Boric acid is a chemical that’s been used to treat some types of vaginal infections. It’s available in several forms, including suppositories that you place into your vagina. You may have heard that you can become very sick or potentially die from boric acid. Because of this, you may be wondering whether boric acid suppositories are actually safe to use. There have been no deaths reported from using boric acid suppositories. While boric acid can indeed be toxic when ingested orally, vaginal applications are considered to be safe. Continue reading to learn more about the safety of boric acid suppositories and more. A quick internet search may bring up some concern about the safety of boric acid suppositories. But while boric acid suppositories can cause mild side effects, no serious side effects or deaths have been reported. Is boric acid toxic?When consumed by mouth, boric acid is toxic and can potentially lead to death. Deaths due to accidental boric acid ingestion have been reported in both adults and children. A 2011 statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that ingesting about 30 grams of boric acid in a short period of time is toxic to humans and can eventually result in death. This is much more than the amount of boric acid that’s in a boric acid suppository, which is typically 600 milligrams. Because suppositories may appear similar to a pill that you take orally, there is the risk that they could be accidentally swallowed. Swallowing a boric acid suppository is dangerous, but using one as labeled for vaginal application is generally safe. Side effects of using boric acid vaginal suppositories as directed tend to be mild. They can include things like vaginal irritation or discharge. Boric acid and reproductive healthBecause boric acid suppositories are inserted into the vagina, another concern related to them has to do with their potential effect on reproductive health. Studies in animals have found that when taken orally, boric acid can affect fertility in male animals and affect a developing fetus in female animals. However, studies in humans haven’t returned the same results. A 2020 research review examined the animal studies discussed above and compared them with studies in humans who are regularly exposed to high levels of boron, the key element in boric acid, in the environment. Overall, researchers found that:
Boric acid has been used, either alone or with other medications, to treat some types of recurrent vaginal infections, such as yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. (A recurrent infection is an infection that continues to return, despite treatment.) A 2011 research review looked at 14 studies comparing boric acid with other treatments for recurrent yeast infections. The included studies were clinical trials, case series, and case studies. Researchers found that boric acid had a cure rate of 40 to 100 percent, depending on the study. Research into boric acid for bacterial vaginosis is more limited. To date, one clinical trial has been performed on boric acid for bacterial vaginosis, although others have been proposed. In the 2009 trial, participants were given oral nitroimidazole, an antimicrobial drug used to treat vaginal infections, followed by boric acid suppositories. Cure rates were between 88 and 92 percent after this treatment. However, the infection returned in many participants over the course of several weeks. Some more research has also found that boric acid may help treat infections with Trichomonas vaginalis that are difficult to treat. T. vaginalis is the organism that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). How exactly does boric acid work?It’s unclear how boric acid works to treat vaginal infections. It’s believed that it may work through disrupting fungal and bacterial growth. It may also prevent these organisms from forming biofilms. Biofilms are a group of microorganisms organized within a sticky matrix. Organisms that have formed a biofilm can be harder to treat with some types of medications. Using boric acid suppositories is associated with a few side effects. These are generally mild and can include:
If you’re using boric acid suppositories to treat a vaginal infection and experience significant discomfort, stop using them and contact your doctor for other treatment options. Additionally, if you’ve been using boric acid suppositories and your infection isn’t getting better or gets worse, contact your doctor for a different treatment option. Avoid having vaginal intercourse while you’re using boric acid suppositories. It may also be a good idea to avoid receiving oral sex to reduce the risk of your partner ingesting boric acid that may still be present in or around your vagina. Because studies into the reproductive effects of boric acid are ongoing, avoid boric acid suppositories if you’re:
Additionally, avoid using boric acid suppositories if you: Boric acid typically appears as an odorless white powder. It can be naturally found in the environment in: Additionally, boric acid is used in various commercial products, such as:
Boric acid was first used as an antiseptic in 1873. Since then, it has continued to be used for various vaginal infections. Because boric acid is naturally found in the environment, many people consider it to be a “greener” option for treating vaginal infections. But this isn’t entirely true. One of the main sources of boron and boric acid is the mining of minerals that have a high boron content. Not only does mining consume a lot of resources, but it can also introduce pollutants into the environment. Boric acid suppositories can be used to treat some types of recurrent vaginal infections. Examples include yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Using boric acid suppositories as labeled is generally safe. Side effects are mild and may include vaginal irritation and discharge. No serious side effects or deaths have been reported. Boric acid is toxic when ingested by mouth, though. Boric acid poisoning can lead to serious symptoms and can be fatal. Because of this, always keep boric acid suppositories separate from oral medications to avoid accidental ingestion. There are some people who should avoid using boric acid suppositories. If you’re interested in using boric acid suppositories or have questions or concerns, speak with your doctor first. Last medically reviewed on June 1, 2021 Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
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