[carebear428]

hello and thank you

I wanted to thank all who have contributed their stories and remedies to this thread. After reading the info here and doing some of my own research, I have devised a plan for myself which I hope will be very effective. I hope to update other BV sufferers to encourge others to try home remedies as well.

I have suffered from BV for 8 years and didn't know what was really wrong with me until about 3 years ago. Even at that time, I didn't have the patience for home remedies, plus I was living with my grandparents and would have been moritfied if they had suspected me putting yogurt or other things in my vagina, lord forbid! I actually felt defeated and had almost resigned myself to living this way, until last week, when my EXTREMELY supportive boyfriend had gently mentioned that my smell was displeasing and the reason why he didn't always initiate sex when he wanted to. It was hard to hear that, but really, he has been kind and gentle about this problem for going on 4 years. I feel like its time to take control back over my body, and have the sex life I always dreamed of with the man I love. Heres my plan:

1. Clindesse to get rid of the years and years of yucky bad bacteria, sort of a fresh start. I had some on hand from a failed gyno visit last year (you know, the visit where your gyno brushes of your concerns and writes out a script.....)

2. Hydrogen-peroxide vaginal wash once a day for one week, then as needed after sex or during/after my period.

3. Probiotics of L. rhamanosus and L. reuteri, taken both orally and vaginally. I am waiting for my Femdophilus to come in the mail, then I will take 3/day orally and 1 every other day vaginally until I feel ready to slowly decrease my intake (after the colonies are reestablished).

4. Aci Jel to help maintain vaginal pH <4.5, definitely after sex and after my period. I am also waiting for that to come in the mail, I will probably do a couple days of Aci Jel before doing intravaginal probiotics, then alternate the two treatments.

5. Other steps such as no panties at night, using condomns for the next few months until things are normal, and taking other dietary supplements will all contribute to continued vaginal health. I think steps 2-4 are most important in establishing a healthy vaginal environment.


So far I have just done the clindesse and hydrogen peroxide wash while waiting for my other products to come in the mail. I have been odor-free for 5 days and it feels great, however, I haven't had sex or had my period, so I know the BV will be back if I don't get some happy bacteria back in me, lol. Oh, and I did one of those Vagisil pH kits, it said my pH is 5.5 (still too high), but the kit came with two testers, so I will do a retest after a few weeks to a month of my home treatment plan.

I want to thank everyone for the advice and ideas that contributed to my plan. I want to update everyone in the future, I feel very very hopeful that this can be a pernanent cure for me. I can plan on taking probiotics for the rest of my life, with peroxide washes and Aci Jel treatments occasionally, as needed. I would be perfectly happy with that if it means a spontaneous, clean, odor-free sex life, and no worry or embarrassment of a bad odor at the end of my 12 hour work day. Take care and good luck to all of you.

[kpq570]

Chronic BV

OMG....I thought I was the only one suffering from this condition. I have been fighting with this condition for years now. It is just recurring. I have been on pill form flagyl along with Clindesse, I have done Clindesse alone. I have done flagyl alone, I have done Metrinidazole cream. Me and my partner have washed before and after sex. I sleep with no underpants on. I am soooooo frustrated with this condition. It has now become life altering and I am so sick of it. I have noticed it would come after my periods and then I got an ablation and I have no periods now and I am still dealing with them...I am at my wits end. I am just glad..someone else can relate. This is something that no one wants to talk about, so you really don't know how many people around you are dealing with this. I am now a single woman and am afraid to have a new sex partner because sometimes the odor only is noticeable during sexual intercourse. How mortifying if you have not shared your condition with your partner. That felt good to vent...thanx

KPQ

[msoftshell]

I have been dealing with this since I was pregnant. My daughter just turned 12 years old!!! I thought I had a veneral disease. All my tests came back negative. My gyn told me it was a bacterial infection, and gave me the Metro, which in turn gave me the worst yeast infection I have ever had. Then he gave me something to clear that up, needless to say-it came back after a month. I tried everything(a friend recommended douching with bleach!!!) That didnt work. I was at my wits end. I have been with the same partner for over 6 years, he smells it.Its horrible that fishy odor. I work in a small office, I know if I can smell it, so can they. No intimacy in my relationship, sex maybe twice a month. I'm 33 yrs old. I finally got frustrated and went online, since my doctor wasn't helping me. I came upon this websiite, and was literally in tears. I thought I was the only person dealing with this. Always thinking that something was wrong. Some people smell so clean. Im dealing with a discharge everyday and that smell!!! I tried a mixture of hydrogen peroxide (70%) and distilled vinegar (30%) and the smell and discharge was gone in hours!!!! I didn't have to wear a pantyliner in years. My boyfriend, said you are glowing. We had sex 4 times the next day. There was absolutely no smell, no discharge. I was alot tighter, but that was a relief after years of my boyfriend thinking that I was cheating on him-because I was always so wet down there. Its been a week and half. And still no smell. Some lower back pain. But I feel renewed, more confident. Not afraid to go around others, always knowing that I smell bad. I'm hoping that this will keep working. I douche every other day now and after sex. If it comes back, I've made notes of other remedies I've found on this site. Thank you all so much. And I hope and pray, that one day they find a real cure for this, and all women, don't have to live with such an awful, life-hindering infection. THANKS AGAIN

[Ginger_Ark]

I tried a mixture of hydrogen peroxide (70%) and distilled vinegar (30%) and the smell and discharge was gone in hours!!!! I didn't have to wear a pantyliner in years. My boyfriend, said you are glowing. We had sex 4 times the next day. There was absolutely no smell, no discharge. I was alot tighter, but that was a relief after years of my boyfriend thinking that I was cheating on him-because I was always so wet down there. Its been a week and half. And still no smell. Some lower back pain. But I feel renewed, more confident. Not afraid to go around others, always knowing that I smell bad. I'm hoping that this will keep working. I douche every other day now and after sex. If it comes back, I've made notes of other remedies I've found on this site.

msoftshell,

Right now, while you're symptoms are at bay, start the probiotic treatment. The reason that the hydrogen peroxide works is because it simulates the environment that the friendly bacteria create. Also, hydrogen peroxide can have harmful effects if used long term on healthy skin. It will work well as a temporary fix, but if you start the probiotics now, you may find yourself cured.

[sad21]

msoftshell,

Right now, while you're symptoms are at bay, start the probiotic treatment. The reason that the hydrogen peroxide works is because it simulates the environment that the friendly bacteria create. Also, hydrogen peroxide can have harmful effects if used long term on healthy skin. It will work well as a temporary fix, but if you start the probiotics now, you may find yourself cured.

hi ginger ark!

i'm new and i've been dealing with this bv thing for over a year now. i am on femd and floramore. i just finished a treatment of metrogel(metrozinole?) for 10 days and i still don't feel normal but i know it takes time but just in case this doesn't work i was wondering with the peroxide douche, how many times can you do it a week? what portions, like half h.p. and h20? i'm gonna do femd vaginally to but i have to wait until next tues or wed to see if i still have bv at the dr's office. i've been on flagyl (oral) and it went away but i always had a discharge then 2-3 weeks later i had bv again. i read all your post and when you put that you just want to be a woman that can have sex with your husband that you love it just made me feel so sad and cry. i feel the same way with my boyfriend. i want this to end. i was really thinking about commiting suicide because this thing make me NOT feel like a woman. i can't play with my kids or do anything without thinking about the itch and discharge. for a year i've always had to wear a pantiliner and i hate it, but when i started femd back in april the discharge is less but still there. also i've tried boric acid, do you think that is kinda like the peroxide douche? i just want to be normal

thanks in advance
sad21

[NorCalGirl09]

What worked for me...

Hi all, I too have suffered from chronic yeast infections and BV. I discovered I would get the yeast infections after having sex with my boyfriend... And after I had my appendix out a few monthes ago, I got worst yeast infection EVER (from all the antibiotics I was told). So I took the one time fluconazole rx, it cleared up... Then came back... Then went away... And I got BV after that! My doctor prescribed me the Flagyl, as many of you have noted taking. After I completed the dose, my symptoms cleared up. BUT, the important change I have made was that my boyfriend and I use condoms now everytime we have sex, which we never did before. I started doing research, and I discovered that sperm screws up the Ph of your vagina, which can make it difficult for BV and yeast infections to 1) go away, 2) stay away and 3) keep new infections from arising. It has worked for me for monthes now. I have been BV and yeast infection free! Just a thought to those of you trying everything else but this, if your still having sex Good luck!

[carebear428]

Hey guys, just a mini-update from me... Well I've been odor free for almost 2 weeks and it feels so great!! I did the hydrogen peroxide wash for 3 days, just straight hydrogen peroxide in a 12mL syringe right before a shower. I stopped that after three days because it was giving me a different smell, I'm not sure if it was from just dissolving the built up junk inside me or what, but I didn't want to overdo it.

I got my probiotics in the mail Saturday and was completely stoked to start my regimen. I got the Jarrow Femdophilus and Jarrow-Dophilus; the Femdophilus is specifically for vaginal flora while the regular dophilus is for the GI tract. Because the vagina and anus are in close proximity, it is important to make sure your tummy has good bacteria too. I am also taking a multivitamin, Vitamin C, Zinc, and flaxseed oil. I think I want to add more folic acid as well; I've read it helps to acidify the body just a bit. Right now I am taking the probiotic pills, one of each twice a day, and a vaginal "suppository", a mix of Femdophilus and plain organic yogurt every other day for at least one month.

I am still waiting for the Aci Jel to be delivered. Apparently in the US you need a prescription for it, but I got it online from New Zealand. It is similar to the Biofilm (helps maintain low pH by adding a bit of acid to the vagina). I've also been reading about organic apple cider vinagar sitz baths. Sounds like a cheaper alternative and I may switch to that after my tubes of Aci Jel are gone.

I had odor free sex for the first time ever with my boyfriend and it felt amazing to not worry about my smell and just relax for a change. I will keep using condomns for awhile but I really hate condomns and I think eventually, after my flora is built up, we will be able to have sex without them as long as I rinse myself out with plain water (to get the "stuff" out) and use Aci Jel or a cider sitz bath.

Any ladies out there who are trying home remedies, make sure you add probiotics, no matter what else you try with it, if you don't have the good bacteria in you, I can almost guarantee the BV will be back. Good luck

[Ginger_Ark]

hi ginger ark!
thanks for your reply, i really appreciate it. i have a few more questions if you don't mind.
how do you make the peroxide douche and how many times a week in the beginning "treatment". i'm gonna start doing femdophilus vaginally also, thanks. and about the biofem, is it a lube? cause i have sylk which is a lube that have a ph of 4.7. are you still currently using condoms still and are you still bv free? have you been check by a dr to make sure? sorry about the abundance of questions but i'm really desperate about this and i want to get rid of it so i can live a normal live as a women.
thanks soooooo much for your help.
sad21

I did not do the hydrogen peroxide douche, but look at the post above to see what Carebear says about it.

I am not using condoms anymore. When we were using them faithfully, I had no symptoms whatsoever. After we stopped, I started getting an occasional twinge here & there -- from my pH being about .5 off, not from an active infection, is my belief. I just use the Active Gel, & it's all good.

Biofem Active Gel is not a lubricant. It is a gel that adds acidity to the vagina. You can read about it & purchase it here from the manufacturer. This is where I bought it, & shipping is surprisingly fast.

I went to my gynocologist for another follow-up yesterday. My pH was 4.5 (.5 over optimal). I am about to start my period, so that's exactly what I expected. Plus, I could tell. She said my results & my research were no less than a miracle & that it has changed how she would be treating her other patients with chronic BV. So I've made a believer out of her.

[msoftshell]

msoftshell,

Right now, while you're symptoms are at bay, start the probiotic treatment. The reason that the hydrogen peroxide works is because it simulates the environment that the friendly bacteria create. Also, hydrogen peroxide can have harmful effects if used long term on healthy skin. It will work well as a temporary fix, but if you start the probiotics now, you may find yourself cured.

You are correct Ginger Ark. I am currently taking 800 mcg of folic acid a day, 5 mill acidophilus, and 1 probiotic as well. Will this be a lifetime regimen? I'm still odor free though, and small discharge every now and then. But, still some lower back pain every now & then. No pain anymore from sex, I feel great. Thank you all again

[Ginger_Ark]

UPDATE: 3 month check up with the Gyn

Went to my Dr. yesterday. My pH was at 4.5 (which is about what I'd gotten the night before). About .5 high, & since I'm about to start my period, it's exactly what I expected. I am BV free for three solid months! I have my sex life back. I've lost 30 lbs since January. I didn't realize how depressed I'd been -- just how much this was affecting my life. I feel like I've gotten my life back.

I also gave her info about the Biofem Active Gel (available in the UK OTC) & the info on the Aci-Jel (available in the U.S. by Rx only). She was very excited about this product.

The Dr. is amazed at my turnaround, & she said that she will start using my treatments to help her patients with chronic BV. We're getting the word out! She actually thanked me for "helping possibly hundreds of other women with [my] research & determination." Not a common sentiment in the medical community. She's a fantastic woman.

My one concern is that I wish I could get the medical community looking closer at this newly discovered Atopobium Vaginae strain. I really feel like this is the key strain that causes chronic BV. Right now all antibiotics that target it also target the good bacteria (because they are both aerobic). If someone could develop a medicine that could target that one strain specifically, I really believe it would be an actual "cure." Maybe my research will trickle down to the right person, & someone will start researching it.

There is hope ladies.