[Sarah001]

Hi everyone, I have been very sore in my vulval area for 7 weeks now and have been tested for all STIs (negative) thrush (negative) and bacterial vaginosis 3 times (negative twice but now positive). The clinic that confirmed I do have BV today have said they don't think it is the source of my vulvar pain and offered me the antibiotics but said as I don't have alot of discharge or the associated fishy odour it might clear on its own. I declined the antibiotics for now as they said they have awful side effects and it could lead to me then getting thrush, then back to BV then thrush etc so for now I'm not taking them. My question is does anyone have or has anyone had BV that has caused alot of constant soreness in the vulval area? I have no itching at all, no discharge or odour. If it's the BV causing the soreness what's the best method of treating it? Does the ph gel work?

[sweety79]

Yes, finally someone else has experienced vulvar pain as well. I have had BV for over a year now and I have vulvar pain, but I never see anyone else that experences pain with it. I have sadly been treated with antibiotics three times and I still have the BV, so I really cannot help you much except to let you know that you are not alone. However some women are treated and have no more problems with BV, but then there are those that have BV over and over again.

[Sarah001]

Thanks for the reply sweety79, I've searched online and there are a number of posts from women with BV who have soreness problems and some websites that state you can get soreness from it so I'm assuming some of us do and some don't. I've got very sensitive skin so maybe that's why. At the moment I'm trying Acidophilus by mouth and also using a capsule as a pessary twice a day and I've ordered some Balance Activ Gel which apparently should restore the proper ph in 7 days so I'll let you know how I get on with these things. All my redness and soreness is inside, not on the area where hair grows, and it extends up into the vagina according to the consultant who examined me yesterday. Does that sound similar to you? I don't see what else it could be with me as I'm clear for everything else.

[sweety79]

Do you have burning with urination as well? One thing that I have had some success with has been fem-dophilus. It has by no means completely got rid of the BV, but it has lessen the symptoms and at times it feels like I don't even have BV. Let me know if you have any success.

Best of luck!!!!

[Sarah001]

I get burning where the urine hits the vulva on the way out but no burning in the actual urethra. That's interesting that the femidophilus has helped, it gives me hope the acidophilus will help me. Do you have red inflamed skin visible on examination? It's so nice to chat with someone who has the same symptoms as me!

[sweety79]

It is nice to finds someone that is going through the same experience. I don't have constant redness, sometime its red and other times more normal. So it tends to come and go for me. My symptoms tend to range intensity during the month as well.

[Sarah001]

I have to say because my soreness and red inflamed skin is constant I'm seriously considering the antibiotics as a one off, I've got a doctors appointment on Tuesday so I'll run it by her then. I'm still waiting for the gel I ordered, bank holiday and all that, but I could try the antibiotics and then follow them up with this gel that's supposed to keep the ph correct. I don't see what else could be causing the soreness for me, I'm negative for everything else and most places I look online give sore inflamed skin in the vagina and vulva as a possible symptom. I'll let you know if I find anything that works.