I have had bv for almost 5 years now. There is never an odor, or if there is it is only slight. I have whitish discharge and stinging pain. I have been cultured many times and it comes back as strep, staph, or e coli, or a combo. My ph is always elevated. The new doc I have been working with says that I have no lactobacillis and that until I get that built back up I will be in this cycle. He does not recommend using the lactobacillis vaginally - although I am ready to try it anyway. I am now awaiting my last culture results and suffering with painful irritation. I have begun to use the estring to try to normalize the ph (hysterectomy 7 years ago). I take a probiotic in the morning, eat ativia, a different probiotic in the evening. I have tried all kinds of vitamins, supplements, etc. I am sick of the cycle. Has anyone else been here and recovered? How long did it take?