How Do Boric Acid Suppositories Work?
While the vagina is generally a self-cleaning organ, many women seek additional assistance to help control odor and maintain the pH balance (level of acidity) in the vagina. Boric acid suppositories are an easy way to help manage both when things seem—or smell—a little off.
What Are Boric Acid Suppositories and How Do They Work?
Boric acid is a compound of natural elements boron, oxygen and hydrogen. When used in a suppository, boric acid can help promote vaginal odor control and pH balance.
How to use a vaginal boric acid suppository
Vaginal suppositories are relatively easy to use, especially because you can insert one at night and let it dissolve while you sleep. Before you go to bed, you just take the following steps:
- Wash and completely dry your hands.
- Insert one suppository into your vagina as far as it will comfortably go.
- Wear a panty liner overnight to catch any discharge or leakage that may occur.
It’s that easy! Our Maintain™ From the Makers of Monistat Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories can be used once a day for up to 10 days to help control odor.
Do not use more than one suppository a day and do not use more than 10 in a two-month period. If problems with odor continue, contact your doctor.
If your doctor advised you to use boric acid suppositories, follow the directions they give you.
Benefits of using boric acid suppositories
If you’re considering using boric acid suppositories, know that benefits include:
- Easy to use
- Non-irritating for most people
- May help promote a healthy balance of bacteria and low pH ideal for the vagina
- Help reduce and control odor
Note that Maintain™ Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories only have two ingredients—the boric acid and the vegetable-based capsule that contains it.
Also know that it’s normal to have watery discharge when using vaginal suppositories. This is not typically a sign that something is wrong. But there are some side effects and cautions of which to be aware, similar to other types of suppositories.
Maintain™ with Boric Acid
Learn more about Maintain™ products with boric acid.
Cautions when using boric acid suppositories
While boric acid is generally safe and gentle to use in the vagina, some people may experience irritation, burning or redness. Stop using and call your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.
Some other important cautions to be aware of:
- Keep suppositories out of the reach of children to prevent accidental swallowing. Boric acid suppositories are highly toxic if swallowed. They are only meant to go in the vagina.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Do not use for birth control or to treat a sexually transmitted infection. Boric acid suppositories are not designed to be effective for these uses.
- Do not use on or near broken skin such as minor scrapes, wounds or scratches near or in the vagina.
- Do not have vaginal intercourse or oral sex while using boric acid suppositories because your partner could experience skin irritation and boric acid is toxic if consumed by mouth.
- Boric acid may damage condoms or diaphragms and decrease the effect of spermicides, causing them to not work properly.
- Use of tampons while using boric acid supplements is not recommended.
- If you have pelvic inflammatory disease, a sexually transmitted disease or infection, or sensitivity in your lower pelvis or abdomen, talk to your doctor before using.
Boric Acid Suppositories from the Makers of Monistat
Always read the labels and ingredients list of any vaginal suppositories you use. We keep our boric acid suppositories simple because we know how important gentle odor-relief options can be. In addition to only having two ingredients, as listed earlier, our gynecologist-tested boric acid suppositories are fragrance-free and contain no synthetic dyes or preservatives.