Canesbalance Bacterial Vaginosis Vaginal Gel 7 x 5ml

Canesbalance BV Vaginal Gel – 7 pre-filled applicators. A 7-day treatment for the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis: unusual odour, discharge and discomfort.

  • Lactic acid restores the vagina’s natural pH
  • Glycogen feeds the good bacteria to help prevent recurrence
  • Relieves the unpleasant odour from the first application
  • 7-day course, no prescription needed, not an antibiotic
  • Discreetly dispatched by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy

£14.99

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Canesbalance Bacterial Vaginosis Vaginal Gel is a 7-day treatment for the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis — the unusual fishy odour, the thin grey or white discharge, and the discomfort that comes with it. It contains lactic acid and glycogen, and works by restoring the vagina’s natural acidity rather than by killing bacteria with an antibiotic.

What is bacterial vaginosis?

BV is the commonest cause of unusual vaginal discharge in women of reproductive age. A healthy vagina is acidic — around pH 4.5 or below — which is maintained by lactobacilli, the “good” bacteria. When those lactobacilli are outnumbered by anaerobic bacteria, the pH rises and BV develops. It is not an infection you catch, and it is not a sexually transmitted infection, though it is more common in people who are sexually active and can be triggered by new partners, semen (which is alkaline), douching, perfumed washes and even some detergents.

BV or thrush? They need different treatments

This is the mistake that costs people weeks. The two feel similar and are constantly confused, but:

  • BV — thin, watery, grey or white discharge with a fishy smell, often stronger after sex. Usually little or no itching.
  • Thrush — thick, white, “cottage cheese” discharge with intense itching and soreness, and typically no odour.

An antifungal like Canesten thrush pessary treats candida and will do nothing for BV, because BV is not a fungal problem. If your main symptom is odour, you need a BV treatment such as this one. If it is itch, see our Canesten thrush range. If you have both at once, they can be treated together — ask our pharmacist.

How Canesbalance works

The gel combines a postbiotic (lactic acid) and a prebiotic (glycogen). The lactic acid lowers the vaginal pH straight back into its normal acidic range, which is hostile to the anaerobic bacteria driving BV and relieves the odour quickly. The glycogen is what lactobacilli feed on, so it supports the good bacteria re-establishing themselves — which is what stops it coming straight back.

It is a medical device, not a medicine: it works by physically restoring the vaginal environment rather than by pharmacological action. That also means it does not carry the metallic taste, nausea or alcohol restriction that comes with metronidazole, the prescription antibiotic used for BV.

How to use it

  • Use one pre-filled applicator each day for 7 consecutive days. The pack contains 7 x 5ml applicators — a complete course.
  • Use it at bedtime. Lying down afterwards keeps the gel where it needs to be.
  • Insert the applicator gently into the vagina as far as is comfortable, then squeeze to release the gel.
  • Complete all 7 days even if the odour clears after two or three — stopping early is a common cause of recurrence.
  • A panty liner is useful, as some leakage is normal.

How quickly does it work?

The manufacturer states it begins relieving the odour immediately, and in practice most people notice a clear difference in the first day or two. The discharge usually settles over the course of the week. What takes longer is the underlying rebalancing — which is exactly why the full 7 days matters.

When to see a doctor instead

Speak to your GP or a sexual health clinic rather than self-treating if:

  • This is your first episode and you have not had BV diagnosed before
  • You are pregnant or think you might be — BV in pregnancy needs proper assessment
  • You have pelvic or lower abdominal pain, a fever, or bleeding between periods or after sex
  • You have any chance of a sexually transmitted infection — BV treatment will not touch chlamydia or gonorrhoea
  • The symptoms have not settled after a full 7-day course, or BV keeps returning

Gel or pessaries?

Canesbalance comes in two formats with the same active ingredients and the same 7-day course. This gel uses pre-filled applicators; the Canesbalance BV pessaries are inserted with a finger, with no applicator to dispose of. Choose whichever you would rather use — there is no difference in how well they work. See the full women’s intimate health range.

Buy Canesbalance online

Bury Healthcare Online is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration 1126145). Orders are checked and dispatched discreetly by our pharmacy team, and our pharmacist can help you work out whether your symptoms point to BV or thrush before you buy.

Always read the instructions for use before use. If symptoms persist or recur, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.

Canesbalance BV Gel FAQs

Can you buy BV treatment over the counter?
Yes. Canesbalance is available without a prescription and treats the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis over a 7-day course by restoring the vagina’s natural acidity. The prescription alternative is an antibiotic, usually metronidazole, which needs a GP or sexual health clinic. See a doctor rather than self-treating if this is your first episode, you are pregnant, or symptoms do not settle.
What is the difference between BV and thrush?
BV produces a thin, grey or white discharge with a fishy smell, often stronger after sex, and usually little itching. Thrush produces a thick white discharge with intense itching and soreness, and typically no odour. They are caused by different things – BV by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, thrush by candida – so an antifungal will not treat BV and a BV treatment will not treat thrush.
How does Canesbalance work?
It combines lactic acid, a postbiotic, with glycogen, a prebiotic. The lactic acid restores the vagina’s natural acidic pH, which relieves the odour and makes the environment hostile to the bacteria causing BV. The glycogen feeds the lactobacilli – the good bacteria – helping them re-establish, which is what reduces the chance of it returning.
How quickly does Canesbalance work?
It starts to relieve the unpleasant odour straight away, and most people notice a clear difference within a day or two. The discharge usually settles over the week. Complete all 7 applicators even if symptoms improve early, or BV is more likely to come back.
Is Canesbalance an antibiotic?
No. It is a medical device that works by restoring the vaginal pH, not by killing bacteria pharmacologically. That means none of the side effects associated with metronidazole – the metallic taste, nausea, and the need to avoid alcohol.
Can I use it during my period?
It is best to complete the course outside your period, as menstrual flow will wash the gel out and reduce how well it works. If your period starts mid-course, speak to your pharmacist about the best way to continue.
Can I use Canesbalance in pregnancy?
BV during pregnancy should be assessed by a doctor or midwife rather than self-treated, because it is associated with pregnancy complications and needs proper diagnosis. Speak to them first.
Is bacterial vaginosis a sexually transmitted infection?
No. BV is an imbalance of the bacteria that naturally live in the vagina, not an infection passed from person to person. It is more common in people who are sexually active, and semen being alkaline can trigger it, but it is not an STI and male partners do not need treating.
Why does my BV keep coming back?
Recurrence is common, because the underlying imbalance is easy to re-trigger. Avoid douching, perfumed washes, bubble baths and scented products, wash with water only, and complete the full course each time. If BV returns repeatedly, see your GP or a sexual health clinic – recurrent BV has treatment options that need a prescriber.
What should I do if the odour has not gone after 7 days?
Do not simply repeat the course. Speak to your pharmacist or GP – persistent symptoms need reassessment, both to confirm it is BV and to rule out a sexually transmitted infection, which a BV treatment will not affect.

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