Vanessa

Ginger Ark-

You are amazing! The sophistication with which you write is quite impressive, as is your medical knowledge! Thank you for sharing all your research and wisdom.

I've NEVER had this thing until last November. I'm now 42 and have plenty of sexual partners, but I bedded a new boyfriend last September. It didn't take long for me to realize something was horribly wrong.

I went to the doctor and got Clindesse. It worked for awhile but the smell came back. Because my boyfriend is a physician, I had him call me in another prescription. Again, it worked for awhile but the smell came back...again. REPEAT CYCLE!! Also added Rephresh, per doctor's advice. Finally visited my GYN again and got Flagyl. We treated me AND my boyfriend, who was less than thrilled about missing his wine for awhile! It worked for 4 weeks...now I have it back, again. !!!!

I looked at my calendar. The pattern is clear - the BV comes back after my period has finished. I could do another course of antibiotics but we all know what would happen.

I bought the Femdophilus today at Vitamin Shoppe. It was pricey - $19.99 for 30 capsules. ( I plan on purchasing the Primadophilus Reuteri on-line now, as it is much less expensive!) I've already taken 3 today. I also bought the rip-off Vagisal test kit today and my Ph looks to be around 4.5-5. Not too horrible, but too high. I'm thinking about pouring a bottle of hydrogen peroxide up there but not sure if that would be a good idea. I bought Aci-Gel from New Zealand instead...

I'm still smelly so hoping the probiotics will help in a day or two. If not I guess I'll do a course of Metro-Gel and chug down the probiotics at the same time...

I'd like to check my Ph regularly but feel the strips Ginger Ark recommends are still too expensive. I purchased these (link below) and will tape them to a pediatric tongue depressor. Should work - I'll let you all know!! Very inexpensive - only $16 for 100!

If symptoms don't resolve, I'll visit my GYN again and present him with the article on Atopobium vaginae. Maybe 7-10 days of Ceftin or Durifef (cefadroxil)???

I love sex WAY TOO MUCH to let this get the best of me! I'll get to the bottom of this!!

BTW...I am wondering if the problem could be THIS boyfriend. Again, never had this before with any other guy. Could his penis/skin just be too alkaline for me??? I've noticed a lot of women on this site notice onset of symptoms with a new partner...