[LauraLynn]

Hi Ladies, checking in after an absence. The BV is still making my life hell. I switched GYNs and told the new guy my saga....got pretty much the same response, which was an antibiotic prescription and a warning about douching. (I very rarely douche, but had asked about trying the peroxide/water combo.)

Fast forward a few months, and the symptoms are getting worse, and the plethera of remedies is confusing and often expensive, and sex is more painful than ever...etc and so forth. I am just about at the end of my rope.

I stumbled across this link and thought I'd try this. The ingredients are mostly familiar, but I'd like to get any thoughts y'all might have. On impulse, I ordered it, but it hasn't arrived yet.

Something new?

I hope you all have a very Blessed Yule.
L.

[swt simplicity]

My doctor recommended it to me when I went at the beginning of the year. She said that I could use it after my period for six days and get it at a pharmacy. I wasn't really sure what she was talking about at first because she said she wanted me to use it instead of the probiotics, but I had sort of stocked up at home on Fem-D - not knowing that it needed to be kept cold - and so I wanted to use what I had bought. I also tried to find it as several pharmacies and was unsuccessful, so I just sort of gave up. Well, I found it and I tried it last night. I just ended my period. I felt a little bit better this morning, so we'll see how it goes. I'm not really sure. I've decided to stay away from natural products , especially tea tree oil, because that made it worst.

They also have something called gynoflor here that is supposed to be good to use after a treatment to prevent it from coming back. I've also had it recommended by my first gynecologist after she thought I had a yeast infection, but I didn't really understand why I had to use two different vaginal products (yeast medication and gynoflor) and a flucan pill to get rid of a yeast infection and she didn't really speak English that well. I'm still searching for a new doctor, so I'm going to find out more information about it. It's hard to find someone who is a specialist and who speaks English, but I'm determined to find someone who can answer all of my questions and help resolve this situation.

I ordered Rephresh Pro-b from the states. I'm not sure how long it will take to get here. I'm hoping soon. I wish I had found this blog when I went home for the summer because the health food store didn't tell me that FEm-D had to be kept cold. I'm looking forward to it arriving.

I also decided to stay off of Birth control because I've always hated it and I don't mind using condoms. I have melasma that I think was caused by the birth control. Maybe it's all related. I don't know.

I wish, though, that they could send this message board and others that exist to researchers so that they could figure out why this happens in some women. When it gets bad, it's very miserable.

I teach at a Turkish private school here. I teach high school English literature and language, so when the pain is bad, it's pretty hard to function in the classroom, but I'm sure it's hard for everyone to function in their daily lives.


Well, I'll keep posting. It is very nice to have this board and it's really amazing how many women are completely unaware of this problem until it becomes a daily nightmare. Maybe along with scaring us about STDs in schools they should also scare us about BV.

It's odd that your gynecologist suggested that you do the Vagi-C tablets instead of the probiotics rather than suggesting that you just do the suppository along with the probiotics. Considering all of the research done on probiotics and how beneficial they are, it leaves me wondering what the idea was behind that decision. Probiotics, even if it's something as small as two cups of plain yogurt containing l.acidophilus helps a lot in the long run . It sure beats not taking any probiotics at all.

When you say that your going to "stay away from natural products" does that include natural supplements too? Some supplements that contain natural ingredients do help. A lot of studies have been conducted on natural supplements like garlic and grapeseed extract evaluating their effectiveness. Most of the studies so conclude grape seed extract and garlic contain anti-microbial properties. I also recommended the cranberry for the urinary tract, which also counts as a natural product. Of course the overall quality varies and so does the potency but for the most part those natural things do help. I can't recommend certain things since not much research has been done on some of these products treating vaginal infections, if I did, I would sound like any old fool recommending something that probably won't work I like sticking to the facts. It's reassuring to know your trying something that is clinically proven to work based on scientific studies. But sometimes it's okay to try something new just to see if it helps just as long as it's safe. I tried a echinacea (ek-in-a-sha) product once simply because I wanted to try something new and it did help with reducing my symptoms. However, my symptoms came back after I stopped taking it which I expected but ... sometimes you just need a break regardless of how short the break is.

Dr. Stewart said something along the lines of "your private parts shouldn't be private to you" in her book. It's funny how you mention the sexual education bit; I hear now that most schools these days actually don't even have a sexual education course. I took a child care course my sophmore year in high school and I also took a health/physical education course that same year, but I already knew about STD's anyway since I was already so interested in healthcare ever since I was a kid. I think sexual education should be taught in junior high or middle school. That's when kids really need to know about it. I actually think a little sooner than that wouldn't be a bad idea. Apparently it's better to educate a child about sex prior to the onset of puberty. And I feel pediatricians should also talk to little girls about their bodies and vaginal health in a clinical way of course. Using nicknames kind of makes the female 'V" area seem taboo. It's always bothered me how parents would teach their children to call their genitals silly names like "pee-pee" or "wee-wee". That kind of parenting sets the tone for taboos regarding the private area.

Is the pain your experiencing from the bacterial vaginosis?

[lapis]

Well, lambskin might not be the next to try--maybe polyurethane or Skyn condoms.

[Pianofreak531]

Hi piano,
Just curious--are you using spermicidal and or latex condoms? Have you tried switching them out? Sometimes spermicide or latex can irritate. Also, maybe you should go somewhere like planned parenthood, which can get you in quickly and is really suited to teens' needs? Bladder infections can ascend into kidney infections, and I don't think you should wait if you suspect you have one (kidney infections are terrible).

Yes, for all three partners I used latex condoms--all types, some with fancy tingly lubricant (= irritation), others with basic lubricant, some with no lubricant at all (= massive irritation)--all types. I haven't tried the lambskin ones. I'll have to try that once I'm feeling well enough and see if that makes a difference.
On another note, I did phone the doctor that originally saw me at the urgent care clinic, and I'm probably going to see her again if it doesn't entirely clear up in the next few days. The bladder symptoms seem to have gone with the round of Cipro--it's mainly the BV burning that is my concern at this point, as it comes and goes and is unpleasant.

[lapis]

Hi piano,
Just curious--are you using spermicidal and or latex condoms? Have you tried switching them out? Sometimes spermicide or latex can irritate. Also, maybe you should go somewhere like planned parenthood, which can get you in quickly and is really suited to teens' needs? Bladder infections can ascend into kidney infections, and I don't think you should wait if you suspect you have one (kidney infections are terrible).

[Pianofreak531]

Hey everyone,
I'm not entirely sure if this is the best place for me to post this but I figure I'll give it a shot anyway (it seems most of you understand that desperate, "I'll do just about anything" feeling).
I'm 18 years old, and I've been struggling with BV for as long as I've been sexually active--about 3 years. This was over three sexual partners who were clean, we used condoms every time, with me peeing before and after sex, wearing cotton underwear, and wiping things down afterward (what a pain!). When I didn't have sex it would go away, but as soon as I had sex again, especially oral sex, it would pop right back up with intense vaginal burning, watery discharge, lower abdominal pain and back stiffness (no fishy odor--I seemed to get lucky there). The tell-tale sign for me was the smell of my pee, which would get a very strange infected smell. Sometimes this would precede all the other symptoms. Usually it would clear with an OTC yeast infection treatment and drinking excessive amounts of water for a few days, but lo, as soon as I had sex it would return.
At first, I never went to the doctor because I was young and embarrassed (telling my mother meant spilling the beans that I was sexually active at 15...not usually an easy topic). However, each incidence of this "mystery infection" seemed increasingly more painful than the last, and by the time I turned 18 I was in too much pain to keep quiet; meanwhile, the OTC yeast treatments were no longer working. I went to an urgent care doctor and she did a vaginal exam, as well as a urinalysis and found I had a bladder infection and BV, and, what do you know? No yeast. I began a 3-day round of Ciprofloxacin for the bladder and Metro gel for the BV. I also began taking Rephresh Pro-B supplements and Cranberry Vit C supplements.
It seems like it would be a happy ending, but not quite so. As soon as I finished the Cipro, the burning returned at intervals--this time, with a yellow discharge. I have an appointment the gyno set up, but it's so difficult to get in to see her so it's a month away.

My question for you lovely ladies is, do you have any suggestions to keep the burning at bay until I am able to see the gyno?

My poor, sweet boyfriend has been so understanding, but I'd like to be able to have sex without fear of becoming ill afterward, especially with something as miserable as BV. I really feel like I should give him an award for being so kind about it. Ha ha.

[kelebek]

My doctor recommended it to me when I went at the beginning of the year. She said that I could use it after my period for six days and get it at a pharmacy. I wasn't really sure what she was talking about at first because she said she wanted me to use it instead of the probiotics, but I had sort of stocked up at home on Fem-D - not knowing that it needed to be kept cold - and so I wanted to use what I had bought. I also tried to find it as several pharmacies and was unsuccessful, so I just sort of gave up. Well, I found it and I tried it last night. I just ended my period. I felt a little bit better this morning, so we'll see how it goes. I'm not really sure. I've decided to stay away from natural products , especially tea tree oil, because that made it worst.

They also have something called gynoflor here that is supposed to be good to use after a treatment to prevent it from coming back. I've also had it recommended by my first gynecologist after she thought I had a yeast infection, but I didn't really understand why I had to use two different vaginal products (yeast medication and gynoflor) and a flucan pill to get rid of a yeast infection and she didn't really speak English that well. I'm still searching for a new doctor, so I'm going to find out more information about it. It's hard to find someone who is a specialist and who speaks English, but I'm determined to find someone who can answer all of my questions and help resolve this situation.

I ordered Rephresh Pro-b from the states. I'm not sure how long it will take to get here. I'm hoping soon. I wish I had found this blog when I went home for the summer because the health food store didn't tell me that FEm-D had to be kept cold. I'm looking forward to it arriving.

I also decided to stay off of Birth control because I've always hated it and I don't mind using condoms. I have melasma that I think was caused by the birth control. Maybe it's all related. I don't know.

I wish, though, that they could send this message board and others that exist to researchers so that they could figure out why this happens in some women. When it gets bad, it's very miserable.

I teach at a Turkish private school here. I teach high school English literature and language, so when the pain is bad, it's pretty hard to function in the classroom, but I'm sure it's hard for everyone to function in their daily lives.


Well, I'll keep posting. It is very nice to have this board and it's really amazing how many women are completely unaware of this problem until it becomes a daily nightmare. Maybe along with scaring us about STDs in schools they should also scare us about BV.

[kelebek]

The Vagi-C is a ascorbic acid (vitamin C) suppository? Is the Vagi-C an over the counter option in Turkey or more of a homeopathic remedy?

Yes, the RepHresh Pro-B contains the exact same strains of bacteria as Fem-Dophilus. People seem to prefer the Fem-Dophilus since it's not freeze-dried. I personally don't like refrigerated probiotics though since I worry if any of the bacteria have died, if my refrigerator is cold enough, if my refrigerator is too cold ... etc. With freeze-dried probiotics just as long as you keep it in a cool dry place, it's A-OK. It's the only probiotic besides Fem-Dophilus that has the same patented strains created by the man (Dr. Gregor Reid) that isolated the strains of bacteria that are beneficial for vaginal health. Fem-Dophilus and RepHresh Pro-B probably go by other names in Europe since the maker is from Denmark I'm pretty sure there are other versions of this product distributed throughout Europe, I'm not sure about Asia though.

As a result of the fact that I have a number of different health issues going on such as, eczema, allergies, food sensitivites, vaginal issues, inflammation I've made my diet mostly plant based, and cut out meat and diary products entirely. Meat isn't very healthy, or not as healthy as I thought it was. There were just so many factors that play into the quality of meat I just didn't find it to be worth eating anymore. I've read some really disturbing information about meat, and how it putifies in the intestines especially if it hasn't digested properly and the health problems it can cause ...

About the birth control article, I've actually heard of women saying after they got off of birth control they developed bacterial vaginosis, and then there were still women that were on birth control and still had reoccuring infections. There are so many elements as to why a woman can develop bacterial vaginosis and have reoccurances. So I kind of take the research in that article with a grain of salt and brush it off. I feel too much is at stake taking birth control since it carries (too) many side effects. Women will complain of contantly developing yeast infections on the birth control pill since sometimes it causes hormone fluctuations (like estrogen which feeds yeast) and fighting the yeast can lead to developing bacterial vaginosis. Like that article said, don't take birth control pills mainly for the sake of trying to treat or prevent bacterial vaginosis. It seems like either way, you'll develop bacterial vaginosis regardless because of something else.

It's great that your encouraging me to update my blog, it kind of feels like I'm blogging for myself sometimes and no one else since I don't get that many responses

Kelebek, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing in Turkey?

[swt simplicity]

The Vagi-C is a ascorbic acid (vitamin C) suppository? Is the Vagi-C an over the counter option in Turkey or more of a homeopathic remedy?

Yes, the RepHresh Pro-B contains the exact same strains of bacteria as Fem-Dophilus. People seem to prefer the Fem-Dophilus since it's not freeze-dried. I personally don't like refrigerated probiotics though since I worry if any of the bacteria have died, if my refrigerator is cold enough, if my refrigerator is too cold ... etc. With freeze-dried probiotics just as long as you keep it in a cool dry place, it's A-OK. It's the only probiotic besides Fem-Dophilus that has the same patented strains created by the man (Dr. Gregor Reid) that isolated the strains of bacteria that are beneficial for vaginal health. Fem-Dophilus and RepHresh Pro-B probably go by other names in Europe since the maker is from Denmark I'm pretty sure there are other versions of this product distributed throughout Europe, I'm not sure about Asia though.

As a result of the fact that I have a number of different health issues going on such as, eczema, allergies, food sensitivites, vaginal issues, inflammation I've made my diet mostly plant based, and cut out meat and diary products entirely. Meat isn't very healthy, or not as healthy as I thought it was. There were just so many factors that play into the quality of meat I just didn't find it to be worth eating anymore. I've read some really disturbing information about meat, and how it putifies in the intestines especially if it hasn't digested properly and the health problems it can cause ...

About the birth control article, I've actually heard of women saying after they got off of birth control they developed bacterial vaginosis, and then there were still women that were on birth control and still had reoccuring infections. There are so many elements as to why a woman can develop bacterial vaginosis and have reoccurances. So I kind of take the research in that article with a grain of salt and brush it off. I feel too much is at stake taking birth control since it carries (too) many side effects. Women will complain of contantly developing yeast infections on the birth control pill since sometimes it causes hormone fluctuations (like estrogen which feeds yeast) and fighting the yeast can lead to developing bacterial vaginosis. Like that article said, don't take birth control pills mainly for the sake of trying to treat or prevent bacterial vaginosis. It seems like either way, you'll develop bacterial vaginosis regardless because of something else.

It's great that your encouraging me to update my blog, it kind of feels like I'm blogging for myself sometimes and no one else since I don't get that many responses

Kelebek, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing in Turkey?

[kelebek]

I also just found this article and wondered if anyone had any thoughts:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/famil...-vaginosis.html

[kelebek]

Well. Here's the information about Vagi-C. I hope I can find it at a pharmacy here in Turkey.

http://www.polichem.com/jahia/Jahia/home/s...0/cache/offonce

[kelebek]

Thanks Swt Simplicity. That was nice of you to reply and I think your blog is also pretty interesting.

I've taken several different kinds of antibiotics. I actually bought a large supply of femdophilus before I came back from the summer, but didn't realize that it needed to be kept cold. I still use it though, and it seems to work okay for now. I'm going to try Rephresh proB if it's similar. I've also tried Dr. Murray's formula for women and the 12/12 product. I thought those worked well and actually, when I first went home for the summer, I used the 12/12 formula and felt fine after a few days, but now realize the bacteria was still present.

My doctor usually tells me to wait until the symptoms come back to make another appointment. When I have a chance this weekend, I'm going to look for another gynecologist at another hospital and then maybe ask about a pelvic specialist. I was thinking of trying the Biteral again after I read this:

http://www.biomedsearch.com/nih/Treatment-...al/9722127.html

I'm not sure, though. I seems that this report stated that using both the vaginal formula and oral formula had a greater success rate. I'm also taking Dr. Ohhira's essential formal, cranberry and vitamin C and then multi-vitamins that my doctor recommended. My doctor recommended Vagi-C, but every pharmacy I visit does not have it.

It's very interesting here. I email my doctor and tell her I think I have BV and then she gives me some options that I could try. If this doesn't work, I'm going to look for someone else.

The Yin Care was a waste of money and I agree with you about that, so I've still cut out coffee, sugar and foods that are high in saturated fat - olive oil is sort of unavoidable here - until I feel better or find a different doctor. I'm also going to look for rephresh prob.

I try to just stay positive because that's really the only option. Thanks again for the advice and please keep updating your blog. It's really helpful.

Kelebek

[swt simplicity]

Kelebek,

Is there a Vulvo-vaginal specialist or Pelvic Specialist you can contact in Turkey? I'd like to think there would be one in your area since you'll probably need to see one at some point if things don't work out. Most doctors prescribe vaginal suppositories because they're a lot less harmful than oral antibiotics, but if the suppositories aren't effective then an oral antibiotic would be used. Ever since there was a scare about antibiotics building resistance, most doctors have now been told to only prescribe them on a "need-to" basis, not "willy-nilly." I don't know if the same protocol is being used in Turkey. It helps to know if the antibiotics you've been on are broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum too. Broad spectrum antibiotics tend to be more harmful since they kill a broader spectrum of bacteria, not just the bad bacteria, but some good bacteria as well. If you want to have a good idea about the effectiveness of antibiotics compared to others, reading clinical trials helps. Yes, do take a probiotic two hours after taking an antibiotic. Do you have access to Fem-Dophilus or RepHresh Pro-B? I think it's sold in Asia, maybe you can have it shipped? RepHresh Pro-B is freeze dried and you won't have to worry about it perishing. Maybe you can purchase it online. I'm not sure what to recommend to you since you live in Turkey. Flagyl with a probiotic, specifically Fem-Dophilus has been pretty effective in the clinical trials, including for the women that have taken a combination of those on this forum. What probiotic have you been taking?

Even if you don't have access to the same products that people in the U.S. have access to, there are still some products that are sold in other parts of the world that outperform the products we have here in the U.S. It's just a matter of finding them.

The Yin Care ... an herbal wash. Personally, I've tried washes in the past. They've left me feeling really clean and fresh throughout the day and that's about it. I don't know if that herbal wash will do much for you. I hope the herbs in it are safe. I hope the formula is pH balanced. Some herbs can be potentially dangerous actually. And, some companies try to market their products to a wider audience so it can sell better. It doesn't seem like there is any reassurance on the website that it will work and do what it says. It actually says that it helps with S.T.D's in the description, that sounds kinda shady. Your better off just using a plain mild pH balanced soap, it's gentle, gets the job done, and is a lot more accessible.

If your boyfriend takes probiotics, it will be good for him in the long run. I don't think I've ever heard of probiotics working on men in the urethra though. It might work. Do the condoms you use contain spermicide? Sometimes that is the problem. Spermicide effects the feminine pH and micro flora big time, so do some lubricants, jellies, inserted devices and so on. An idea of mine is that cranberry juice will work better for him since cranberry juice prevents U.T.I's and the male penis isn't the same as the female vaginal tract ... just an idea.

Normally, it's recommended that you wait that the infection clears up before you become sexually active again, or until your course of treatment is over and you've been cleared of the infection by your gynecologist. This also prevents the infection from spreading from person to person. Keep in mind, the male sexual organs are anatomically different, the female vagina can kind of serve as an incubator for bacteria, which it does, but if the flora isn't balanced then it will be obvious in time. Some doctors believe that men don't carry the bacteria that causes bacterial vaginosis, but Dr. Stewart does mention in her book that some men have "killer sperm" while others don't and using a condom easily solves the problem.

swt simplicity

[kelebek]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new here... well I've been reading posts for a while, but just haven't written myself. Since I don't have any friends who share my pain, it's nice to have someplace to communicate problems.

I actually live in Turkey, so there are a few things that are not available to me and a lot of things that are - like antibiotics. We don't need prescriptions here, but also can't get things like Tindamax orally, just vaginally.

I have had BV twice in the past and it has never been this out of control. It started when I started dating my current boyfriend. I was diagnosed with a bladder infection, given cypro because I thought that was the problem, although I knew better. I was also diagnosed with a yeast infection but it turns out, it wasn't. They send results to a lab where it generally takes three days to get the results and so the doctor just says what it looks like. After reading the V book, I've realized that this is an issue.

I went home for the summer, started taking probiotics and everything was fine until I came back and had sex with my boyfriend. I was treated with flagyl - a one day dose - and then clydamycin cream for 7 days, but then maybe I didn't wait long enough to have sex and it came back. What is the recommendation for that? I asked my doctor, but they never really give me an exact time and sometimes there is also a language barrier. Anyway, it came back. I tried flagyl again and it didn't work. Then I went back to the doctor and she tested me for mycoplasma hominis and ureaplasma urealyticum (I think that was the other one) and I tested positive, so I took azithro and so did my boyfriend. I think at the time I also have BV, but she just treated me with the azithro. I'm not reallly sure if that's possible, but after doing some research it seems like the one can cause the other. I'm not sure. I used tea tree suppositories, which I think are the worst and I wouldn't recommend them. I woke up one morning after using them for five days with a bladder infection and what my doctor said was a yeast infection, although I think it was BV. So I was treated for another yeast infection and a bladder infection, but the pain was still present. She said the other bacteria had cleared up, but then only tested for a bladder infection and the tea tree oil made it difficult to read the results.

I hadn't been sexually active for about a month, which is okay because my boyfriend just wants me to be healthy. I took probiotics for a week and the pain went away, but knew something was still there, so I told my doctor that I thought I still have BV. She prescribed Biteral vaginal suppositories that I think you can only get here. It's a three day treatment and it sort of worked, but then I did have sex with my boyfriend and I can feel it coming back. I've recently given him probiotics to take. Does anyone know if that will help? We also usually use condoms, but sometimes I feel that they might also be the problem.

Giving up coffee has seemed to help a little and sugar definitely makes a difference, especially wine. I'm not very convinced about natural treatments because they seem to do more damage than good; however, I did order two bottles of yin care and I'm curious about it, but I'm also nervous to try it. Does anyone have any experience? I just really hate taking oral antibiotics. I've never had to take this many in such a short period of time and I think that's one of the causes of this problem.

The other question is, doctors here seem to be more keen about vaginal creams than oral drugs. Does that make a difference? In the past I took flagyl and it cleared up until I started dating someone else, now it's crazy, so I don't really want to take anymore oral antibiotics, but is there really an alternative. I try to do only what she recommends, but since it seems to be an endless cycle, I'm wondering what is the best method. Is flagyl taken orally the best cure if taken with probiotics? Also, is there any recommendation to prevent yeast infections or how long to wait until becoming sexually active again?


My doctor is really sweet, but I don't think she really understands what I'm dealing with. In some ways they're more thorough, but in other ways it seems like they're not as current. I've realized that BV is becoming more prevalent and therefore a lot more products are now available, which is interesting, so I'm hoping they find a better solution soon. The downfall is some products I can't get here, like the Vh essentials, but who knows if they really work.

Sorry for ranting, but it's just nice to express what I'm dealing with when no one else really understands. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[swt simplicity]

I have to admit I wasn't entirely honest about it with my BF. I told him it was a yeast infection since that sounded less gross :/

The boric acid was a huge success, though. It was very effective and worked so quickly -- the symptoms were gone within days but I kept using the suppositories just to be sure.

I can understand why your embarrassed and ashamed to tell your boyfriend that you have bacterial vaginosis. But you shouldn't feel ashamed since millions of women are in the same situation every year even though no one talks about it. Talking about it will dispel embarrassment. And a lot of men are so misinformed about vaginal issues and think it's because a women isn't "clean" or has an STD of some kind that she would have a vaginal infection, discharge, itching, or odor.

The thing about the boric acid is, for bacterial vaginosis, it doesn't cure the infection, it just clears up the major symptoms for the time being which is why you'll notice that you need to keep doing the suppositories for you to get some relief. Once you stop the suppositories, the bacterial vaginosis comes back. Mfc10 got her boric acid capsules formulated with acidophilus, 50% acidophilus and 50% boric acid and that worked for her. So, if the straight boric acid doesn't work, at least you can try something else.

How long have you been doing the suppositories?

[pomegranate]

I have to admit I wasn't entirely honest about it with my BF. I told him it was a yeast infection since that sounded less gross :/

The boric acid was a huge success, though. It was very effective and worked so quickly -- the symptoms were gone within days but I kept using the suppositories just to be sure.

[swt simplicity]

Pomegranate & Clarity: How are your partners handling your bacterial vaginosis diagnosis'?

[pomegranate]

Obviously no sex during or a week after treatment. I couldn't even imagine getting oral sex while having this infection...

Hahaha, thanks. I realized after I replied to the thread that I'd sounded a bit trollish (hell of a first post!), but the thing is I can't imagine any kind of sex while the BV controls my vagina like Vichy France or something. It's just been weeks since I first noticed the infection, was able to get in to see my gyno, used metrogel, had the briefest of reprieves until my period started and the BV returned, went back to the gyno to discuss the boric acid I learned about via Google, had to buy it on Amazon because the local pharmacies couldn't even order it for me, and spent yesterday afternoon Martha Stewarting a remedy for my infected vagina.

There have been a lot of blow jobs, I'm just very eager to start getting mine again

[clarity95]

Thanks for the reply, I saw the doc yesterday and she confirmed bv is back. She perscribed tindamax and also boric acid inserts. Obviously no sex during or a week after treatment. I couldn't even imagine getting oral sex while having this infection...

I am drinking kefir and eating yogurt, and taking vitamins, still no improvement after one day of tindamax but I havent gottent he boric acid so well see if that helps.

Clarity95, I suggest you take probiotics with your antibiotics. More specifically Fem-Dophilus a couple of hours after you take your antibiotic. It would be great if you would start taking it sooner rather than later so the probiotic has time to colonize and take effect before your course of antibiotics begins. Clinical trials show antibiotics taken with probiotics specifically for bacterial vaginosis results in a higher success rate with fewer recurrences of bacterial vaginosis afterwards. You should continue taking the Fem-Dophilus for a couple of months after your round of antibiotics. Some women just keep taking it everyday for maintenance.

I also personally advise that you eat little to no sugar and refined carbohydrates and more prebiotic foods like kefir, plain yogurt (with no added sugar), fresh fruits and vegetables and less meat since the Western (American) Diet is what's causing so many people to become more prone to a lot of degenerative diseases and infections. Studies show women are more likely to develop infections, yeast infections in particular if their not eating a balanced diet. Diets high in sugar actually decrease your white blood cell count temporarily resulting in a temporarily impaired immune system thus giving way to infections and potentially something more serious like cancer. It's just basically important to eat a healthy diet to protect your health and wellbeing, and also to prevent the infection from "flaring up" again as it does for some women.

I also suggest you read Dr. Stewarts book on vaginal health. She has a wealth of knowledge about every vaginal disease and infection out there since she is a vulvovaginal specialist with decades of experience. That is kind of like a bible for vaginal health for most women.

Links:
1. Oral use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14 significantly alters vaginal flora: randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 64 healthy women.
2. Healthy Habits: Cut Back on Refined Sugars

Good luck at your next appointment, I keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[pomegranate]

The boric acid I bought from Amazon arrived this morning and I have spent the afternoon making capsules. I'm really excited to see if it knocks out my BV, but since it's poisonous if taken internally...how long do I have to wait before my BF can go down on me?