Let me clarify myself:

1. "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria."

Bacteria, yeasts can build resistancy to certain drugs.

2. "Your spotting is probably caused by that fact that your period is coming some time soon".

This can actually be a result of many different things. It is probably because of her reoccurring Bacterial Infections.

3. "This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle."

Infections may be more common around the time of a menstruation. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen deposits glycogen (a form of sugar) in the cells that are found in the lining of the vagina. The release of progesterone causes the cells to shed into the vagina, so the sugar becomes available for yeast and bacteria to feed on, multiply and grow. Estrogen and sugar production peak at the midpoint between periods, and then progesterone begins to build and sugar is released. Yeast infection symptoms can follow the hormonal pattern of this cycle. Usually, the most severe symptoms occur before the onset of a woman's period when more sugar is available. During and after the flow, symptoms are likely to subside. Additionally, changes in the vaginal pH can disrupt the immune system or destroy the so-called friendly bacteria that populate the vaginal canal and keep the yeast fungus/bacteria in check.

Thank you for the info. The smell seems to be worse before my period. No smell during it. Then it lingers as my period is finishing and a week after. I'm usually in the clear for a week or two - then it starts up again.

Yes, we know this. But do you have any evidence that this is the case here?

When you say "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria," you should have more evidence than the fact that it's just one possibility of many. It's like, "Oh, do you have a headache? It seems like a brain tumor." Sure, it COULD be a brain tumor. Regardless, that's a dumbass thing to say.

(My suggestion to the original writer is: using only 3 days of metrogel may have been the problem. You should always take the full course of antibiotics and not just stop when the symptoms subside.)


You're exactly right, it probably is. Therefore, the fact that her period is coming probably has NOTHING to do with it.

So your original statement is just plain wrong.

(My suggestion to the original writer is: since the spotting occurred right after the pap, your cervix is probably inflamed [cervicitis] which is something that can be caused by BV, and has become friable [easily bleeds].)


BV symptoms are frequently stronger after your period. This is also something that is well-known. (And the rest of your blather is about yeast. I don't know why.)

But your original sentence was: "This could be an infection linked to your menstrual cycle." Huh? How is this related to what you're trying to say? That's just another outright false statement that doesn't make any sense. And I think you realize that, so you're just trying to cover up that fact with a bunch of irrelevant blah-blah about yeast again.

Please reflect on your original words, and figure out why they do not apply here.

I hope you don't think I'm just picking on you. But you've been saying a lot of stuff that's just plain wrong or misleading. And I think you should stop. I don't know why you're doing this, I think you just don't know what you're talking about. And I think it has a lot to do with the fact that you've never had BV, and your perspective is limited.

This doesn't mean you should stop contributing. But you should think before you speak. Obviously, you thought about your original statements, and you realize that they were wrong. So instead of "clarifying" yourself, you just change what you said. Nice trick. I'm calling you on it.

There's nothing wrong with making mistakes or just not knowing something. But you just say whatever pops into your head. So please stop pulling things out of thin air just to answer every question.

To whom it may concern:

I've come across a statement that says I am propagating false information on this forum. At times, what I say may come across as delusive because it isn't worded properly or I haven't sited my sources, but I have no reason to say something untrue because I wouldn't gain anything from it. There will be times when I may have personal suggestions such as trying something natural, but I always research a method before I suggest it.

I've read medical texts that explain the whole science behind vaginal diseases and I've taken my curiosity to the next level by attending elective courses on Gynecology and Obstetrics where I learn countless things as to what causes vaginal diseases and how they can be treated and so on. I have no problem going into detail. When I read statements like this one,"But you've been saying a lot of stuff that's just plain wrong or misleading.", I can't help but feel irate on a personal level. I may never have had Bacterial Vaginosis, but I know enough to write a publication on it.

Yours Truly,
Sweaty in Social Studies

Sweaty: You've never had BV? I was under the impression you had BV and were trying different methods on here. I thought you were trying the Fem-D. I'm confused.

And I'm telling you, you don't. You very obviously don't.

Think about it. You claim expertise on BV. But someone who's had BV is telling you: NO, YOU AREN'T. Credibility is something that is earned. You don't get it by declaring you're an expert.

Let's take your 1st statement: "It seems like you may have resistant strains of bacteria." As I pointed out, that is pretty far off the mark. MOST (if not ALL) of us are here because we've had recurrences after prescription treatment. For some of us, the cycle went on for years. Antibiotic resistance is definitely a concern, but there's a more plausible reason for our suffering, and knowing that is a big part of tackling the problem.

I think this is just one example of how you're talking out of your butt. You just don't have the perspective of someone who's been through it.

As I said, just because you haven't had BV doesn't mean you can't contribute. Doctors don't have to suffer every disease in order to treat it effectively. Men can become great OB/GYN doctors despite the fact that they do not have vaginas.

But your latest set of comments are just really off the mark. And some of it is just plain wrong. (She's spotting because her period is coming? Come on. You just pulled that one straight out of your ass, and you know it.)

Another thing is: You repeat a lot of stuff that's already been discussed to death, and you keep bringing it up like it's something we've never heard of before. I'm not saying that anyone needs to be an expert to offer suggestions. But you claim to speak with authority ("I know enough to write a publication on it") and I'm telling you, you really don't. Your understanding of this topic is very shallow.

It's like you went to a Star Trek convention, and you're telling people, "Hey, did you know Capt. Kirk's middle name is Tyberius?" (Or whatever, I don't watch that show.) And everyone else will roll their eyes and say, "Yeah, we know." Well, that's ... you.

I mean, what do you expect? This is a thread for people who've had, or have, ongoing problems with BV. It's like ... having kids. If you've never raised kids, you don't really know what it's like. And even though you may have some good suggestions about raising kids, ultimately, your advice is kind of useless because your perspective is limited. And you can't blame mothers for not wanting your advice when you've never been one.

And some of the things you say are just insulting and ignorant. At some point you said, "I heard that [BV is] mainly caused by unhealthy eating habits, drinking/smoking, several sex partners, poor immune system, pollution and so on."

Once again, from the perspective of people who have been struggling with BV for years, this is just plain insulting. Some of us have tried EVERYTHING we can think of, including drastically modifying our diets and lifestyles, and going without sex for a long time even when we're in relationships. So for you to come in here and say shit like that is very upsetting. And if you had been through what most of us here have, you would know why that is upsetting.

Sorry to pimp out Personal Messages that I get, but a few posters are upset about this dynamic. Personally, I do not care what you say. I don't have the time to deal with bullshit. But your ignorant comments are pissing people off, and for some reason people are writing me about it, and I thought you should know.

Like I said, you have contributed some useful research in this group. And I'm happy to give you credit when it's due. But as I said, about 80% of the time, what you say is at the very least pointless, and at worst, insensitive and upsetting.

Also - "... irate on a personal level?" That's just hilarious. Look, this isn't about you. Instead of choosing to be personally "irate" by my comments, I think you should reflect on why I'm saying these things. Maybe, just maybe, there's some truth to it?

No one has to listen to me. But as always, I call it as I see it, and you can take that for what it's worth.

Hey random question, but has anyone tried D-Mannose? Its supposed to be a great all-natural way to prevent UTIs, but when I looked up the dosage on ClearTract (one brand), it was recommended to take 3 capsules 5X a day for the first 4 days of usage (which seems a bit extreme, and actually ends up being the whole bottle), and then afterwards to take 3 a day. Has anyone tried it?

Nope, I never had Bacterial Vaginosis. How are things going for you? I haven't heard from you in a long time.

I'm pretty sure that level of dosing is for an active infection(rather than as a preventive). I wasn't impressed with it. It's really only effective against certain strains of UTI-causing bacteria, and didn't help my mother or me when we tried it this past summer. She had a klebsiella sp. infection & mine was due to enterococcus faecalis. We both had to go the antibiotics route to get better.

Maggie C.

Hey girl
I for one am in loooove with d-mannose.
it is like my personal savior.
I was having UTI's like mad, maybe around 6
last year or something to that effect.
I tried D-mannose for my last UTI and
it didn't cure it, so i had to go on antiobiotics again (sigh)
Since then, though, i haven't had a UTI (knock on wood).
Mine were being caused by sex, so every time
i do it, i take a scoop of d-mannose (UT vibrance from
whole foods) in water.
and also clean my nether region thoroughly.
it has really, really helped me!

That ClearTract dosage does sound like alot,
but from what i recall you have to take
alot if you're trying to get rid
of an infection. I just take mine for maintainance.
xo

Hi Sweaty,

On your blog entry Jan 29th you say you just bought some Rephresh Pro B - just wondered why you if you don't have (and have never had) BV?

A while ago, I had a non-albican yeast infection. So now, I take probiotics regularly for maintenance.

Antibiotics are the mainstay of therapy for bacterial vaginosis (BV).


Metronidazole is the antibiotic of choice to treat T. vaginalis infections and bacterial vaginosis.


Studies of topically applied and orally administered yogurt/lactobacilli preparations, which supposedly used to reestablish the lactobacilli population in the vagina, have demonstrated poor and inconsistent results.


Kind Regards,
Stone

I have been suffering from BV for about 10 months. Through
thoses months it have been hell for me and my husband.
Sometimes I feel like I deserve this Bv why I feel that way
because b4 I had BV I cheated on my husband with two guys
(guess what I ended up with Bv)and I'm
Devasted and hurt by the things I did behind his back.
I guess this is my punishment. At work people talk about
Me saying I got gonnherra (however u spell it)and a lot more
STDs that causes the smell. Which I do not have because
I got tested for that 6 times already. People can be so mean
And say very hurtful things that might bother me for atleast
2mins then I'm good. Bv do make you a strong person
Everyday we take critisms and we take it anD brush that shit
Off. Sometimes it might even turn us into some mean bitch
And we take our anger out on the ones we love when this bv
Get too much. I even get hotflashes which makes the smell
Stronger. I don't know what to do anymore. I try everything
Femdo,estriol,rephresh, immune system vitamins, body cleanser
But nothing works or it takes too long to work. I don't know if I'm using it right. All I know
That I do have hemmorids with Bv LOL embrassing. There's something
Call rectocele that when the wall from your vagina and anal weaken
Causing the things in your butt to leak to the front(it could a lite leakage that can cause problems in vagina).
If I do have the Doctors will put a plastic ring up there to hold up the wall in place.
I know Im writing so much and some of y'all probably not going
Read all this but I had to get this off my chest I have No
One who understand me like y'all do. Im tired people telling me it's
All in my head.

Have anyone try this medication call celocin. This woman say
She been suffering from Bv for years.
She took www.celocin.com and it went away I just was wondering
Did anyone get prescribe that from their doctor.

Don't do that to yourself.

You messed up. You're not perfect. Nobody is. But don't spend too much time beating yourself up about it. Work on your marriage now - focus on the present and future.

Don't think that BV is punishment and get yourself down. Just deal with it constructively.


If you're suffering from anal leakage problems, that will definitely affect your vaginal health. So I think that is probably the main source of your problems, and you need to deal with that. Hopefully, getting that taken care of is the key to your vaginal health, too.

It's a good thing you've been screened for STD's. (Did you get a test for Chlamydia and Trichomoniasis, as well? If not, make sure you do.)

Advice?

I went to the Dr today with my list (each time I smelled, peed, medications I took, etc). I had an appmt later this week but freaked caused I peed yesterday and saw blood.

They took a pap, and told me I looked irritated (which it shouldnt; I havent had sex in a month). Change my detergent, keep drinking water, and mosturize my vag. Theyll call when the results come back. But it still smells once a day and it still hurts sometimes like a mofo when i pee!

I hate self-diagnosing, and the Dr was nice, but not very helpful. So I've been looking online at UTIs (I had a UTI and BV at once...I asked the dr if i get a gold star for that), and you get lower back pain from that? I thought that was from my job, but I;ve been off the past few days & its still there.

I told my bf yesterday and felt like I dork b/c I started crying, admitting I was kinda scared. I still am; I just feel like something's not right, its not just my body "trying to get back to normal."

Any suggestions? And does anyone know what kind of body oil to use to moisturize? The Dr mentioned some kind of neutrogena.

I think you are referring to Cleocin, which is a vaginal suppository type medication. It is the antibiotic commonly known as Clindamycin. I found Cleocin to last longer than the oral antibiotics, but in the end, I still had my BV come back within a month. I also know that Clindamycin has been known to actually cause strep in the vagina, so for some people it can do more harm than good.

THANKS FOR Y'ALL INFO(HELP) I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND WILL DEFINALTELY
GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! YES I GOT TESTED FOR TRICH AND ALL OTHER STD'S
I EVEN GOT MY HUSBAND TESTED TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE EVERYTHING CAME OUT NEGATIVE.
THE SMELL IS OVER BEARING B4 I COULDN'T SMELL NOTHING NOW I CAN STRONG SPOIL FISH (GROSS)!!!GOD PLEASE HELP THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE BACTERIA VAGINOSIS!!!!! IMMA PRAY FOR EVERYONE WHO HAVE TO SUFFER WITH THIS STI.

Hi Ladies,

Been lurking and trying to find what works for me...suffering from BV for about 6 months. No discharge, but there's a slight odor when I get sweaty, and the itch (which causes the broken skin/irritation) is the worst part. Used Clindesse, Flagyl (yuck) and Tindamycin...all worked for a little while, then the symptoms came back. Haven't had too much luck with the probiotics, but gonna keep trying!

hugs and support to all.

ditto to that, I just spent the day sleeping w/my bf, he brought over some lunch, but now I'm feeling gross and nauseaus, lol. Not sure if it's b/c a) he brought over burgers (since my original diagnosis I've been staying away from fatty foods, fast food, coffee/caffeine, sugar, etc, figuring it will help), All I've had today was the burgers & fries & cereal (since we slept most of the day) or c) all the pills (ugh) rolling around in my stomach, my fem-d, d-mannose, oral metro & excedrin b/c my back's been killing me today.

Sucks, though. A bunch of friends just went out for wings, and at first I'm like yeah, why not, I'll get dressed, but the thought of smelling spicy wings right now makes my insides turn.

Major support to anyone else dealing with BV or UTIs or any of the other crap!!

oops I forgot I've got a sore throat/cold thats going around (its snowing here) and all the fun achy stuff that go along with it.

horror: im so sorry to hear what you are going through! I havent had BV in approx 6 years, but last time I had it, it reared its ugly head a few days after sex w/a guy I'd been dating. Did the round of antibiotics, and sure enough, two weeks later, came back. I think it took about a year for my body to totally come around, which sucked, I was almost totally abstinent most of the time. About the smell, is it all the time? I'm getting that odor on and off but it usually shows up only when I pee, so I've been drinking about 1.5 liters of water a day and its diluting it somewhat (except for in the am; first pee of the day i cant seem to do anything about).

aijarama, ive got the same bv symptoms, only, ive never heard of it w/o the discharge, so i keep thinking its gone until i smell it. ive been terrified of even getting sweaty, so ive avoided it at all costs for the past few weeks (stopped working out, change undies multiple times a day, fan on).

ive been on flagyl myself, and ditto on the recurrence. Any luck with herbal stuff?

So you've got lower back pain? Damn.

I think lower back pain means that your kidneys are affected. Don't be alarmed, but did you get tested/treated for UTI?

Not to freak everybody out, but I'm sure everyone's heard of that Brazilian model who died recently? She had a UTI, and then it developed into Sepsis, so they cut off her hands and feet to save her life, but she died anyway. 1 month later.

That is some fucked up shit.

Anyway, do not be alarmed. I've had UTI's (they SUCK!) but I'm not an expert on them. I seriously do not know even one girlfriend who's never had one. So we all get them, and it's like nothing - but do take it seriously.

the first doctor i went to asked me if i had back pain, but at the time, I didnt. The past, maybe, two days, its just felt like, pressure, but today i took some excedrin b/c it got pretty bad. the dr i went to today i gave her a 2 page list of all of my symptoms on and off for the past month, but she didnt seem alarmed. although i am. I've never felt so crappy from a uti/bv.

So I've been in bed since 1000 PM and I feel like Im losing my mind. I said before I felt some pain and nausea, well, it got to the point I called a friend who was hospitalized for a serious kidney infection a few years back for advice. She came over,gave me some advil, calmed me down. Gave me two choices: dr first thing am, or she would take me to the emergency room then. I calmed down, waited until the pain reliever kicked in, and called my gyno's nite line. For some reason, maybe since the pain and nausea and dizziness was coming in waves, he made me feel like such a liar!

He said, "well, its very unlikely to have an infection in both kidneys unless you have stones, but why dont you come in first thing?" Thanks! And my bf flat out said, "I think you're being a little overdramatic." until he tried to get me to relax and lie flat on my back and a pain shot through and I started to cry. Then he shut up, but I still think he thinks its a bit much, which pisses me off, because he was the first one I told that I peed blood two days ago! I called in sick to work, told my mgr I had an infection and if I didnt go to the emergency room I'd be going to the dr's first thing. I dont care what I have, bv, uti, kidneys, I just dont want to lie on my back and feel that bottom pressure/pain nausea and dizziness.

Anyway the advil is wearing off and I'm feeling a little uncomfortable again, not painful, i just feel very aware of my lower sides right now. I'm going to take some more advil and probably take a shower, as I was all gross, sweaty and chilly before.

You know what I noticed it seemed to feel like? The achiness, esp in the lower back, the nausea and dizziness? Like the flu, but a uti makes it suck even more.

I guess you're at the doctor's now? I hope?

I hope you get this all sorted out. If it hurts, TELL THE DOCTOR. Do not let them shame you into thinking that you are overreacting. That's my advice. Well, you're probably already there, so it's useless. But good vibes to you anyway.

Don't worry. Antibiotics should kill this off right quick.

I really hope I didn't freak you out with the dead Brazilian model story. But I'm glad you're getting this taken care of.

I not a expert in the medical field but my mother is nurse in hospital. Everytime I had my period
and it hurt so bad I will pop all diffrent over counter medication(ex: advil etc) MY MOTHER TOLD IF I KEEP
TAKING PILLS EVERYTIME I HAVE A ACHE I'M GOING HAVE KIDNEY PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE PILLS DOSEN'T
DISSOLVE FAST AS YOU THINK IT LAYS ON TOP OF YOUR KIDNEY. TAKING TOO MUCH OVER THE COUNTER
PAIN KILLER COULD CAUSE TO HAVE A KIDNEY FAILURE. LOOK AT THE INFANT OVER COUNTER MEDICATION
WHEN MY BABIES GET SICK AND I ASK ABOUT THE OVER COUNTER MEDICATION THEY TELL ME NOT TO USE THEM
BECAUSE BABIES WERE DYING TAKE THEM.( it was on the news) BASICALLY I'M SAYING DON'T GO CRAZY OVERDOSING COUNTER PAIN KILLERS.

LOL dont worry Lori I left the dr's office 4 hours ago, and I dont do a lot of over the counter stuff, I took 2 excedrin, and when the pain came back after 2 hours, I took 3 advil instead and that was it for the night. Went to the doc this morning, he did a sonogram and he said he couldnt find anything, but instead put me on 2 more antibiotics for UTIs. (grr thats what I didnt want). I was told it could be one of 3 things, 1. kidney infection (ding ding!!) 2. kidney stones 3. other (seriously, he said other). I think its an infection. Too much of a coincodence for me to have a UTI, have it "clear up," and come back again and suddenly I've got back pain and nausea. Said if I still felt terrible in a day he'd do a cat scan. Pissed me off, though, he called my g.p. for the results of my first urine test a month ago, and guess what? There was blood!! But the (excuse me) f*kn first doctor didnt see it as cause for alarm so he never told me. Nice. Would've been nice to let me know.

So I'm home, my sides are tender but not excruciating, I've got some prescription painkillers but there's a 99.9% chance I won't take them (they usually get me sick, so if im desperate enough to take them that would be pretty bad).

I keep massaging my back, hoping it'll go away.

I'm not sure but I think it off and on. Right after I use the bathroom the smell do get stronger no matter how or what I wipe up with
the baby wipes was making the smell stronger I guess it was irratating down there. I should start drinking lots of water too. Its kinda hard to cut off sex my husband is a horn dog when he don't get none let's say he gets his period LOL

I know it will go away we not going YES IT CAN GO AWAY!! I feel like your doctor is being very inconsiderate
with your feeling and your health. Peeing blood and all he do is give you pain killers. he should automatically be thinking
its your kidney or uti had a affect on it. do you go to a hospital or a family practice? im upset bcuz there is alot of
doctors that only care about the money then there patient.

Hey nik - I've still been playing around with probiotics and folic acid, I guess I can say that things are better but the problem is still there. I also thought that maybe the itching could be due to the hair there (I keep it short, so maybe it irritates the labia). Oddly enough, my last culture came back negative, so maybe the issue just comes and goes. So we'll see. What have you been doing?

I have been reading this post to see if there is anything that any one has said that could help me. But the truth is everyone is going through the same thing that i am. i have had the gel and pills. there was one pill that i did get that gave me relief for about 6 months. i cant remember the name but it is expensive and i have no insurance. i have been suffering with this for many years. i have tried hydrogen peroxide which works very temperary. i have heard of all kinds of home remedies and they dont work any better than the vaginal gel stuff. i know what everyone is going through.

i would like to say one thing to lori. i have read some of the things you have said and i am currently a medical student. what bothers me is how you gave sweaty a really hard time. alot of the things she has said are medically true and i dont understand why you have said the things you have said. i completely understand what she has said. and you gave her a hard time about advise she has given. but how many times has any of us been to a male ob/gyn and had medicine perscribed . men do not get this so they do not know what we are going through so whether or not she has had this is irrelevant.

i have been suffering with this for a long time and i want to know if anyone has found a hospital or university that is doing a research on this. a lot of times if there is research they need volunteers. im at the point where i am ready to be a human test subject. i am going out of my mind becuase i spend so much tiime keeping my distance from people, not sitting with my legs open and even not dating. i dont even know if any one can smell any thing but i know it is there.

if anyone has any suggestions please help.

No, they are not.

Someone writes to say that she is spotting after a pap. And Sweaty said that the spotting is probably because her period is coming? That is just FLAT-OUT WRONG.

Just one example.


Well, you know what bothers me? The way that Sweaty is treating people like guinea pigs. She's talking up products, and trying to get people to use them, and report back to her on the results.

This personally bothers me a lot, because I've always been very conscientious about never pushing any treatment on anyone, unless I've made sure that it's safe and effective. And it apparently bothers other people, too.

Again, this is about sensitivity. We've all been through trying various remedies, and despairing when they don't work. Not to mention the money and time wasted. It's very discouraging to get your hopes up about something, and have it fail YET AGAIN. Apparently, you are very familiar with how this feels!

So I don't appreciate someone who keeps saying, "Hey, have you tried THIS NEW THING I'VE HEARD OF ONCE? Please buy it, use your body as a test subject, and tell me how it goes!"

There's nothing wrong with people talking about any treatment or asking about it. But Sweaty doesn't have any personal stake in it. She's just merely curious.

Do I need to explain further why this is so offensive?


Hey. That is the exact point that I made already.

But OBVIOUSLY - even if someone has never had a condition, they should demonstrate knowledge, caring, and sensitivity. This is not the case with Sweaty. She's said things that are really insensitive, obtuse, and just plain wrong.

Like I said, credit where credit is due - she has contributed some great research that have been useful.

But the whole guinea pig thing - it's offensive, disrespectful, and needs to stop.

Hi!

I'd recommend that you see a Board Certified Gynecologist. I remember being misdiagnosed countless times. My doctor assumed I had a regular yeast infection and prescribed me Flagyl, which didn't work because I didn’t have a regular yeast infection in the first place. I think the Flagyl might've made things worse. I'd been going in and out of the doctor’s office until I was finally referred to a specialist. Low and behold, I was properly diagnosed and prescribed medication when my infection cleared up!

You can check to see if your doctor is Board Certified by going to the American Board of Medical Specialties. Some doctor's get puzzled and assume you have this when you actually have that, or they give you the wrong dosage etc, which can be stressful because some of those prescription medications can have a negative effect on your system.

I truly feel bad for you. Vaginal odor can be a real downer at times. Since your open to suggestions, I'd love to help you out.

Yours truly,
Sweaty in Social Studies

P.S. Thank you for coming in my defense, I really do appreciate it.

That's very strange.

Flagyl isn't prescribed for regular yeast infections. And would any doctor prescribe antibiotics for a yeast infection?

I can't imagine even a crackpot doctor being that off the mark.

Hey guys, dont post very much but thought this would b an article to think about. An i dont mean to scare anyone but its very serious, an something that we dealing with BV should take to mind.

www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2164939

Thanks for sharing that. First sentence of abstract of article:

"Epidemiologic studies indicate that bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common alteration of lower genital tract flora in women, is associated with increased susceptibility to HIV infection."

Having BV makes you more vulnerable to HIV and other STD's. Basically, your usual defenses are weakened when you've got BV raging down there.

Just yet another reason why I keep saying that BV is a serious problem that shouldn't be treated just by "deodorant" or "mouthwash" solutions.

Hello to everyone! I'm new here and very confused about myself...It's a little embarrassing but I'm having problems with odor, I shower everyday and as the day progresses it gets stronger, it's kind of an oyster, fishy smell and I am so self concious about it. I also have a lot of clear discharge (very annoying). It all started in the third trimester of my last pregnancy, I thought it would have gone away after I had the mirena IUC put in at the end of Dec. '08, but no such luck. I have looked into this product called rephresh but it requires you to insert gel into your vagina and I'm afraid it will move the mirena. If anyone could help me with stories of your experiences it would be very, very much appreciated! Thank you.

Where you checked out by a Gynecologist yet? It's normal to have discharge because the vagina is a self cleaning organ, but if your experiencing a lot of discharge which is also accompanied by an odor, I'd suggest you get examined.

Sorry to bear the bad news, but doctors are reallllly NOT supposed to put in an IUD when you've got an active infection some even go so far as to prescribe preventative antibiotics at the insertion appointment.

Anyway, Rephresh won't move your Mirena (I mean, it's designed to stick around while you're having sex!), but it won't cure your (probable) BV, either. I recommend getting a smear, having them culture it, and then hopefully taking the right antibiotics for the job... and taking them with probiotics, and reading Lori's blog...

Good luck!

This BV is killing me softly. I haven't use femdo in over a month and i decided to use it
again to help with my ph level. I took two pills orally and guess what i was stinking hard FISH!!!
It was like femdo was fighting my with the bacteria. The bacteria WON that battle DANG!!!
I WAS AT WORK TOO. I WORK ON THE SALES FLOOR IN TARGET SO YOU KNOW ALOT OF PEOPLE ALWAYS
THERE AND COME AROUND ME THEN SAY HURTFUL THINGS OR WALK OUT B4 THEY EVEN STEP IN THE AISLE IM IN.

hey ladies

I been having BV off and on every since i been on birth control( depo). I think birth control have alot to do with BV, no matter what method it is. I been taking Femanol for one week now and onm praying that it work, i only ordered one month of supply of the femanol, but if it work im goin to order a six month supply. Have anyone else tried Femanol?

Hi everyone, I'm new too and i wsas searching the net for info on re-occurring vagianl odor...I have had bv in the past...about 8-10 years ago,however it went away with the metrodiozole...well recently about a month ago ihad spotting after my period and shortly following that i had intercourse with my husband and realized the familiar smell of bv..i was so in denial that i could have bv because i am so cautious of what feminine products i use ...well unfortunately i went to the doctor and it was confirmed that i had it and i immediately got the prescription filled...i took the prescibed peels and i thought my worries were over. This month after my period, once again after intercourse i notice a smell however the smell isnt distinctly fishy....it just smells unfresh and similar but not as strong. Im wondering if it is the reoccurrance of bv? i havent had any other symptoms but after reading alot of the blogs im wondering if this is the begining of the endless issue...im wondering what is the trigger, and whats causing the imbalance of ph....my husband and i dont have an open relationship..not implying that its sexually transmitted but im really wondering what the hell! I have to say that its very embarrassing and uncomftorable...im almost wondering too is this an indicator of something more serious. My doctor looked at it under the microscope and immediately identified it last month, it seems like she really brushed me off...should i jjust get another Rx? or will it be a waste of time....

I believe it's a dud product - not that I've tried it, I almost ordered it, but some ladies in here have tried it and it didn't work - and I think the company were pretty reluctant to give refunds as they claim they will on their website.

It seems like a money-spinner, cashing on our vulnerability and desperation to cure BV.

So I wouldn't order a six month supply if I were you. If you live in the US there's a product called Fem Dophilus which appears to be the most effective way of home treating BV. It's a pro biotic and the strains in it are especially good for populating healthy bacteria in your vagina, which is really the aim in getting rid of BV, rather than masking the odour.

There's a lady who posts in here called Lori - take a look at her blog (the link for it can be found at the end of her posts) it's a good guide to home treating methods that have been tried and tested by BV sufferers.

Good luck.

Even though I haven't tried FemD just keep going with it - so many women seem to have had relief with that product, but it takes time to rebalance everything.

Stay positive. I'm so sorry to hear about your experiences at work. Have you been tested for BV/everything else?

Hey, just wanted to say my smell isn't exactly fishy either - I know BV discharge is often described as 'fishy', but oddly - the only time mine is fishy is when I've eaten fish which makes me think how connected the things we eat are to what our vaginas are getting up to.

Finally! Someone else who smells fishy after eating fish! I can't take fish oil capsules either, which bums me out. The only kind of fish that doesn't do it is tuna & some salmon. When I take peppermint-oil capsules for indigestion, I smell like eucalyptus! Sigh.

Hey, i was just wondring if ur husband is circumsized because i think that that play a major part n vaginal odor. My bf of 9 years isnt circumsized an i never had this problem until i met him.