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The four-pronged approach is our most advanced treatment, with both oral and vaginal treatments. The ultimate goal is to break down pathogenic biofilms systemically (throughout your body) and in vaginal tissue, kill the liberated bacteria, and colonise with protective microbes.
There are a few moving parts to this treatment, so please don’t skip anything on this page or the individual treatment pages. The four-pronged treatment comes with extra care and important warnings.
Safety first, kids!
Just because this is the most comprehensive treatment doesn’t mean it is the best for you. If you’ve been struggling for a long time and your issues return no matter what you do, it might be cheaper and more effective to book in with one of our specialist naturopaths for personalised practitioner-only treatments that address system-wide problems, not just biofilms and vaginas.
We also recommend obtaining a comprehensive vaginal microbiome test to help you select antimicrobials.
Lactulose safety
Use of lactulose-containing treatments can cause cytolytic vaginosis (CV, or lactobacillus overgrowth syndrome), exacerbate aerobic vaginitis, or promote the growth of UTI pathogens in some people.
Caution in those with chronic UTI. Lactulose can feed some AV or UTI-causing pathogens, but not all – get a comprehensive vaginal microbiome test (Juno is a good choice) and check your bacteria with this list of bacteria that love lactulose.
Don’t overdo the probiotics and lactulose. More is not necessarily better.
Enzyme safety
There are warnings for some enzymes. Please read the full enzyme details to ensure they are safe for you to take, particularly nattokinase.
Nattokinase is not advised for anyone undergoing surgery, those with bleeding disorders, or anyone with any condition that requires fibrin (the blood-clotting agent).
Enzymes can cause digestive upset. If this happens to you, back off your dose and re-start slower. Stop if symptoms persist.
If you have a complex health history, please reconsider using biofilm enzymes or consult an experienced practitioner for guidance.
Biofilm shedding can cause uncomfortable symptoms as live bacteria are released into your system. Prepare for the unexpected, stop or reduce enzyme activity as needed, and extend your treatment accordingly. Please read everything provided and listen to your body. Get in touch if you need help.
If you experience an adverse reaction from your treatments, stop immediately, seek medical care where appropriate, and please do let us know.
A reaction may mean you are allergic to one of the ingredients or you are using an inappropriate treatment for your circumstances.
The Four-Pronged Approach
Order the Four-pronged Approach Fixer Box – everything you need!
- Biofilm Busters: Nattokinase and Biofilm Enzyme Blend
- Oral Herbal Formula (BV, AV or Ureaplasma)
- Antimicrobial portion (vaginal, choose one)
(See individual instructions for your choice, always starting at day 1)
Fluomizin, Lactulose, BV Rescue, AV Rescue, Double Whammy, BV-Prevella, BV-Uplasma Clear, Manuka Honey - Oral Probiotic: Life-Space Women’s Microflora
Optional Extras
- Add oral and/or vaginal InterFase Plus or oral NAC as an added extra (directions here: InterFase Plus vaginally and InterFase Plus orally)
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The Plan
30-day treatment schedule
Days 1 – 30 – Oral Treatments
- Nattokinase – 1 capsule twice daily, with or without food
- Biofilm enzymes – 1 capsule twice daily, one hour away from food/on an empty stomach
- Probiotic – Oral – Take 1 probiotic daily with food for 30 days
Days 1 – 14 – Oral Herbal Medicine Treatments (BV, AV, Ureaplasma)
Shake well. Take 7.5mL with a little water twice daily. One bottle will last two weeks at this dose. If this dose is too heavy, reduce to 2.5-5ml and listen to your body.
Check out the full instructions for oral blends, including safety, with a quick video showing you how to safely take herbal medicine.
Days 1 – 7 – Vaginal Treatments
(See week-by-week vaginal treatments per individual instructions – it may be up to 4 x 1 week treatments)
- Vaginal antimicrobial portion – choose your antimicrobial from the list below and start treatments as per the individual product treatment schedule.
- Probiotic – Vaginal – Use 1 probiotic vaginally the morning after a night treatment. Don’t use a probiotic vaginally if there was no treatment the previous night.
- Vaginal pH readings: Do 1 reading prior to your first vaginal treatment, then each night right before the next pessary is inserted. Record date and reading.
Antimicrobial portion instructions
Please follow the specific instructions for each antimicrobial, as they may differ in application and safety.
Most options (excluding Fluomizin) call for week-by-week vaginal applications, where you stop every seven days and take a break for a few days – or longer – to see what is happening with your symptoms and pH.
It’s easy: if you feel better, stop. If symptoms return or pH rises past 4.5, recommence treatment for another week.
Your vaginal treatments could be spaced weeks apart if, for example, symptoms and pH remained normal for 2-3 weeks after your week-long treatment, then returned. Oral treatments continue per the schedule no matter what, but vaginal treatments are spaced out as needed.
If your symptoms do not abate, there may be impediments to treatment that aren’t being addressed. Please complete our free support assessment, and we’ll help you. We want your treatment to succeed!
Individual treatment instructions
- BV Rescue
- AV Rescue
- Double Whammy
- BV-Uplasma Clear
- BV-Prevella Clear
- LactoLush Lactulose
- Fluomizin
- Manuka honey
When to start treatment
Plan the four-pronged approach ahead of time, when you have all the ingredients on hand. If you get periods, estimate when you’ll get it and plan around it.
It’s best to start treatment immediately after bleeding stops to get the most period-free treatment days. Avoid heavy bleeding days for vaginal treatments for practicality’s sake.
But I want to start now! If you simply cannot wait (we get it!), you can start anytime you like, but understand that your period creates a very different environment for the duration, and you will need to extend your treatment accordingly.
If, for example, you are due to get your period in a week, start your oral and vaginal treatments now, then start the vaginal treatments after your period as if you are starting from the beginning again.
What to expect during treatments
Oral biofilm enzymes
The enzymes break down biofilms throughout your body, which liberates the biofilm matrix along with microbes and other debris trapped in biofilms. This influx of ‘stuff’ can cause an immune response.
Anyone who has a complex health history should carefully consider using this treatment. If you deem it is appropriate for you, please start off slow and expect this treatment to produce effects. Seek the assistance of a health practitioner who understands biofilm treatments.
You may experience old infections again or a flare-up of symptoms. These effects will pass, but are a necessary part of the biofilm shedding process. It means it’s working. These effects are why we do the treatment slowly over 30 days, though for some of you this will need to be extended over another month or so due to these shedding effects.
You may not feel anything, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t working.
Listen to your body and take it easy if you need to. Remember, any funny sensations in your body will pass in a few days. Think of it like peeling the onion – layers of biofilm are shedding, and what each layer reveals is a mystery. Surprise!
Eat well, sleep well, and take care of yourself. You may feel a little off your game during this treatment, so ensure you factor in some extra rest if you need it. What exactly to expect will vary considerably between you all.
Do not continue to take any enzymes past the doses recommended. This is NOT an ongoing management strategy.
Oral herbal medicine
Oral herbs require consistent use and exert their impact in a cumulative way. Meaning, every day you use it, the effect builds and is able to create change over the two weeks. Changes can occur throughout your body, so keep a brief diary and note any changes.
The herbs have many actions per herb, for example, propolis resin is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, but is also supports wound healing, blood sugar regulation and the immune system.
There is a lot of benefit happening to other systems all at once – this is why herbal safety is so important. The herbs are powerful and not always right for every body.
The taste of liquid herbs
Some people find the taste of liquid herbal medicine, let’s be real, pretty gross, but it’s important that you find a way past this temporary distaste so you can benefit from the herbs.
Some herbs are more bitter than others, and to help counteract this, we have used glycetracts (a sweeter base than alcohol extracts) where possible; however, not all herbs are available in glycetract form.
Our herbal medicine is very powerful, so you can rest assured that the taste reflects the highest quality herbs in the world and that you are getting truly potent plant medicine tailored for the task by world-class specialist naturopaths.
Alcohol content of herbs
If the alcohol content bothers you (sensitivity, aversion, religion, addiction), dilute heavily, mix with food instead, and use 1ml and work your way up to whatever feels comfortable to you.
The alcohol content is not insignificant, which is another reason we add in as many glycetracts as we can, as they drop the alcohol levels significantly.
Vaginal treatments
You can expect that your discharge will change, so don’t worry about unusual colours or consistencies or amounts during or just after treatment.
You won’t be able to tell if the treatment has worked until you stop treatments, which is why you need to stop every seven days (except for Fluomizin).
If your symptoms become worse, for example, odour or irritation, or you feel unwell in any way, your treatment may not be appropriate for you. Talk to us. We’ll help you.
When to stop vaginal treatments
Sometimes it’s clear when your vagina is happy again, and sometimes it’s not – you may have had problems for a long time and don’t know what is normal anymore, or a new symptom may emerge.
Signs your discharge is abnormal (2-3 days post last treatment) include if it is watery, smelly, yellow or sticky, or you just know it’s not normal for you.
Taking pH readings
Take regular pH readings before, during, and after your treatments to gauge your progress. If your pH has always been 3.5-4.5, this won’t be as useful, but it’s recommended to still test.
Take regular readings as far away from vaginal treatments as possible. You are aiming for 3.5-4.5.
For our purposes, you want your vaginal pH to be between 4.0 and 4.5, as this indicates lactobacilli colonisation. Anything higher than 4.5 is indicative of vaginal dysbiosis except postmenopause (not a good indicator in an otherwise healthy vagina).
No matter pre- or post-menopause, for this treatment, we’re still aiming for 4.0-4.5 because we are deliberately increasing lactobacilli populations.
Sex and treatments
The general idea is to avoid opportunities for reinfection during and after treatments.
Successfully treating yourself and avoiding reinfection should be at the top of your list, if this is a concern for you. You can have sex, but use a barrier, be picky with your sports or use treatments that can be used with sex. Avoid semen in your vagina and any obviously or known problematic partners.
You can have bareback (no barrier method) sex when using most treatments except Fluomizin. Not all treatments are going to be nice to have sex with, so we’ll leave that with you to decide.
Contact us if you need anything!
Getting support
If you’re not getting the results you’re after, please book with a My Vagina vulvovaginal specialist practitioner for effective, personalised 100% holistic treatments. We understand what is happening to you and can help.
