Balance Activ vaginal gel, launched by BBI Healthcare in September 2008, is a newcomer to the feminine creams market.

It provides women with an alternative to antibiotics for treating and preventing the vaginal infection bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Balance Activ RX has more recently been launched to enable doctors to prescribe an alternative to antibiotics.

Brand manager Mellanie Tymm says sales of Balance Activ in the first year have exceeded expectations. TV and women’s press campaigns in 2009, which will be continuing throughout 2010, have been driving women in to the pharmacy to buy the product.

BV is often confused with thrush but is twice as common, with an estimated one in three women developing the condition at some point in their lives.

Ms Tymm says pharmacists are in a key position to sensitively discuss BV with women: “Some proactive pharmacists use shelf talkers to help explain the differences between thrush and BV, aiming to help customers self-diagnose at the

point of purchase.” Celebrity GP Dr Dawn Harper has endorsed the product and features on the consumer website www.regainyourbalance.com, which provides information about BV.

A Pharmacy Guide to Common Vaginal Infections can be downloaded at www.balanceactiv.com 

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