Canestest Self-Test for Vaginal Infections
From £11.99
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If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Get treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) online from a UK pharmacy. Complete a short consultation, with no GP appointment needed, and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber will check whether your symptoms sound like BV and whether treatment is suitable. If it is, the usual first choice is a 7-day course of metronidazole tablets.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of unusual vaginal discharge. It happens when the normal balance of bacteria in the vagina changes. It isn’t a sexually transmitted infection, and it’s easily treated with antibiotics.
The typical sign of BV is a thin, white or grey discharge with a strong fishy smell, which is often more noticeable after sex. BV doesn’t usually cause itching or soreness. If those are your main symptoms, thrush is more likely, and our guide to BV vs thrush explains how to tell them apart. Half of women with BV have no symptoms at all. BV without symptoms doesn’t usually need treatment.
UK guidance recommends an antibiotic for BV that’s causing symptoms. The usual first choice is metronidazole, taken as tablets twice a day for 7 days. Metronidazole gel (Zidoval) and clindamycin cream (Dalacin) are alternatives used inside the vagina. Our guide comparing BV treatment options sets out the differences. For a full explanation of symptoms and causes, see our bacterial vaginosis guide.
Every treatment is supplied after an online consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber. The price you see includes the consultation. If BV doesn’t sound like the cause of your symptoms, or you’d be better seen in person, the prescriber will tell you. We supply metronidazole 400mg tablets as the full 7-day course.
| Treatment | Form | Duration | Suitable for | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metronidazole 400mg (usual first choice, NICE) | Tablets, twice a day | 7 days | Most women with BV symptoms | £16.99 |
| Zidoval (metronidazole 0.75% gel) | Vaginal gel, at bedtime | 5 nights | Women who prefer not to take tablets | £24.99 (currently out of stock) |
| Dalacin (clindamycin 2% cream) | Vaginal cream, at bedtime | 7 nights | Women who can’t use metronidazole | £24.99 (currently out of stock) |
| Canestest self-test | Vaginal pH swab | One test | Checking whether symptoms are more likely BV or thrush | £11.99 |
Not sure if it’s BV?
Getting BV treatment through Access Doctor takes a few minutes. Here’s how it works:
Complete a short consultation about your symptoms, your health and any medicines you take.
A prescriber checks whether treatment is clinically safe and suitable for you, and tells you if you’d be better seen in person.
If approved, your treatment is dispensed by our UK pharmacy and sent in plain packaging.
Online treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Some symptoms need a test or an in-person check.
Our online BV service is for adults aged 18 and over who aren’t pregnant. It isn’t for emergencies.
You’ll be asked about your symptoms, whether you’ve had BV before, your sexual health, whether you could be pregnant or are breastfeeding, any allergies and every medicine you take. Metronidazole interacts with some medicines, including warfarin and lithium, so this matters. You’ll also need to avoid alcohol while taking it and for at least 48 hours afterwards. Our guide to how to take metronidazole covers the details.
NHS or private: You can also get BV treatment free from your GP or a sexual health clinic. Many clinics offer walk-in appointments and can test for STIs at the same visit. Choosing a private online consultation means no appointment, and treatment sent to your door.
Keeping BV away: BV often comes back. Washing with water and plain soap and avoiding perfumed washes, vaginal deodorants and douching can help. Our guide to recurrent BV explains what else helps.
Every order is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy. If you get a side effect, tell your pharmacist or doctor. You can also report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Our doctor-reviewed guides help you understand your symptoms, choose the right treatment and know what to expect.
Our full BV guide.
Read guideWhat BV discharge looks and smells like.
Read guideHow to tell them apart, and why it matters.
Read guideTablets vs gel vs cream.
Read guideDose, timing and the alcohol rule.
Read guideWhat’s normal and when to get help.
Read guideWhat to expect day by day on treatment.
Read guideWhy BV keeps coming back, and what helps.
Read guideIs it an STI, and do partners need treating?
Read guideThe risks, and why treatment comes from your GP or midwife.
Read guideWhat pH self-tests can and can’t tell you.
Read guideBrowse all our bacterial vaginosis guides.
Read guideAnswers to common questions about getting bacterial vaginosis treatment online.
Yes. Complete a short online consultation and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your answers. If treatment is suitable, it’s dispensed by our UK pharmacy and sent in plain packaging. There’s no need for a GP appointment, and completing a consultation doesn’t guarantee treatment.
UK guidance recommends an antibiotic. The usual first choice is metronidazole 400mg tablets, taken twice a day for 7 days. Metronidazole gel and clindamycin cream, used inside the vagina, work about as well and suit some people better. Our guide comparing BV treatment options explains the differences.
Many people notice the smell and discharge improving within a few days of starting metronidazole. Keep taking the full 7-day course, even once you feel better, so the infection clears properly. If your symptoms haven’t gone by the end of the course, speak to your GP or a sexual health clinic.
No. Avoid alcohol completely while you’re taking metronidazole and for at least 48 hours after your last tablet. Drinking can cause a reaction with flushing, nausea, vomiting and a fast heartbeat. Check labels too, as some mouthwashes and medicines contain alcohol.
BV usually causes a thin, white or grey discharge with a fishy smell, and not much itching. Thrush usually causes a thick, white discharge with itching and soreness, and no strong smell. The two need different treatments, so it’s worth being sure. Our guide to BV vs thrush explains more.
A male partner doesn’t need treatment, because BV isn’t classed as a sexually transmitted infection, and treating men doesn’t stop BV coming back. If your partner is a woman or has a vagina, she may also need treatment, so she should speak to her GP or a sexual health clinic.
No. Our online service doesn’t treat BV in pregnancy. BV in pregnancy should be treated, and is usually checked again afterwards, so speak to your midwife, GP or a sexual health clinic. They can prescribe treatment that’s suitable in pregnancy and arrange follow-up.
BV often returns, usually within a few months. Up to 3 in 10 women have it again within 3 months of treatment. Avoiding perfumed washes and douching can help. If you get BV more than 4 times a year, see your GP or a sexual health clinic, as longer treatment may be needed. Our guide to recurrent BV covers what helps.
Yes. Your GP or a local sexual health clinic can treat BV free of charge, and many clinics offer walk-in appointments and STI tests at the same visit. Our online service is an alternative if you’d rather not wait for an appointment.
A 7-day course of metronidazole tablets costs £16.99, including your online consultation. You’re only charged if treatment is supplied. Orders approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday, are dispatched the same day in plain packaging. Choose Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24, or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm the next working day.
Helpful reads related to this treatment area.
Answer a few questions about your symptoms, and a UK prescriber will check whether treatment is right for you. You only pay if a treatment is supplied.
