[mi48187]

I saw another post about bacterial vaginosis on the forum, and i have a question about it-I know its sort of annoying when a new person pops up just to ask a question, so sorry about that, i just really wanted to get a second opinion...

I wasnt able to get in to my gynocologist because of his office hours, but I really wanted to get on some birth control- I had my baby 10 months ago, and havent been having a lot of sex since, and I think its partially a mental block. I think that subconsciously, I dont want to have sex without being on the pill for fear of getting pregnant again so soon after my baby. Anyway, Im getting off track.

So, he refused to prescribe them unless I came in to the office so he could weigh me first. Not actually for an appointment, just to stop in, have the nurse jot down my weight, and then leave. No other problems, clean paps, no history of bloodclots, non smoker, no real risk factors for problems if I went back on the pill. And I dont weigh what I did before I got pregnant, but Im pretty ed close- Im not overweight or underweight. Im average. Theres really no reason for him to want my weight before giving me the pill. I told my regular doctor about this and she agreed. She said that she would prescribe the birth control for me if I got my latest pap results for her first. I had a pap back in September. So I called the gyno office, and had them mail it to me so I could take it to her.

So when I get the results, it says that my pap was fine, but that I had Bacterial Vaginosis. My doctor never told me this. Ever. He didnt tell me at the time of the exam, and didnt call when the results came back, which they obviously did because they were in my file. And no one bothered to tell me that I had BV. I havent had a whole lot of symptoms, but I looked it up online, and learned that having BV and leaving it untreated can lead to a lot of problems, including increased risk of STDs.

So what I really wanted the second opinion on is this...

Am I overreacting? Because this seems like a really big deal to me. That I had (have?) an infection, and my doctor never bothered to tell me or treat it. Thoughts?

[robbin]

well to doctors it s not really that big of a deal and it can clear up on its own sometimes. my doctor didn't tell me either. she kept saying well its just a yeast infection (without checking me) but the stuff coused seriuos discomfort and made it worse. so i web mded it and thats how i found out what it was and how to treat it without going to the doctors. also when you're pregnant they can't give you antibiotics for it. and, the antibiotics don't keep it from coming back and when it does come back, it's usually worse! ask your doctor but there is a vitamin suppliment calledprimadophilus rueteri go to testyourvagina.com vaginosis.com

[robbin]

i sent this to my friend who has reocurring BV like me



Do not douche- douching often upsets the natural ph of the vagina and promotes the growth of bad bacteria. Cleaning the outside of the vagina is sufficient, since the vagina is able to cleanse itself on the inside.
Wearing clean under wear- by changing underwear regularly the growth of bacteria is inhibited. It is recommended that 100% cotton underwear is worn to avoid irritation from other fibers and to allow proper aeration.
Wipe from front to back- this is true for both after urination and a bowel movement. This keeps bacteria away from the vagina.
Wash regularly- cleaning the outside portions of the vagina can also keep bacteria at check. It is important to use products that are not heavily scented or contain lots of chemicals as these may also be irritants.
Avoid tight undergarments and pants- this helps to ensure that there is proper air circulation that will keep the vaginal area dry.
Supplements- include supplements such as vitamin C, zinc and garlic in your diet that can help combat bacteria and infections.
For decades, some women have used Lactobacillus acidophilus in yogurt or supplements to treat bacterial vaginosis. But dairy lactobacillus does not work for bacterial vaginosis. This is because dairy lactobacillus is not the kind of bacteria that normally live in the vagina.8

Researchers are studying the two different types of lactobacillus-L. crispatus and L. jensenii-that are most commonly found in a healthy vagina.7 These lactobacilli may prove to be an effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

so DO NOT USE THE LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS JUST THE PRIMADOPHILUS RUETERI!
use neutrogena glycerin soap and when you wash your underwear use like the free and clear laundry detergent and no scented fabric softener.
womens-health.com is a great website for all kinds of things.



the whole article on this link is very helpful read it and if it doesnt show just search bacterial vaginosis on the bodyecology website.
~Robbin