri B, et al.Guideline: vulvovaginal candidosis (AWMF 015/072, level S2k).Mycoses. 2021;64(6):583-602. doi:10.1111/myc.13248
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