[lori]

My bv responds to this antibiotic, but the problem just returns within a few days.

That's the case with ... probably most of us. I call it "the vicious cycle."

Read my blog post on why that happens:

http://allaboutbv.blogspot.com/2008/12/bv-vicious-cycle.html

[lori]

What's really frustrating is that we can't get FemD here in the UK.

Grace,

Bustie mfc10 said:

Before FemDophilus was available in the US, I obtained it in Austria. It goes by the brand name OMBE. Perhaps it is also available in other European countries under that name?

Do you know if OMBE is available in the UK?

So yeah, I'll see how I go in the next week then maybe do a run of BA / inserting probiotics.

Let's just make clear that BA = Balance Activ, not Boric Acid. (Right? ) Thanks.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

There's a study going on about a vaginal powder called (Lactin-V) "made of naturally occurring Lactobacilli that can prevent the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis (source) ." I read about it from the clinical trials website. If all goes well, this could be a whole new pharmaceutical drug that can help women with bacterial vaginosis.

[neptune]

dp

[neptune]

Yeah, I don't feel it's gone completely, so I bought another box today, which I'll use in a week or so. I thought about alternating using the BA one night and the next inserting live yoghurt + contents acidophilus caplet sprinked in. So one night I'm balancing the pH, the next I'm adding some friendly bacteria to this mix.

What's really frustrating is that we can't get FemD here in the UK. I've emailed Jarrow to ask if there's any way of ordering it or if plans to do so in the future, but they haven't replied yet. I've searched online a lot for a UK distributor, the only place I can find that ships to UK is ebay so I think I'll have to order it from there, unless anyone knows any other info?

I bought a probiotic today which has Lactobacillus Rhamanous in it from Holland and Barrett (about our only health food shop in the UK) and have started taking it orally.

So yeah, I'll see how I go in the next week then maybe do a run of BA / inserting probiotics.

Metrogel - is that something you can buy in the UK and what does it do?

Cheers,
Grace.

Hmmm. Good idea about alternating BA with acidophilus. I haven't inserted acidophilus vaginally for a long time now so I might start doing it again.

Metrogel is only available on prescription here - it's just Metronidazole in a gel to insert, for those who can't tolerate the oral antibiotics. My bv responds to this antibiotic, but the problem just returns within a few days.

[Grace08]

Glad you've noticed an improvement! I'm still using it (about twice a week) as I find that while it's not a cure, it makes the symptoms so much more manageable.

Now I'm toying with the idea of using a course of metro gel then continuing with the BA and seeing if that gets rid of the problem completely.

Yeah, I don't feel it's gone completely, so I bought another box today, which I'll use in a week or so. I thought about alternating using the BA one night and the next inserting live yoghurt + contents acidophilus caplet sprinked in. So one night I'm balancing the pH, the next I'm adding some friendly bacteria to this mix.

What's really frustrating is that we can't get FemD here in the UK. I've emailed Jarrow to ask if there's any way of ordering it or if plans to do so in the future, but they haven't replied yet. I've searched online a lot for a UK distributor, the only place I can find that ships to UK is ebay so I think I'll have to order it from there, unless anyone knows any other info?

I bought a probiotic today which has Lactobacillus Rhamanous in it from Holland and Barrett (about our only health food shop in the UK) and have started taking it orally.

So yeah, I'll see how I go in the next week then maybe do a run of BA / inserting probiotics.

Metrogel - is that something you can buy in the UK and what does it do?

Cheers,
Grace.

[neptune]

Just an update on my progress with Balance Activ.

I applied the seventh and final application last night, and have to say my symptoms have definitely improved. I have hardly any discharge (the bit that's there is about the size of a 50p coin - sorry - not sure how big your US coins are but you get the picture...) and the smell on my pants is so much fainter, hardly there. And if I put my finger in my vagina the smell is so different, not entirely odourless but so so much better. I know (though it's hard to remember what it smelt like before I got BV) it's normal to have a slight odour.

It's still early days and I want to see how I go in the next week and after my period, which is due next week actually. So I'll report back and let you know if it's continued to help me.

I'm not celebrating just yet, because I know the pH could get ropey again and the bad bacterias could thrive, but I'm hoping my ladypart (he he) is stronger now and might be able to cope on her own. We'll see.

Glad you've noticed an improvement! I'm still using it (about twice a week) as I find that while it's not a cure, it makes the symptoms so much more manageable.

Now I'm toying with the idea of using a course of metro gel then continuing with the BA and seeing if that gets rid of the problem completely.

[Grace08]

Just an update on my progress with Balance Activ.

I applied the seventh and final application last night, and have to say my symptoms have definitely improved. I have hardly any discharge (the bit that's there is about the size of a 50p coin - sorry - not sure how big your US coins are but you get the picture...) and the smell on my pants is so much fainter, hardly there. And if I put my finger in my vagina the smell is so different, not entirely odourless but so so much better. I know (though it's hard to remember what it smelt like before I got BV) it's normal to have a slight odour.

It's still early days and I want to see how I go in the next week and after my period, which is due next week actually. So I'll report back and let you know if it's continued to help me.

I'm not celebrating just yet, because I know the pH could get ropey again and the bad bacterias could thrive, but I'm hoping my ladypart (he he) is stronger now and might be able to cope on her own. We'll see.


Also might be worth noting that for the past 3 days I've taken 1600mog folic acid after reading the post from wanabefresh. I already had it at home from trying it before with little success, but after reading all the Earth Clinic posts I thought I'd give it a go, increasing the dose I took before (which was 800mg).

I've also been 'airing' my vagina - like just not wearing pants for a while and wafting some air into her (just in my own living room, by the way!)

How's everyone else doing?

Healthy wishes to you all.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

im not sure how 2 post never reallly posted much but
To Lori and Sweaty
just wanted you alls opinion on this because i read yall blogs all the time an no that yall no what yall talking about so what do u think
Hey evry1 im not new here but i always read u guys post, an i to have been suffering from this for years and i just came across this website for bv home remdies and started taking to mind some of the suggestions the ladies posted.
Actually its the earth clinic site if intrested. So what there talking about is this vitamin called folic acid which helps the red blood cell formation. An ive done a lil research on it what it seems to do is carry out oxygen to different places in your body and i think this may be a good thing, because we need the aerobic bacteria n the vagina to produce oxygen which keeps the bad bacteria from taking over.An it really makes sense n a way. So what i did was read all the post on the site before I decided on what ill try an these ladies to have suffered for years an claim to have had good results with the probiotic and folic combo.
So i actually begin taking them day 2 but cant really tell cause of my period but i think this may be a cure so ladies check it out, an good luck on this ugly disease. An ill keep u guys posted

www.earthclinic.com/cures/bacterial_vaginosis
or what i did was just typed n bacteria vaginosis home remedies and then went to the earth clinic site cause that address isnt really showing all the remedies

Here is the process by which BV develops in "Doctor Language"

Gardnerella (bad bacteria) increases, anaerobes increase, as a result the Gardnerella produces amino acids, the anaerobes have an enzyme that cleaves into amines. The amines raise the pH in the vagina, that cause the squamous cells to slough and desquamate and produce discharge characteristic of the disease. Then you have a cycle of elevated pH which kills more lactobacilli which allows the anaerobes to increase even more.

Lactobacillus bacteria are classified as aerobic bacteria, or bacteria whose growth is favored by an oxygen-rich environment. Lactobacillus bacteria produce small quantities of lactic acid, which account for the moderate acidity of normal vaginal secretions. This mildly acidic environment is thought to play a significant role in immune defense as this acidity has the effect of inhibiting the growth of many other microorganisms, which might be introduced within the vagina. Lactobacillus bacteria are also responsible for producing small quantities of hydrogen peroxide that has an additional role in protecting the vagina from particular infections

I remember visiting the Earth Clinic website a while back and I've read the posts about folic acid, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and the like. What I know about folic acid is it's good for growth of healthy new cells and it's also a b-vitamin which is good for metabolism. I won't say that it won't help your Bacterial Vaginosis but from what you mentioned above, some of these women were also taking the folic acid with a probiotic. Probiotics are excellent for treating reoccurring vaginal infections and are better for your intestinal and urogenital flora in the long run.

I'm glad probiotics are used in this "remedy", it's taking a step in the right direction. I can see this remedy being helpful, mainly because of the probiotics usage. Folic acid is naturally occurring in foods which would be leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas, nuts, enriched breads, cereals and other grain products. I always recommend that people eat foods in their most natural form for proper absorption, after all, there is no way of knowing whether a choice supplement will be absorbed properly. This could lead to the reason why choice supplements have no effect on some people. There was a time I spent somewhere around $40-$45 on various supplements attempting to treat one of my ailments, and I honestly didn't notice a difference after taking them regularly for weeks, the only affect I had was a neon colored urine. I eventually quit taking them and they're still sitting in my medicine cabinet today. That is why I don't typically recommend common vitamins to people because there is no way of knowing if it will absorb properly or not.

My conclusion: Probiotics are great for treating reoccurring vaginal infections and great for over all intestinal/urogenital health. Folic acid is great for growth of healthy new cells and metabolism. But choice folic acid supplements are wildcards, you'd be better off consuming it through whole foods.

[wanabfresh]

I don't think anyone thinks/said that refrigerated probiotics are better.

However, I assume that if the packaging says that the products needs to be refrigerated, that means it's not freeze-dried for whatever reason, and so I'll just follow the directions and keep it in the fridge for maximum potency.

Which of course brings up another good thing about RepHresh Pro-B - apparently doesn't need to be refrigerated!

Good news is that this product is definitely being sold elsewhere besides CVS:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp...mp;catid=132230

Bad news is that it's not any cheaper.

Yet another good news? It says you only need one a day, not two! This is a good thing, since it's over $1 per pill.

One drawback - "Do not use if pregnant or nursing unless directed to do so by your doctor."

Overall, I'm very excited about this product. I hope it works as well as Fem-Doph. It looks like they contain the same number of organisms, so if Fem-Doph works for you, this should, too.

im not sure how 2 post never reallly posted much but
To Lori and Sweaty
just wanted you alls opinion on this because i read yall blogs all the time an no that yall no what yall talking about so what do u think


Hey evry1 im not new here but i always read u guys post, an i to have been suffering from this for years and i just came across this website for bv home remdies and started taking to mind some of the suggestions the ladies posted.
Actually its the earth clinic site if intrested. So what there talking about is this vitamin called folic acid which helps the red blood cell formation. An ive done a lil research on it what it seems to do is carry out oxygen to different places in your body and i think this may be a good thing, because we need the aerobic bacteria n the vagina to produce oxygen which keeps the bad bacteria from taking over.An it really makes sense n a way. So what i did was read all the post on the site before I decided on what ill try an these ladies to have suffered for years an claim to have had good results with the probiotic and folic combo.
So i actually begin taking them day 2 but cant really tell cause of my period but i think this may be a cure so ladies check it out, an good luck on this ugly disease. An ill keep u guys posted

www.earthclinic.com/cures/bacterial_vaginosis
or what i did was just typed n bacteria vaginosis home remedies and then went to the earth clinic site cause that address isnt really showing all the remedies

Here is the process by which BV develops in "Doctor Language"

Gardnerella (bad bacteria) increases, anaerobes increase, as a result the Gardnerella produces amino acids, the anaerobes have an enzyme that cleaves into amines. The amines raise the pH in the vagina, that cause the squamous cells to slough and desquamate and produce discharge characteristic of the disease. Then you have a cycle of elevated pH which kills more lactobacilli which allows the anaerobes to increase even more.

Lactobacillus bacteria are classified as aerobic bacteria, or bacteria whose growth is favored by an oxygen-rich environment. Lactobacillus bacteria produce small quantities of lactic acid, which account for the moderate acidity of normal vaginal secretions. This mildly acidic environment is thought to play a significant role in immune defense as this acidity has the effect of inhibiting the growth of many other microorganisms, which might be introduced within the vagina. Lactobacillus bacteria are also responsible for producing small quantities of hydrogen peroxide that has an additional role in protecting the vagina from particular infections

[lori]

[b]It seems like a few people are really sold on the whole idea of refrigerated probiotics. With all of the research I've done on it, I've came up with nothing. There is no conclusive information that actually states refrigerated probiotics are better than the freeze dried variety.

I don't think anyone thinks/said that refrigerated probiotics are better.

However, I assume that if the packaging says that the products needs to be refrigerated, that means it's not freeze-dried for whatever reason, and so I'll just follow the directions and keep it in the fridge for maximum potency.

Which of course brings up another good thing about RepHresh Pro-B - apparently doesn't need to be refrigerated!

Good news is that this product is definitely being sold elsewhere besides CVS:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp...mp;catid=132230

Bad news is that it's not any cheaper.

Yet another good news? It says you only need one a day, not two! This is a good thing, since it's over $1 per pill.

One drawback - "Do not use if pregnant or nursing unless directed to do so by your doctor."

Overall, I'm very excited about this product. I hope it works as well as Fem-Doph. It looks like they contain the same number of organisms, so if Fem-Doph works for you, this should, too.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

It seems like a few people are really sold on the whole idea of refrigerated probiotics. With all of the research I've done on it, I've came up with nothing. There is no conclusive information that actually states refrigerated probiotics are any different than the freeze dried variety. If anyone has any information on this I would definitely like to know. The one article I found to be somewhat helpful was this one (here) from the National Cancer Institute.

[lori]

according to THIS you only get a 30 ct for $29.99. Come out better buying 60 from Iherb and getting it cold - I think.... just IMO.

This actually sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing this, Sweaty.

I love that it's available at CVS. Let's hope this means that it's going to be available soon at Rite-Aid, Walgreens, etc.

(Unfortunately, having it widely available doesn't mean it's going to be cheap. Bah.)

[konphusion26]

Looks like the same strains as FemDoph alright. How many do you get for the $29.99? iHerb charges $23.77 for a bottle of 60 Fem Dophilus, delivered cold.
Thanks!
Maggie C.

according to THIS you only get a 30 ct for $29.99. Come out better buying 60 from Iherb and getting it cold - I think.... just IMO.

[mfc10]

I just read this article on the brand Rephresh creating a probiotic using the same live cultures as Fem-Dophilus (here). It seems Dr.Gregor Reid had some participation in creating this new product. I checked and it's actually available at CVS for $29.99. What do you think?

Looks like the same strains as FemDoph alright. How many do you get for the $29.99? iHerb charges $23.77 for a bottle of 60 Fem Dophilus, delivered cold.
Thanks!
Maggie C.

[Sweaty in Social Studies]

I just read this article on the brand Rephresh creating a probiotic using the same live cultures as Fem-Dophilus (here). It seems Dr.Gregor Reid had some participation in creating this new product. I checked and it's actually available at CVS for $29.99. What do you think?

[neptune]

Neptune, did you use it for the recommended 7 days initially?

No I didn't, but would have done if my bv had been really bad at the time. I just followed the instructions to maintain ph balance as opposed to treating bv.

[Grace08]

Neptune, did you use it for the recommended 7 days initially?

[neptune]

what website do you go to to order balance activ? i tried to search it but it says only available in uk. please help!?!

sooo sad

I googled lactic acid vaginal gel and there's another product called Gynofit Gel. Have you heard of it? Can't work out whether it's available in the US or not.

I was all pleased this morning, thinking I had this problem under control, but tonight my discharge has started to sting and get smelly. I used a tube just 2 or 3 nights ago and need another already. Hope it's not going to stop working for me. Maybe I need a course of treatment for a few days, then go back to using it twice a week.

[Grace08]

what website do you go to to order balance activ? i tried to search it but it says only available in uk. please help!?!

sooo sad

Have you tried ebay? I'm in the UK and decided to buy mine from a pharmacy here, but I know it's on ebay UK.

Otherwise you could email the manufacturers - they might know if anyone's planning to distribute it in the US? On my box it says its manufactured in Sweden by Kullgren Pharma in Gnesta, if that helps.

I know how frustrating it is when you can't get a product in the country you're in. FemD isn't available here but I found I could order it on ebay from the US.

Good luck.


Neptune:

I'll be taking my first dose of BA tonight and will report back in the next couple of days...