[neverending]

Eralc Alegna:"I told my boyfriend the other night that we should start a support group: Women With The Rot and the Men Who Love Them. I seriously pity him..." You are too funny! I'll sign up;) LOL!

LADIES:Sorry to keep stressing this but I really feel I have come across something that might help you all because it has helped me a lot.

READ THIS:
the pill thins the lining of the uterus to decrease menstrual bleeding, but can also thin the vaginal epithelium leading to dryness.As sex hormones, estrogens are produced in one tissue, the ovary. They are released into the blood stream, and have their effect on target tissues. Those target tissues have receptors specific for recognition of the estrogen. The estrogens effect on the target tissues is to produce specific tissue growth. Target tissues for estrogens include breast tissue, vaginal tissue, vulvar tissue, endometrial and uterine tissue. Other tissues reported to be target tissues for estrogen include bone, brain, and cardiovascular tissue.

Young women who are not on contraceptive medications have a very high level of estrogen. Women who are on contraceptive medications have a very low level of estrogen(NOTICE HOW IT SAYS LOW), for the intent of contraceptives is to suppress normal ovarian function and prevent ovulation, therefore preventing a possible pregnancy. As each woman normally ages, her level of estrogen declines yearly until menopause, where the ovary is depleted of all ovum, and all estrogen production ceases. "Perimenopause" is the ill-defined time frame before and after menopause. Perimenopause could more appropriately be termed "premenopause", for the estrogen levels for five to ten years before actual menopause (normally age 50) causes a host of signs and symptoms of inadequate estrogen in its target tissues. Perimenopause depression could be inadequate estrogen for its target brain tissue. Osteoporosis is the thinning of trabecular bone associated with genetic predisposition, low calcium intake, inadequate exercise, and low estrogen levels.

[Eralc Alegna]

7. Metrogel, Flagyl, RePHresh. Currently trying probiotics + pau d'arco + hydrogen peroxide douche. This is

What the hell is pau d'arco? I'm interested in trying anything.
And yes, my sex life has been destroyed many times over. I actually had to wash sheets for a guy I was seeing once like 2 years ago. Imagine just trying to have a nice friendly lay and stinking up his whole apartment, staining his white sheets, and trying to explain yourself and save face at the same time. HORRIFIC.

I told my boyfriend the other night that we should start a support group: Women With The Rot and the Men Who Love Them. I seriously pity him...

[alwaysonmymind]

1. age? 25
2. how long have you been battling BV? Since I was 21, Four years now.
3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other. Sexually active with 1 partner in the last year. Always have protected sex.
4. main symptoms?. Once, I have unprotected sex exactly 2 days later I will get a fishy smell.
5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific 8
6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme- . 5
7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? What has your partner tried? Clindamycin, Flaygil, Probiotics
8. what do you think originally caused your BV? (if you think you know) I slept with someone who was not faithful, he slept around. I noticed a smell and douched a couple of times. Finally went to the doctor was prescripted antibiotics and have been dealing with since.
9. what birth control are you using, if any? None, some give me yeast infections!
10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences? 4-5. All say "some woman just can't get rid of it"
11. thongs or regular panties? Both

Note: I was diagnosed with Cervical Dyplesia caused by the HPV virus a year and a half ago. I do believe that I got this virus by the same partner who I noticed the BV problems with. My body just changed down there after him.

[pianogirl]

Hello Ladies,

I might have spoken to soon. I am on day 5 of my period and out of curiosity I smelled myself and I smelled funny, a mixture of blood and fish. I guess I will have to go back on the boric I was off of it for just 5 days (when my period started and now its back. I guess boric acid might have to be used when on a period.

Any thoughts?

Hi Sassy,

It is rather annoying and I do not enjoy sex as I am very paranoid about this problem, it really has damaged my sex life.

[autumnbreeze]

1. 30
2. Battling BV for 4 1/2 years
3. Currently 1 partner. When BV first appeared I had just began seeing a new partner but we used condoms. Total of 3 partners in the last 4+ years
4. Light discharge (gray in color) and a strong fishy odor
5. Discharge (1-10): 3
6. Smell (1-10): 8
7. Metrogel, Flagyl, RePHresh. Currently trying probiotics + pau d'arco + hydrogen peroxide douche. This is my first time trying a home remedy..so far, the discharge and smell have decreased significantly but it's too soon to say for sure--as we all know, this sh*# is relentless!
8. I'd say spermicide or just germs from guys' fingers when they play with the kitty or from their mouth when giving oral.
9. Condoms. In the past, I've taken the pill..Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Yasmin. When BV first appeared, I was not on the pill, I was using condoms and VCF (vaginal contraceptive film).
10. 3 doctors.
11. Both. I didn't start wearing thongs until after BV

I truly think there is more to BV than the medical community knows or will admit. If it is just an "imbalance" then it should not be difficult to regain that balance, right? One would think that if you continually take probiotics/lactobacilli orally & vaginally then they should accumulate and eventually "balance" or overpower the bad bacteria. But this obviously doesn't happen. I believe that a key element is that with BV, our bodies ability to produce/regenerate good bacteria is compromised or impaired.

[sassy]

Pianogirl: "smell of the sea"...haha! I've been a vegetarian for 7 years so I too am confused because my diet is healthy.

I also didn't realize how many younger girls were on here. We need to fix this so we can enjoy our sex lives, damnit!

[jewelscando]

1. age? - 37
2. how long have you been battling BV? 3 1/2 yrs
3. Same partner for last 4 1/2 yrs
4. Itty bitty fish head smell with discharge
5. 10- horrific - Unless you enjoy the smell of fish
6. 7, sometimes I have no discharge, just smell
7. Every Antibiotic possible, boyfriend was on metro also once. Tried Enzara (Waste of Money) Tea Tree Oil, Tetrasil, Gy-Na-Tren Vaginal Lactobacillus, Oral Lactobacillus, Vaginal Vitamin C and Lastly, Boric.
8. Hysterectomy or, new boyfriend. (Large Penis and ALOT OF SEX)
9. I use Hysterctomy for Birth Control. Seems to work really well!!
10. 3 Doctors. All have said the same thing. "Here you go, take this for 7 days, OH, and DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING THIS".
11. Regular panties

[D double U]

1. 20
2. a year and a half
3. single ,boyfriend 2 partners inthe last 10 months
4. light smell, hella discharge
5. 2
6. 8
7. Metrogel, Enzara, peroxide on a tampon, Tetrasil, Boric Acid
8. having sex with someone who didnt wash good
9. condoms
10. 4
11. regular panties, too much discharge on thongs

[Aggravated]

1. age? 33

2. how long have you been battling BV? Since last November

3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other
I was sleeping with an ex when I got BV the first time. We had lots of sex and never had any problems. We stopped seeing each other and I had no sex between mid January and May. The BV came back anyway in April. I have a boyfriend now and we've been sleeping together since May. I hid this from him until a few weeks ago. He hasn't noticed a thing and isn't bothered by this at all.

4. main symptoms? The first time was the odor. Since then just discharge.

5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific I guess a 2...normal

6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme Maybe 4 or 5

7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? What has your partner tried? I have used MetroGel-Vaginal, Metronidazol (oral) and I've been taking Acidophilus. No partners have ever been treated.

8. what do you think originally caused your BV? (if you think you know) I have no idea!

9. what birth control are you using, if any? I've been taking birth control pills (Tri-Levlen 28) since I was 16...never had a problem before.

10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences? Just one so far...she's ok, but she has no idea how to help me. She just writes a prescription with 3 or 4 refills at a time...they haven't worked.

11. thongs or regular panties? Regular panties (bikinis)...I don't like thongs and have been wearing more cotton since this started.

[Eralc Alegna]

1. age? 22
2. how long have you been battling BV? off and on for 5 years
3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other? LT relationship for the past year but little sex due to the BV. Celebate for quite some time before
4. main symptoms?. Discharge and smell, particularly during and after sex
5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific: I'd say a 6 now. It's improved but also varies
6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme- . 7-8 not constant but throughout the day. I notice it more when I'm active.
7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? metronidazol, cleocin, metrogel, some 4 pills I had to take all at once, hydrogen peroxide douches, Vit C vaginally and orally, acidophillus orally, boric acid, potato LOL! I've had partners treated with metronidazol twice
8. what do you think originally caused your BV? New partners? The pill?(though i didn't get BV until 2 years after i was on it and was no longer taking it)
9. what birth control are you using, if any? IUD ( i know, I know but this all started before i got one), just started condoms again to help the smell and prevent. Now the doc wants me on a low dose pill starting next month in case it's hormones. it will be an immaculate conception if I ever get pregnant!
10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences? god i don't know! I'm going to guess 5 or 6
11. thongs or regular panties? I used to not wear underwear. God I miss that! now i'm constantly wearing a pad on top of that... pads are the devil and bane of my existance.

So the doc yesterday did the quick test that takes 10 min and it was negative!? maybe because i used boric the morning before. we'll see what the culture says but now she wants me on the pill. I'm wary, shouldn't they test to see if my estogen is low before they go trating me for it? I take st johns wort for depression so I'm unsure about all of this. Got the HPV vaccine though, hurt like hell and have two more to go but no warts or cancer for me!

[pianogirl]

1. age? 25
2. how long have you been battling BV? SINCE MAY OF 2005
3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other? Long term monogamous relationship for almost 3 years BV started after I got on BC pills(it was my first time on BC pills).
4. main symptoms?. NASTY! NASTY! FISHY SMELL and A LOT OF DISCHARGE.
5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific IT VARIED BETWEEN 8-10, Last winter it was a 10+++ the smell wouldn’t leave my clothes. I would stand on line in a store and smell myself it was disgustingly sad.
6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme- . 9, I have always had discharge I am told its normal (lubrication).
7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? What has your partner tried? We both took flayll large doses, he did it 2 x and I 4 x and I also took Cleocin 2x. My doctor treated me for 10 months before I gave up hope on her curing me, she did try but nothing helped.
8. what do you think originally caused your BV? (if you think you know) I got it after me and my current was having lots of sex and I was on BC pills (seasonale to be exact). I thought the smell was because I hadn’t gotten my period in months and that was the smell of old blood. I know it sounds silly but I didn’t know what else to think as I never had this problem.
9. what birth control are you using, if any? NONE and I never will use any again.
10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences? Same one, I have no insurance and she gives me free medicine. : (
11. thongs or regular panties? Thongs but for 9 – 10 yrs.



Boric acid seems to be working I took it or three weeks straight and now my period is here and I have no nasty smell. If anyone uses the boric make sure you ask for the antiseptic one as that’s what I have been told is the most effective and this is the one that has been working for me. I don’t think the BV is caused by diet as I have been a vegetarian for 13 years so my diet is pretty constant. I seriously think the BC pills threw my system out of whack. I plan on continuing to use the boric for 2 x a week. It has helped with the discharge as well; however my bigger issue was the smell. The smell of the sea…however right now everything seems to be fine. I have been having sex but with condoms and I just feel a bit dry but its better than being smelly.

Thanks
PG

[latinrican]

1. age? 25
2. how long have you been battling BV? 1 year consistently but I do remember in college about 4 years ago I was prescribed meds for BV and after it was treated it didnt come back till last year.
3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other 1 Partner for 1 1/2 years
4. main symptoms?. Odor and Discharge
5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific: It has improved and not sure if its because I've been on the Boric Acid and I changed my laundry detergent, soap, and eating yogurt and drinking pure cranberry juice. My odor was a 10+ --- through clothes and even smelling it when I was sitting down, uggggh. Now its about a 2.
6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme- . Sometimes I have discharge and when I do, its about a 3. It used to be worse, though.
7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? What has your partner tried? Antibiotics, Rephresh, Boric Acid. No my partner was never given any meds for it.
8. what do you think originally caused your BV? (if you think you know) Have no idea.
9. what birth control are you using, if any? Orthotricyclin-Lo
10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences? 3
11. thongs or regular panties? regular panties majority of the times

[sassy]

1. 21
2. Since I started my period at age 14
3. Engaged--been with partner for 1 year and 4-months. I've only had 3 sexual partners, including him.
4. Odor...tons of discharge
5. 7
6. 10
7. I've tried EVERY type of antibiotic possible, including some non-standard types. I've tried enzara, herbal supplements, tea tree oil, and boric acid.
8. I have no idea. I wasn't sexually active until four years after I knew I had BV.
9. The pill but I've had BV with and without it...it makes no difference.
10. Just a couple at my regular gyno practice.
11. I used to wear thongs but now I wear boy shorts.

[i_hate_sports]

Hi girls. New and wanting to catch up. Hope this isn't too personal. Please answer only what you are comfortable with. Sara

1. age?
2. how long have you been battling BV?
3. married/ LT relationship or sexually active with more than 1 partner or not sexually active or other
4. main symptoms?.
5. rate odor on scale 1-10 1-being no smell at all 10- horrific
6. rate discharge 1-10 1- being normal vaginal discharge 10- extreme- .
7. what have you tried to get rid of BV? What has your partner tried?
8. what do you think originally caused your BV? (if you think you know)
9. what birth control are you using, if any?
10. how many drs. have you been to regarding this problem and you experiences?
11. thongs or regular panties?


My answers:
1. I'm 25
2. battling about 6 months
3. married for 1.5 years same partner for 5 years
4. not a bad smell just a really bad thin grayish discharge
5. odor 2- regular vaginal smell
6. discharge 7 or 8 wet . panties, annoying, always there, always thinking about it
7. I've been on metronidazol twice (1 wk and 2wks) currently husband and I are on cleocin. Also tried vaginal yogurt injections
8. don't know cause, maybe nuvaring?
9. been on nuvaring for 2.5 years, just took it out last night for good.
10. doctor, okay, but not super understanding. Feel weird about really telling him about my problems. Don't feel like he really would understand if I told him about yogurt or another natural cure I wanted to try.
10. thongs for last 10 years

Finally went and had the blood work done today. So hopefully I'll know something in the next few days. Rash is still bad on my arms. And slightly better on the forehead. B.V. is very strong, but I haven't gone back on the boric yet. Was waiting until after the blood work. Anyways, just wanted to keep my girls posted!!

Thinking of you. Hope its okay. Keep us posted.

Sara

[jewelscando]

Finally went and had the blood work done today. So hopefully I'll know something in the next few days. Rash is still bad on my arms. And slightly better on the forehead. B.V. is very strong, but I haven't gone back on the boric yet. Was waiting until after the blood work. Anyways, just wanted to keep my girls posted!!

[Aggravated]

Thank you for the response mfc10. Thank you all for being here. I really thought I was the only one with this problem. I thought something was really wrong with me. I wish us all luck in finding the cure!

[i_hate_sports]

Hey girls. Thanks for all the help and info. My doc called in cleocin for me and my husband today. I just took the first one and I am feeling hopeful.

My husband is in grad school and lives and hour and a half away (during the week). I wasn't going to see him until this weekend but I just decided to drive down there tonight to give him his half of the pills.

crossing my fingers,
Sara

[Eralc Alegna]

vaginal odor no more

Heres the link, sign up to get the free "book" and a link will be sent in an e-mail. Good for those of us just starting the fight and who may not be as informed. If you've been plauged for years skip to page 17 for the remedies. the info may not be new to some of us but can't hurt to take a peek.

WARNING! There is a graphic pic of an infected vagina. Proceed with caution when reading if you would like to avoid this!

[Eralc Alegna]

I have been on it for about 2 years and just started with the BV about 6 months ago. Do you guys think I should take it out and go back on the pill?
Has anyone had success with Cleocin cream? I am calling my doctor tomorrow to request it. I feel like he thinks I am a weirdo for still having this.
Thanks for any info on MetroGel.
Did it help with the discharge? I don't really have a bad smell but an outrageous amount of discharge.

Sara

If the ring caused no problems before I wouldn't worry about it. Hormones have an effect as neverending has proven but I'm assuming only in menopuase or imbalance cases. I would like to get mine checked.
I've done cleocin before when I first had BV. It was one of about 6 treatments I had in as many months. I don't think it did much. It was sandwiched between metronidazol treatments.
Metrogel worsens discharge during tratment, just because theres twice as much up there, but it's helping in theory so don't worry about it. it just gets lumpy and thick. "wet tissue paper" is how they describe it.
Boric has helped minimally with smell and discharge for me after about three weeks. I'm going to keep at it until i run out and if that fails go back to metrogel. I have about 3 boxes because my gyno put me on it for 6 weeks in the spring. it came back after a month though.
I found some online brochure about cheap home treatments for BV. I don't know how legit this is though. I'll post a link if it's worthwhile.
I'm going back to the doc tomorrow morning for the HPV Vaccine and a culture. I'm seeing my normal docs nurse so maybe she'll be more helpful and sympathetic. I hate the other guy but only as much as all the others. I'll tell about the boric and all...

Good luck to the newbies and welcome!

[mfc10]

[quote name='Aggravated' date='Oct 22 2006, 08:05 PM' post='113979']

Again, can anyone tell me if the boric acid helps with discharge or just with the odor?
Thanks! [quote}

Dear Aggravated:

Yes, boric acid vaginal capsules will help with the discharge, since it wipes out the bacteria species causing the discharge & odor.

Maggie C.