[apat86]

I too, suffer from chronic BV. My current husband (and ONLY sex partner) since 2002 have a difficult time dealing with this. I get the same answers from all doctors: flagyl, no douching, cotton underwear, wipe front to back, etc... Nothing seems to work. It comes on shortly after my cycle, and leaves shortly before I start again. So, out of every month I only have about 4-5 days of bliss! My diet has not changed my entire life, nor has anything else. My husband and I have both been treated - to no avail. The only wierd thing is that he is the only man I have had this trouble with. In my previous marriage and other monogamous relationships I have never experienced this. I dated this man (my current husband) in the past - and developed BV; ended the relationship - no BV. We are together again (since 2002) - and guess what - BV!!!!! I'm wondering if my PH levels are being thrown off by his bodily fluids? He understands there's nothing I can do - but it's soooooooo UN-sexy! I'm trying yogurt - orally and vaginally - I hope it works - even if I have to do this every month.................it will be much better than "leaking and smelling"!! Any advice would be great - thanks

I have suffered from this for many years and recently found out i am allergic to my husbands fluids. Yes I am allergic to my husband but taking steps to prevent this has helped us a lot. Apparently with his fluids and mine combined it cause overload of bacteria which causes the BV to be rapid and harder to get rid of. Though you cant get rid of it completely you can lower your risk of symptoms.

[fwtchr]

Hey Clarity, thanks for the encouragement. I'm actually allergic to amoxycillan and several others as well (keflex, sulfas). Maybe that's why the dr has only prescribed the gel?? Hopefully what I'm doing now will keep working. Everything is still good today. I really can't believe it and keep checking for any trace of smell. I'm so thankful I found this site. You are also so wonderful for sharing your ideas.

[clarity]

Hey fwtchr,

sorry to hear about your situation... definitely not surprised that the gel did not work for you, I've used it a few different times and bv always comes back shortly after its done. Ive had better luck with amoxicillan as an antibiotic, so i'd recommend giving that a try if your symptoms come back. But dont wirry too much, this is a common thing you will get it cleared up. I had chronic bv for about 2 years but now everything is fine =) it'll get better just stick it out. Also, I used the peroxide wash too, I found that it worked to cover the symptoms up but they always came back and it caused some discomfort. I know a lot of women swear by it though. Good Luck!

[fwtchr]

Hi Girls,
I've been reading this forum for a few weeks and wanted to share my experience and what seems to be working so far, thanks to all of your advice. I was diagnosed with bv about 18 months ago after my annual pap. I had no symptoms at the time but the dr. called and said I had an infection. She gave me a prescription for the gel. I used it as instructed only to have the bv come right back but with actual symptoms this time. I've never had any discomfort but I have the discharge and terrible fishy smell. At first it was only after sex and my period but it has gotten increasingly worse so that I have it all the time now (but MUCH worse after sex). I used rephresh gel for awhile and that helped temporarily. But my husband has started mentioning the smell after sex and now I can't enjoy it at all because I'm too busy worrying. So I came here for help and have tried a few things that seem to be working. Here's what I've been doing...

• Daily vitamin c orally (500mg)
• Daily probiotic orally (Ultimate Flora Extra Care)
• Daily rinse using peroxide, white vinegar, water mixture (I tried just perox. and water but it seems to work much better with the vinegar added to it.)
• Letting myself completely air dry after showering before putting on underwear

I've been doing this for 5 days now and the smell is almost down to zero and the discharge I have is mostly clear. The big test will come this weekend when we have sex. I've been avoiding it for a couple of weeks now. I'll also be on my period in about a week, so we'll see about that too. I plan on using the Rephresh Brilliant tampons. I've used them in the past but not paired with these other things I'm doing. If necessary, the next thing is to add the folic acid to my regimen. But maybe I won't even need to try anything else. I'm praying to God that I've finally gotten a handle on this. It's so nice to just smell normal. I'll let you all know how it goes with hubby.

[princessmonroe]

I literally never post to threads but I experienced BV for 2 months straight and wouldn't wish on a enemy (ok maybe on a enemy lol). The scent for me was extremely strong and made me very self-conscious. I was shopping at a health store ready to attempt another live culture douche and saw Kombucha tea and remembered a former co-work swore be it an decided to grab one I wasn't originally getting for BV treatment but after an hour the sent was gone and after showering so was the discharge. I is worth everyone trying it only took a bottle and if fairly cheap. It has been a week and I am cheerful to be scent free and not have to take 40 showers a day.

[taryn]

sorry, posted in wrong place, but how do you use the pulsatilla?

[taryn]

how do u use the pulsatilla?

I have also had many problems with BV for AGES. My immediate relief has been found in the form of a homeopath. A more expensive remedy but works immediately and by the time you have paid out for so many prescriptions with the doc you will probably have made a saving! 3 X Pulsatilla 30c (available over the counter in most pharmacy's homeopath range) over 3 days worked for me, however you should get diagnosed by a trained homeopath as remedy is based on emotional causes as well as physical. Bonus = no internal examination needed :-) It will linger here and there but starts healing within a month and the smell goes straight away I am also prone to warts, sinusitus and after a month seeing how the pulsatilla went, I have been given thuja 30c which is wart, sinus based plus is helping BV further. Prior to this I was using apple cider vinegar which - GREAT - works for a day or two but also smells itself and a girl doesn't have to keep living like this! Go 4 it, take a chance on pulsatilla or thuja or book an apptmt with your nearest homeopath. Danger in going alone is that remedies can bring out other mild symptoms (pulsatilla got rid of my BV but brought on headaches, hence thuja) so they may need to give u follow up remedy. Good Luck

[Happygirl83]

Ladies,
I would like to share with you the cure I found that really work for me, it's cheap, safe and QUICK!

First, I had BV for about 6-7 months but I've been treater for the first time 5 months ago. I tried the messy antibiotic cream twice and the oral antibiotic as well. So total I had been treated 3 times in 5 months. Like most woman, the bv returned 2 weeks after the antibiotics. The only symptom I had was the fishy odor during sex. I didn't have the itching symptom or the pain during intercourse. Only the odor. Sooooo embarrasing. After the 3rd treatment, my doctor told me that antibiotic is not good because it kills all the bad and good bacteria. We need good bateria. So she suggested to try taking Acidophilus while taking the antibiotics so the good bacteria would stay in my vagina. I tried.... but didn't work So I did a lotttttt of research and try to find a natural way to get rid of bv. I tried the probiotic yogurt tampon.... way to messy.

After a lot of research, I decided to try the Boric Acid suppositories. Actually, I wanted a product that people said it works (I don't remember the name) but it's not available in Canada. I've read a lot on the product and the main ingredient is Boric Acid. Boric Acid suppository is also a treatment against bv. So I thought OK let's give it a try. The only thing is that here in Canada, you have to do them yourself. Or I thing you can ask your pharmacist to do them for you. So I went at the pharmacie, and bought Boric Acid powder (you have to ask the pharmacist it's behind the counter but you don't need a prescription) and I took the Acidophilus capsule that I had (you can also buy empty capsules), empty them and put Boric Acid in them instead. Ok it's sounds complicated but it's not. FYI, Boric Acid is not dangerous at all... ask your pharmacist, he'll tell you. It's sound dangerous because of the "acid" but it's not. Then, at night, just before you go to bed, you insert a capsule in your vagina as far as you can. The day after you have to wear a little napkin because you'll be wet. I heard that people said it burns or stuff like that, but I've never experience anything like that. I would say do it for a week, but even after 3 days, the smell is gone. I did it for 6 days straight and then stopped for couple days and after 3-4 days the smell came back. So now, once in a while, like every 3 days, I would insert a caps at night and do it 2 days in a row. Just to make sure the smell doesn't come back while i'm having sex. I don't know if the BV is still there and that the boric acid just control the odor. But at least the odor is gone. I have to get my pap test done soon, I'll ask to be tested for BV as well.

I wanted to share that with you guys because I would have liked to see a post like this when I was desesperated. Try it and let me know if it works for you as well.

Good luck!

[Mbkk44]

Apologies for some of my spelling the edit timed out too quick to correct, iPads are just not good at being self correcting

[Mbkk44]

Ok ladies I am not a doctor, but I do have 27 years of working with my wife to try and sort BV , I am a man of 52 , my wife is 46. Stunning and most men would love to sleep with her, but sadly she and I have lived with this issue for years and spent £10000 plus to cure it.......firstly you can't !!!! But there is a way to reduce the symptoms as follows:- this is what we have done over the years.

A) get the right consultant on your side, often men are better in understanding the issue as they are often the first to know the smell and the concerns it causes a relationship.
B) dont use baths, soap, or wash the area other than with a clean towel damp, clean showers are ok.
C) be careful about your mans hygiene as well
D) make sure you wee before and after sex....straight away, this has been seen to flush bacteria away as urine is sterile.
E) my wife found about 25 years after seeing a lovely Arab doctor who was then little understood but he knew about this issue back in the 80's that a heavy does of METRINIDOZOLE for 3-6 months every day did stop the symptoms , caused thrush, but it did help and then a once week dose every few days or once a week.
F) my wife also takes an alternative antibiotic (can't remember the name sort) less strong when she gets thrush too severe.
G) sadly you men will have to realise that you can have too regular sex, on a good week twice, on a bad none and only every two weeks, sex stirs up the hormones and BV levels.
H) HRT and taking the mini pill has also helped getting the balances correct.
J) men no oral sex on the lady sorry but your bacteria can set it off.
K) sadly but last men you must wear a condom for ever, no more sperm in the Virginia , it can and does trigger it off, also men its important that you keep clean as it has been know to give non speicific problems to men, so also take a wee after sex.

We still have good sex, watch porn movies together, wank together , she gives me a great BJ and some anus play, we have fantastic sex when we can, I miss it , of course I do, but the wife does help me get over my sex drive, sometimes she feels so smelly (even if I say she is not) that it puts here off sex, so I have to go and watch some web stuff or see web cam not as good but takes the tension put. I have had to learn to allow her to give the hint.

Men, it's no joke, it make me angry at times, but when I come off my high male horse I have to just understand. If you saw how pretty my wife is and how sexy she can be and look, and that she can't back that look up, it must be very sad, sometimes I wish I had no sex drive but that don't last for long LOL. Learn to help your lady, get the best doctor, interrogate them, do they understand the issues, if any of them say they can cure it , tell them to get lost, no known cure.

I do hope this helps some of you, it can be managed to some degree, but girls you need to cate a group and publish the problem big time, only then will the medical world get off thier backside and realise the issue needs some money and will make many couples very happy if it can be controlled.
PM me if I can give more info

Martin
Bottom line sorry ladys nothing works full stop, ie: nothing will end it forever. But what I have stated above is what we have learnt