The strengths of NeuEve products for clearing AV bacteria are:
AV-NIL > BV Finisher > BV Clear > Gold > Silver > Silk > Balm.
Thus, for clearing AV-causing bacteria, AV NIL is the best.
Unlike BV which is caused by anaerobic bacteria, AV is caused by aerobic bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria are like fish, which cannot grow in the air. Aerobic bacteria are like land animals, which need air to grow but cannot grow in water.
A healthy vagina is filled with moist secretion, like a pond that is air free. Aerobic bacteria cannot grow and there is no AV.
However, when the vaginal environment is dried and atrophied, it may allow air to enter, and aerobic bacteria may grow up to cause AV.
A health condition that causes vaginal dryness (lack of moisture) and atrophy (lack of seal) may increase air (oxygen) and promote AV, but a condition that increases moisture and reverses atrophy may reduce air and inhibits AV.
The strengths of NeuEve products for increasing moisture and reversing atrophy are:
Gold > Silver > Silk > Balm.
Thus, for eliminating air, which in turn suppresses AV-causing bacteria, Gold is the best.
Using Gold to reverse atrophy and ease dryness is like filling water into a pond. Land animals cannot grow in the pond when it is filled with water. On the other hand, fish (good Lactobacillus bacteria) may come back to the water-filled pond.
However, there is a delayed effect suppressing AV by eliminating air. For example, when you fill a dried pound with water, most land animals may die or escape. But some land animals can swim (like facultative bacteria). They can survive in water for a while and are not killed right away.
Before we had AV NIL, NeuEve Gold was used to clear AV. It cleared some mild cases but took a longer time. It took 2-3 months of continued application to clear it.
Therefore, our current recommendation is to use AV NIL to clear AV first. Then, use NeuEve Gold for maintenance to stop AV from coming back. After the vaginal environment has increased moisture and reversed atrophy, its air will be eliminated and aerobic bacteria will not grow back.
Thus, for maintenance to stop AV from coming back after AV is cleared, Gold is the best for women aged 40 - 50 or in the peri- postmenopausal age.
Then, why do we recommend women under 40 use BV Clear for maintenance?
Younger women before peri-menopause often do not have vaginal atrophy or dryness. Their AV might be caused by temporary vaginal dryness without actual atrophy. There is no need to deliver nutrients to these women. It would be more productive to use a stronger product like BV Clear for maintenance to stop AV from coming back. BV Clear can boost the resistance of the vagina against infections for healthy young women.
However, if women under 40 have health conditions that may cause true vaginal dryness and atrophy, they should use NeuEve Gold for maintenance after AV clearance.
These conditions include:
- breastfeeding
- oral birth control pills
- hormonal IUD
- hysterectomy
- cancer therapy
- lichen sclerosus
- Sjogren's syndrome
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- endometriosis
- medications like antidepressants, antihypertensives, and/or antiallergics that cause dryness
NeuEve Gold provides nutrients that not only nourish the atrophied tissue but also selectively feed good bacteria. If you use NeuEve Gold for maintenance, it will assure that only good bacteria, not bad bacteria will grow back. When friendly lactobacillus bacteria come back, you will regain health and your AV will be gone without coming back.
Gold is suitable for women aged 40-50 with mild or marginal vaginal atrophy. If you are 50-55, you may start with Silver for 1-2 months of maintenance and then move up to Gold. But if you are over 55, you may start with Silk and then move up to Silver and ultimately to Gold depending on your age.
How Many Months Do I Stay at a Silk?
To understand the differences between BV Clear and NeuEve Gold, you may find this article helpful:
What is the difference between BV Clear and NeuEve Gold?
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is about natural products, nutrients, and/or methods for managing discomforts associated with vaginal dysbiosis (not a true infection or disease). It is not medical advice for the treatment of any disease.