Hey everyone,

I'm new here and I only joined because I found this thread...

Maybe someone here can help me.

I went to my doctor about a month ago, told her my symptoms (white, gooey discharge, burning) and she told me that I probably had a yeast infection. I took the pill she prescribed me, and it didn't do anything. Then I went to the GYN and she told me it was bacterial vaginosis, because of the fishy smell. I took those pills, and the discharge has slowed considerably, but the smell is still there!
I don't know what to do...

A second problem --
I'm 18 and have never had sex..
I want to with my boyfriend but I'm scared to because of the smell and I don't know what he'll do. I've never let him go down on me becuase of it... If theres any way to get rid of the smell, I would LOVE to hear about it...

Thanks soo much..

Fem-Dophilus (Jarrow)

• Description: Oral capsules (30 caps)
• Where to Buy / Cost: $24 at Whole Foods (refrigerated); $14.37 at iHerb.com (refrigerated); $16.59 at N101.com (refrigerated); $14.25 at VitaCost.com (not refrigerated)
• Pros: designed specifically for healthy vaginal flora; the research on it is very promising
  1. Top Medical Breakthroughs of 2007 (Prevention Magazine)
  2. Europe's Best-Kept Health Secret (Prevention Magazine)
  3. Study Shows the Effectiveness of Oral Probiotic L. Rhamnosus GR-1?and L. Reuteri RC-14?In Treating Bacterial Vaginosis
  4. Specific probiotic strains are effective for genitourinary infections

• Cons: expensive
• Conclusion: So far, the this is the most promising and effective product. All the members who have had the best, long-term results have used Fem-Dophilus as a part of their regimen. Highly recommended, based on the research and anecdotal evidence. Buy it refrigerated for maximum potency. (Unfortunately, posters have reported that the bottle arrives warm, even if they select expedited shipping from online merchants who offer cold-packs. So it looks like buying it directly from Whole Foods is the best option.)

hi ladies...

well, another bv update...

the discharge is better but it's still there....i'm gonna say about 10% still there. i just feel "wet" most of the time. i'm wondering should i do maintanence? i'm kinda confused right now. i was soo excited but i hope i wasn't too excited. this is kinda the same thing that happened the last time i took flagyl back in january.....but the discharge isn't as much as before. i hope it doesn't come back.....i'm seriously thinking about tto twice a week as maintanence. suggestions please!!!

sooo sad

I joined just to let you all know what has worked for me. I have had chronic bv/yeast infections as long as I can remember. Of all the things I have tried, boric acid works the best for both conditions. You can buy it for dirt cheap at a pharmacy (you may have to ask a pharmacist, as mine keeps it behind the counter). Then fill an empty gel cap (you can get these at pharmacies or health food stores) and insert vaginally at bed time. When I start to feel either bv or a yeast infection coming on, I use this for 1 or 2 nights and it goes away (for a while anyways lol). For an infection that is already in full swing you might want to do it for as many as 5 nights.

A couple of warnings about the boric acid... I have read that some women are sensitive to it, and find it burns, so you may want to to a little test "dab" before inserting an entire capsule. I have never had any problem with it at all, but I would hate to be responsible for someone else's burning discomfort. Secondly, this treatment can be kinda messy, which is why I do it at night, and you will still want to wear a panty liner or something the next day. Lastly, everything I have read suggests that you don't use boric acid while you're pregnant.

I hope this helps someone as much as it has helped me.

I've had bouts with BV for the last 5 years. Usually went to my doctor, was given a prescription for clindamycin, finished the medicine and waited for the next bout. I have a copay of $50 for the dr visit, another copay of 20% for my meds (usually my out-of-pocket expense was about $15) and factor in my time going to the dr and pharmacy, dealing with reocurring BV gets to be expensive. I finally thought there had to be another way of treating this. My dr never mentioned holistic therapies. After researching online I decided to try the garlic clove method (with a little hesitancy I might add). I took one peeled clove, wrapped it in a piece of sterile gauze (you know the kind you buy at the drugstore in the first-aid aisle) and pushed up into my vagina. I did a course of continual garlic clove (changing to a fresh clove/gauze every 6 hours) for 3 days straight, then switched to only at night fo the next 3 days. I was amazed to find that the BV completely cleared up! No smell, no discharge, the irritation was gone (labia and urethra) and I felt NORMAL. The cost? A bulb of garlic was $1.27 and the roll of sterile gauze was $3.97. I didn't want to overkill on therapy, but I did follow-up one week later with a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide douche. Now I plan to react fast with the garlic therapy at the faintest hint/whiff of another BV attack!

had anyone started taking that other probiotic someone was talking about it a couple weeks back. the one with the same strains as fem d but it was supossed to be cheaper. anyway any luck?

Oh yeah, that was called:
Swanson Ultra FemFlora Probiotic

I'm curious to know what happened, too. (Also, is this the only place they sell FemFlora?)

Hi all been away a few weeks and I guess my timing is quite good because I was reading some past post and I was like "WHOA" when did this forum turn into Jerry Springer Seems like all has calmed down so I guess I'll move on too.

My BV is still present and I notice when I am anxious its even worse I am starting to wonder if my frequent anxiety issues has anything to do with my BV flare ups any answers or solutions? Be good everyone.

I didn't feel "normal" for a long time after the flagyl, but I even went to my gyno about 2 weeks after the flagyl and she said I was all clear. Maybe it's just me, but it took me a while to feel 100% normal again.....but, if you still feel sick, might wanna check with the gyno. Sorry, I know how absolutely frustrating that is!!!!!!!!!

I have anxiety. I have SA and overall GA. It sucks! I have panic attacks, nervousness, etc. I'm going to try meditation starting next week at this center here. I hear it works very well for anxiety. I also heard about Reiki . They have a certification class, I think the end of the month, that I was going to try to attend. Anyway, I think staying as calm and stress free is the way to go. I think stress, anxiety, and depression may be factors as far as bv is concerned.

Wow Neverending I too have SA and GA with a touch of BV. I am going to see the doctor about my anxiety and make yet another appointment with my doc concerning my BV. I am simply tired of this crap.

hello ladies i have been lurking for a while and finally decided to join since i dont have anyone else to talk to. i was recently treated for my bv back in feb. at my local planned parenthood. they gave me flagyl and things seemed to clear up nicely, but now its back. i was wondering if there is a place where i can order flagyl online because i am a broke college student with no insurance and no job. i wanted to try and take it with the fem-dophilus.

hi hun!

i personally would not buy flagyl online but i know some of the ladies here have and have had results but just wanted to let you know that flagyl at a walmart pharmacy is only $4.00. maybe it's cheaper than gettin it online. i also know that at local health departments they help the low income individuals that need it. hope this helps...and remember when you take femd...twice a day while on flagyl. i did that and i am still doing it now. i will probably continue to for about 3 months then i will take one for maintanence.

good luck hunnie.....sooo sad

thanks for responding soo sad. i think im just going to buy the femD, try taking it on its own and see what that does and then maybe try the boric acid route and if that doesnt work i will try flagyl plus femD i hope this works.

So I"ve had BV since the birth of my Son 9 months ago. Cream and Flagl only got rid of it for a few weeks and then it was back.. I went to the DR. last week because I could swear the BV was back, I had itching and discharge...but Dr. said the culture showed NO BV and I have to call back on Monday to get the results they sent away for...

Has this happened to anyone else?

Just TTO Suppossitories. That's all I used. And only used it after sex. But, trust me when I say this to you, IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK FOR YOU!!! I hate to be negative girl, but, it's been proven, OVER AND OVER AND OVER and again on this board, that what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. Everybody's bodies are so different, in so many ways. What brought it on for me, is not what brought it on for you, or who knows who else. The best and ONLY advice I have, is to completely go through all your options. Start with your Doctor. If they don't help, go to another one. Then read Lori's Blog completely!!! You will not find better, more thorough information anymore!! Then, try what works for you.. but what ever you try, make sure you check it out completly first, AND GIVE IT A CHANCE!! If you spend hours sticking things up you, or putting down your throat, you will never know what it is that works for you.

I think the best advice given so far is what Lori has suggested. And I only say this, because of the massive research she has done NOT because it worked for her. Because several of the girls have tried what she suggested and it didn't work for them, hence what works for 1 may not work for another.

I also think, my body might have just been going through something called STRESS!!!! And, I have spent countless hours trying to controll my stress. Stress brought on lower back problems for me and massive headaches. Since I am getting my stress levels under control, my back issues are going away along with the headaches. So... that's also one reason why I've stayed away from this board.. to be honest. Not that it's stressfull, but constantly talking about Itty Bitty Fish Heads coming out the kitty all the time, was STRESSFULL!!! hahahah...

So I"ve had BV since the birth of my Son 9 months ago. Cream and Flagl only got rid of it for a few weeks and then it was back.. I went to the DR. last week because I could swear the BV was back, I had itching and discharge...but Dr. said the culture showed NO BV and I have to call back on Monday to get the results they sent away for...

Has this happened to anyone else?

is it really abnormal to try boric acid suppositories and NOT have 'em clear bv up? i thought there was a study somewhere that it was 98 percent effective. how the *#(Y%(#* am i in the 2 percent, lucky me!!

hi, i'm a longtime lurker of this thread..

literally tried EVERYTHING, had health insurance way back when, they put me on meds 2x, didn't work, then went to planned parenthood, they put me on meds 2-3x, bv came back, tried boric acid/garlic, etc suppositories for a week(s), and that didn't work, tried meds/creams purchased online, didn't work!

is it really abnormal to try boric acid suppositories and NOT have 'em clear bv up? i thought there was a study somewhere that it was 98 percent effective. how the *#(Y%(#* am i in the 2 percent, lucky me!! the moral of my whole fiasco with bv is not to ever have sex again (hardy har, jk), but really, i do not trust docs after this. some of the bv meds they prescribed i took years ago for acne. i believe i've developed a tolerance to them which is pretty frightening to me.

anyways, my last resort is trying tto suppositories+acidophilus (sp) pills. how many days should i use these? 2 weeks? i'm getting my period in another ten days i think..that's going to screw things up right

When did this problem start for you? Just wondering! Everyone has their story. Anyway, Welcome to the board!

anyways, i must have a cut somewhere or i dunno if maybe i should dilute the tto next time..my vag is burning like hellfire right now.

haha i know exactly when it started happening, when i first had sex!!! @ 21, 3 years ago, i'm a late bloomer.

anyways, i must have a cut somewhere or i dunno if maybe i should dilute the tto next time..my vag is burning like hellfire right now.

oh THANK GOD, i feel dumb now..honestly, i've read here and vagina pagina sooo much that i've tried like everything. i'm glad it didn't clear it up. that's like further proof to me it's bv. for the longest time i thought it was a uti or an std until i went to planned parenthood.

Damn, you are the second person to say that. That suxs! Anyway, I used tto a few years ago and got the same result.It felt like someone set my cervix on fire.Ouch!

LADIES: I KNOW THIS is TMI BUT I LET MY HUSBAND CUM IN LAST NIGHT. I thought this crap would come back but it didn't. I also have to say, I had no problem getting wet. I've been doing a lot of stress reduction and it seem to have worked. So, with that being said,I AM BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN. It's been ( I think) a year and something now. Ask me if i'm happy.Now all I have to do is get over this horrible anxiety. That is the hard part. I think it will take me years to get back to my old self but it is possible. I think once I move, lose weight,finish school things will be good again.

Welcome to the board Anais! I can't use TTO for that exact reason. It burns me every single time-even diluted. I may just be allergic to it.

Good luck finding a solution for your BV beast! I definitely know how frustrating it is. I had recurrent BV for about the last 5 yrs or so and was in the doctors office more times than I can count. The last three times I've gone to the doc, it's been yeast every single time. Im such a lucky gal aren't I? **bitter sarcasm!!**

I know Neverending had success with Estroil, Lori with Fem-D and Flagyl, someone else with TTO suppositories. What was your fix? Do you know what helped finally, something you were trying?

Those acidophilus things don't seem to be working on my yeast though. Which is confusing, I thought it would work on that too. I really thought that what i was smelling and seeing was BV cuz it had all the classic signs and symptoms of bv beast; however it was not! The medicine the doc prescribed -Gynazole 1- for one dose lasting 7 days would probably knock that out, but its $50 with my insurance Geez. I'm thinkin about just breaking down and getting it; most likely I could have been done with this mess 2 wks ago.

Lesson to be learned ladies, do not try to self diagnose. You may be wrong like I was. Try the health department as an alternative if you can't afford to go to your regular gyn or primary care doc.

gah just as i started getting into the tto i think im getting my period that means no more tto and i guess i'll avoid using tampons too, i hate that

do you need a prescrip for estroil???

hey konphusion26!

are you doing anything for maintenence? or after sex?

thanks in advance!!!

sooo sad

lori Posted Today, 02:11 PM
I'm pretty curious about the effect of Fem-D on yeast, too. Maybe it doesn't cure a full-blown yeast infection, but still helps prevent it?

Just like with needing a prescription to get rid of the BV first, you probably need to tackle the yeast before Fem-D can do its thing. ($50 though? Yeesh.)

Lesson to be learned ladies, do not try to self diagnose.

This really cannot be said often enough.

First of all, I really know that doctors can just suck sometimes. I had BV, and it went undiagnosed for THREE fucking years. I went to so many doctors and was examined so many times, and all they kept doing was testing me for every STD that ever existed. I have no idea why they were so stupid, but there you go.