Dalacin 2% Cream for BV: How It Works and How to Use It
The seven-night clindamycin course, step-by-step application, and the cautions that matter most.
Part of the Bacterial Vaginosis condition guide.
Key fact: Dalacin is the one first-line BV treatment with no alcohol restriction — but it weakens latex condoms and diaphragms for up to five days after the final application.
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Access Doctor provides Dalacin 2% cream following a GPhC-regulated online consultation with our pharmacist independent prescribers.
Order Dalacin 2% Cream →What Dalacin 2% cream is
Dalacin 2% cream is a vaginal cream containing clindamycin, a lincosamide antibiotic. It is licensed for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and is supplied with single-use applicators. A course is seven nights.
It is prescription-only in the UK, as are all antibiotic treatments for BV. If you want the wider background on what BV is and why it happens, that is covered on the bacterial vaginosis condition page.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Clindamycin 2% (as clindamycin phosphate) |
| Form | Vaginal cream with single-use applicators |
| Course | One applicator at bedtime for 7 consecutive nights |
| Alcohol restriction | None |
| Affects latex | Yes — during the course and for 5 days after |
| Availability | Prescription only |
How it works on BV
BV occurs when the anaerobic bacteria that normally live in small numbers in the vagina overgrow, displacing the protective lactobacilli that keep vaginal pH low. Clindamycin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, which stops those anaerobes multiplying and allows the normal balance to re-establish.
Because it is applied directly to the vagina, very little clindamycin reaches the bloodstream. That is why it produces far fewer whole-body side effects than an oral antibiotic while achieving comparable cure rates — typically quoted in the region of 70 to 80% for a first episode.
7 nights
Length of a standard Dalacin course
2–3 days
Before most women notice clear improvement
5 days
After the last dose that latex remains affected
How to use it, step by step
Use one applicator at bedtime for seven consecutive nights. Applying at night matters: lying down afterwards keeps the cream in place, and most leakage then happens in the morning rather than during the day.
1
Fill the applicator
Wash your hands. Remove the cap from the tube and screw an applicator onto the threaded end. Squeeze the tube gently until the applicator is filled and the plunger has been pushed out as far as it will go. Unscrew the applicator and replace the tube cap.
2
Get into position
Lie on your back with your knees bent and drawn up towards your chest. Some women find it easier standing with one foot raised on a chair or the edge of the bath. Either is fine — comfort matters more than the exact position.
3
Insert and release the cream
Holding the barrel, gently insert the applicator into the vagina as far as it will go comfortably. Slowly press the plunger all the way in to release the cream, then withdraw the applicator.
4
Dispose and repeat nightly
Throw the used applicator away — they are single-use and must not be washed and reused. Wash your hands. Repeat every night until all seven doses are complete, even if symptoms have gone.
- A panty liner overnight handles the leakage most women notice the following morning. Tampons must not be used, as they absorb the cream.
- If you miss a night, apply it as soon as you remember and continue the course — do not double up.
- Complete all seven applications even if symptoms resolve by day three. Stopping early makes early recurrence more likely.
- Store at room temperature and keep the tube capped between uses.
Latex, periods and bowel conditions
Three cautions apply specifically to Dalacin and are the things most worth knowing before you start.
Latex condoms and diaphragms. Dalacin cream damages latex and can cause condoms and diaphragms to fail. Do not rely on them for contraception or for protection against sexually transmitted infections during the seven-night course or for five days after the final application. Use a non-latex alternative or another method for that period.
During your period
Dalacin can be used during menstruation, but menstrual flow may wash the cream out and reduce how well it works. Because tampons must be avoided during the course, many women find it simpler to time the course to avoid a period where that is possible. If your period starts mid-course, continue rather than stopping, and mention it if symptoms have not settled by the end.
Inflammatory bowel disease and previous colitis
Clindamycin is associated with antibiotic-associated colitis, including Clostridioides difficile infection. The risk with vaginal cream is much lower than with oral clindamycin because absorption is minimal, but it is not zero.
Tell your prescriber before ordering if you have Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, any other inflammatory bowel condition, or have previously had colitis after taking an antibiotic. Stop the cream and seek medical advice if you develop severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea during or after the course.
Sex during the course
There is no absolute requirement to avoid sex, but it is generally advised. Sex can reduce how much cream stays in place, and the latex issue means barrier protection cannot be relied upon. Given the course is only seven nights, waiting is usually the simpler option.
Side effects
Most women tolerate Dalacin well. Because so little is absorbed, the systemic effects associated with oral antibiotics are uncommon.
Common and usually mild
Local irritation or itching, a change in vaginal discharge, and mild vulval discomfort. These typically settle as the course progresses.
Less common
Thrush developing during or after the course, headache, dizziness, mild abdominal discomfort or nausea.
Stop and seek advice
Severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea, significant abdominal pain, or a rash and swelling suggesting an allergic reaction.
Not features of BV
Pelvic pain, fever, pain during sex or bleeding between periods need assessment regardless of treatment.
Thrush after a course is common enough to be worth expecting rather than worrying about. Our guide to how long BV takes to clear up covers what post-treatment thrush looks like and how it differs from BV returning.
Alternatives to Dalacin
If Dalacin is not suitable — because of a clindamycin allergy, a bowel condition, or because you rely on latex barrier contraception — two alternatives are available on prescription.
| Dalacin 2% cream | Zidoval gel | Metronidazole tablets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotic | Clindamycin | Metronidazole | Metronidazole |
| Course | 7 nights | 5 nights | 5–7 days, twice daily |
| Alcohol restriction | None | Yes | Yes |
| Affects latex | Yes | No | No |
| Main drawback | Latex and colitis caution | Alcohol restriction | Nausea, metallic taste, alcohol restriction |
A fuller comparison, including a decision table matching circumstances to options, is in BV treatment options compared. Pharmacy products such as lactic acid gels are covered honestly in BV gels compared: prescription vs OTC — they are not equivalent to a prescription course.
Order Dalacin 2% Cream for BV Relief
Complete a short online consultation and, if suitable, our GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescribers can supply Dalacin with discreet delivery.
Order Dalacin 2% Cream →Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use Dalacin 2% cream for BV?
Fill the applicator with cream from the tube, lie on your back with your knees bent, insert the applicator into the vagina as far as is comfortable and press the plunger fully. Use one applicator at bedtime for seven consecutive nights, and discard each applicator after use.
Can you use Dalacin cream with condoms?
No. Dalacin cream weakens latex and can cause condoms and diaphragms to fail. Do not rely on them for contraception or protection during the seven-night course or for five days after the final application, and use an alternative method for that period.
Can you use Dalacin cream during your period?
It can be used during a period, but menstrual flow may wash the cream out and reduce how well it works. Tampons should not be used during the course because they absorb the cream. Where a period is due, it is often simpler to time the course to avoid it.
Does Dalacin cream have an alcohol restriction?
No. Clindamycin has no interaction with alcohol, which is one of the main reasons Dalacin is chosen over metronidazole preparations. You can drink normally during and after the course.
How long does Dalacin take to work for BV?
Most women notice a clear improvement within two to three days, with odour usually the first symptom to settle. The full seven-night course should still be completed even if symptoms have gone by day three.
Who should not use Dalacin cream?
It should not be used by anyone allergic to clindamycin or lincomycin. It needs caution in people with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, or a history of antibiotic-associated colitis. Tell your prescriber if any of these apply.
What are the alternatives to Dalacin cream for BV?
The alternatives are oral metronidazole 400mg twice daily for five to seven days, or Zidoval metronidazole 0.75% vaginal gel nightly for five nights. Both are metronidazole preparations and so carry an alcohol restriction that Dalacin does not, but neither affects latex.
Completing the treatment
Dalacin 2% cream is available from Access Doctor following an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber. Tell us about any bowel condition, previous antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and your contraception in the consultation — those determine whether Dalacin is the right choice for you.
Bacterial vaginosis · Rx
Dalacin 2% Cream
Clindamycin vaginal cream, a seven-night course with no alcohol restriction.
View product →Bacterial vaginosis · Rx
Zidoval Vaginal Gel
Metronidazole 0.75% gel applied nightly for five nights — latex-safe.
View product →Bacterial vaginosis · Rx
Metronidazole 400mg Tablets
First-line oral antibiotic for BV, taken twice daily for five to seven days.
View product →Self-test · Pharmacy
Canestest Self-Test
Checks vaginal pH at home to help distinguish BV from thrush before you treat.
View product →References
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Dalacin 2% Cream — Summary of Product Characteristics. medicines.org.uk
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Bacterial vaginosis. 2025. cks.nice.org.uk
- British National Formulary. Clindamycin. bnf.nice.org.uk
- NHS. Bacterial vaginosis. nhs.uk
- British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. National guideline for the management of vaginal discharge. bashh.org
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.