Balance Activ BV Pessaries 7 x 2g
Drug-free lactic acid pessaries that relieve the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV).
- 7 pessaries: one a night for 7 nights
- Restores the normal vaginal pH
- Less messy alternative to a gel
- Not suitable if you are allergic to shellfish
£10.49
Balance Activ BV pessaries are a drug-free treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Each pessary contains lactic acid and glycogen, which bring the vagina back to its normal, slightly acidic pH so the healthy bacteria can recover. They relieve the typical BV symptoms of a fishy-smelling, thin white or grey discharge. Each pack has 7 pessaries, enough for a 7-night course. No consultation or prescription is needed.
How Balance Activ pessaries work
BV happens when the balance of bacteria in the vagina changes and the pH rises. The pessaries top up the lactic acid your body normally makes, lowering the pH again, and the glycogen feeds lactobacilli, the “good” bacteria. They aren’t an antibiotic. Some people find a pessary less messy than a gel.
How to use Balance Activ pessaries
- Insert one pessary into the vagina at bedtime for 7 nights.
- Wash your hands, then lie on your back with your knees bent and push the pessary as far into the vagina as is comfortable.
- Some leakage is normal as the pessary melts. A panty liner can help.
- The leaflet in the pack explains how to use them to help stop BV coming back.
Who shouldn’t use them
- Don’t use them if you are allergic to shellfish. The glycogen comes from mussels.
- Don’t use them if the vagina is sore or irritated, or if you might have thrush.
- Don’t use them if you are trying to get pregnant.
- They aren’t a contraceptive and don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections.
The manufacturer says they can be used in pregnancy, but BV in pregnancy should always be checked by your midwife or GP first.
When to see a GP or sexual health clinic instead
Self-treatment is for people who recognise BV because they have had it diagnosed before. Speak to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic first if:
- this is the first time you have had these symptoms
- you are pregnant or think you might be
- you have pain in your lower tummy or pelvis, a fever, bleeding between periods or after sex, or sores or blisters
- you might have caught a sexually transmitted infection
- your symptoms keep coming back (for example, BV more than twice in 6 months)
Itching, soreness and a thick white discharge are more likely to be thrush, which lactic acid products don’t treat.
Compare BV gels and pessaries
| Product | Type | How it’s used | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance Activ BV gel | Lactic acid gel | 1 tube at bedtime for 7 nights | £9.99 |
| Balance Activ BV pessaries | Lactic acid pessary | 1 pessary at bedtime for 7 nights | £10.49 |
| Relactagel | Lactic acid gel | 1 tube at bedtime for 7 nights | £9.99 |
| Canesbalance BV gel | Lactic acid gel | 1 tube at bedtime for 7 nights | £14.99 |
| Canesbalance BV pessaries | Lactic acid pessary | 1 pessary at bedtime for 7 nights | £14.49 |
If BV doesn’t clear with a lactic acid product, or you would rather use an antibiotic straight away, we also offer prescription BV treatment after an online consultation: metronidazole 400mg tablets, a metronidazole 2g single dose, Zidoval gel and clindamycin cream.
Important information
Always read the instructions for use in the pack before you start. Stop using it and speak to a pharmacist if it causes ongoing burning, soreness or a rash. Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: October 2026. Information checked against the manufacturer’s product information.
Read our BV treatment guide to compare prescription and non-prescription BV treatments, and to find out more about symptoms and when to see a GP.
