I had this once and they gave me a suppository... Some antibiotic.. Took care of it in three days.. Was a little messy .. But worked like a charm ...
Ask your doc about it...

Yeah, that was the thing that I did for the whole five days and it just came right back. Got a nasty headache from it too, even though only 5% of the drug is absorbed into your bloodstream...

Thanks anyway. I think im just gonna have to live with this. It doesn't seem like there's anything I can do, or can afford to do at least.

You cannot just live with it, because it will cause permanent damage. Herbal things might help, but will not rid of the infection because it is a bacterial infection. There are several different prescriptions to cure bv, you just have to find the one that is right for you. You can get a test from the lab that will determine exactly which antibiotic will cure your particular infection. I do not know the cost, but just talk to your doctor. It is frustrating, but you really do need to take care of this. Just explain to your doctor in plain english that you are not made of money! Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, but I have tried everything that they can prescribe for bv. Straight outta my doc's mouth- there is nothing else they can give me. She also said that bv is a very harmless condition that you can choose to live with, which I have decided to do. It won't lead to anything else more dangerous, and it won't cause infertility or anything like that. So although it is terribly pesky and unpleasant, im just going to get on with my life and hope for the best. My doc says that if I take really good care of myself there is a good chance that it will go away. Plus, I have stopped eating sugar and white flour (for other reasons), which I understand will have a positive effect on the bacteria. So, we'll see.

I am sorry, I must have been misinformed. I was under the impression that bv did cause damage if not treated, but I am glad that it does not. I am sorry that no antibiotic will work for you, that just sucks!

I've had bacterial vaginosis(bv) diagnosed since nov. 5th and a week after I finish meds the symptoms come back.....Its came back 2 times already....I know I have it know but im not going in and am giving up....Treatment doesnt seem to work & they cant put me on higher dose cuz im very underweight for my age. The thing of it is the hospital/clinic only has on type of anti-biotics they will give me. My doc shes not to worried that it keeps on comming back ...Shes just wants to make sure it doesnt produce into something else .....I hate that this can cause other cerious health problems such as pid, etc.!!

i hate this doing it stupid infection!!!!

anyone got any insight about why it keeps on comming back? I'd really appreciated.

I thought if left untreated it could turn into something else. I knew my doctor would not lie to me!
Ice baby, I know I have posted this in other places, but I cannot find it, so here goes again!
Things that can cause bv(or recurr)
underwear with colored fabric in crotch area, taking baths instead of showers, scented tampons, scented or colored toilet paper, certain soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, or perfume(if you spray on you underwear...Sounds crazy but some people do)douche, feminine sprays and such, etc.
But some people just don't respond to certain antibiotics. But, there are sooooo many different ones that your doctor just needs to give you another one. You can get a "sample" of your infection taken and sent to a lab, and they can determine exactly which antibiotics will work for your particular infection. Depending on your insurance some doctors will probably tell you that it is unnecessary simply because they do not want to pay for it. Just like they may tell you just to live with it because they do not want to pay for it, but you cannot just live with it. Definately not a good idea. I know the antibiotic I had to take for mine made me soooo very sick, but I knew I had to take it.
Sorry so long, hope this helped!

Hi,
i have also had bv a number of times. The first couple times they tried different antibiotics, which would clear it up shortly, but it would always return, whether or not I was sexually active (which was the initial thought for why it was occurring). However, I had read something about yeast infected women using something similar to a turkey baster and inserting plain yogurt, and it would kill the bacteria. I have never had a yeast infection, but I tried this. Although it is very messy, and should be performed only when you have time to let it settle into your panties and then absorb into your body, somehow the enzymes seem to have killed the bacteria within. If you have an old douche nozzle, you can try this with simply plain yogurt. Something in the live cultures of the yogurt kills unhealthy bacteria. Since I tried this (every day for 2 weeks), I have not had another outbreak of bv. Maybe it can work for you. Good luck.

Yeah...Acidopholous (the enzymes in yogurt that kill bacteria) was one of the first things I tried. But instead of using yogurt, I used pure acidopholous powder that was much more concentrated than in food. No matter how much I used and how often I did it it never went away. I think it's just because i've had the infection for so long and I need something super-powerful to wipe it away. And unfortunately everything in that category (at least that I and my doctor know of) give me the most horrible migraines. But thank you anyway for trying to help : )

well one of our doctors is certainly lying....



i have no insurance, which is why I have to pay for all my prescriptions myself. So if it is a greed issue, my doctor would want to avoid telling me that bv is harmless (even if it is true) so that I would want to take their horrible, toxic medicine. This is true in all cases no matter what type of insurance you have- doctors want to prescribe as many drugs as possible so that they make more money. That is why they don't listen to your symptoms for more than 15 seconds before filling out a slip of paper for you.



from what are you basing this statement? I was prescribed two different drugs and then told that there is nothing else I can take. Why would they say that if it wasn't true? This just isn't adding up...

I don't know, but I am not here to argue with you, I am trying to help. If left untreated it can cause pelvic inflammitory disease. Doctors do not make money off of writing you prescriptions. When doctors take an hmo they get paid more the less that they do for you. This is why people have been trying to improve our health insurance in the united states for years. You can do whatever you want, but I would certainly get a different doctor.

As I am not trying to argue with you, just trying to get some answers here. You make all these assertions that could mean I am in big trouble if they are true. So that is why I am asking you about them. And yet you haven't answered any of my questions...

Here is are several little bits of information I found on the web(some repeat the other, so bare with me)

are there any risks related to bacterial vaginosis

· pelvic infection
· premature (early) labor in pregnancy
· infection after a vaginal birth, cesarean section, or gynecologic surgery

what are the complications of bacterial vaginosis?

In most cases, bv causes no complications. But there are some serious risks from bv including:
· having bv can increase a woman's susceptibility to hiv infection if she is exposed to the hiv virus.
· having bv increases the chances that an hiv-infected woman can pass hiv to her sex partner.
· having bv has been associated with an increase in the development of pid following surgical procedures such as a hysterectomy or an abortion.
· studies suggest that pregnant women are at increased risk for complications of bv.
Bv can increase a woman's susceptibility to other stds, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Although bv will sometimes clear up without treatment, all women with symptoms of bv should be treated to avoid such complications as pid. Male partners generally do not need to be treated. However, bv may spread between female sex partners.


Bv is usually not serious. In some cases, however, it can cause infections in the uterus and fallopian tubes. It is important to treat bv, especially before having an iud inserted, an abortion, or tests done on the uterine lining. Bv during pregnancy may cause the baby to be born too soon.

Some women get bv again and again. It is not clear why or how this happens. These suggestions for good vaginal health may help:
· wipe from front to back (away from the vagina) after bowel movements to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectum to the vagina.
· keep the vulva (outside of the vagina) dry and clean.
· do not douche. Douching is never a good idea, especially with bv.
· avoid feminine hygiene sprays, harsh soaps, or soaps with lots of perfume.
· avoid clothing that can trap moisture: pantyhose (wear pantyhose with cotton crotch) or latex exercise clothing.
· using condoms may decrease bv recurrence for some women.
Prescription medication, usually antibiotics, depending on the organism causing the infection is used to treat and/or cure bv. Treatments may include:

· ampicillin
· ceftriaxone
· clindamycin,
· metronidazole
· tetracycline

· in most cases male sex partners do not need to be treated (but I did read that if bv continues to reoccur and you are with a steady partner, then he may need to be treated.)

so, above there are five different antibiotics, I am honestly not sure if there are more, but the lab could test a sample and see exactly what kind of bacteria you have that needs to be treated. Below is a list of the different types of bacteria that can cause bv:
· bacteroides bacteria
· gardnerella vaginalis bacteria
· gardnerella
· mobiluncus bacteria
· mycoplasma hominis bacteria
· ureaplasma urealyticum

i hoped this helped some. Once again, pid and the other risk factors of bv do not occur in all women. But it can happen.

Well that's very interesting...But can you please cite your source? There is so much information on the internet that is contradicting so it's hard to tell what's valid and what's not. I guess if it turns out to be valid i'll have to get another doctor. This really sucks

thanks for posting this.
-jaqui

I would site my source, but their were like 20 of them. And you are right they do contradict each other.
I guess the best way to look at it is, some women who have bv have developed pid, but then again some do not. I don't know that it is actually proven to cause pid, but then again it has not been ruled out.
So really, we are both right in a way. I think they just really don't know enough about bv.
If you have tried all of the antibiotics (again I thought that there would be more, which maybe their are, but maybe not) and they did not work, and you have tried the insert thing, then I don't know what else you could do. One of the sites suggested foods to include in your diet that could help rid of the infection.
The sources that I used I found as follows: I went to yahoo and searched bacterial vaginosis. I used a couple on their (all from the first page) and then I searched "treatement for bv" and used a couple from their (also on the first page). One of the sites actually said that bv was a sexually tranismitted disease, which we all know is not true, so I guess we really do not know which ones are valid and which ones are not.
Some women simply cannot get rid of bv, but it will probably go away at some point. Although it will probably come back which just sucks.
I was not trying to worry you, I just wanted you to know what "could" happen.
So, if all else fails, just pay close attention to your areas "down there" if you experience worse symptoms or unexplained pain then I would get checked out again to make sure there is nothing worse going on.

Hey, i've got it too and it keeps coming back. Mine stayed away for three days after the antibiotics! My advice:

- stop taking antibiotics because they are really bad for your body, they don't work at all (because it just comes back), and each time you use them your bacterial vaginosis builds its resistance to them! Also, it was in the paper last week that some research ahs shown that the more antibiotics women take, the greater the risk of cancer.
- get this book I have just got called the v book, by elizabeth g. Stewart, you can get it really cheap on amazon. It has loads of info in.
- take lactobaccillus tablets from the health food shop. Make sure you keep them in the fridge. They are not bad for you, and they work while you take them. Sadly, just like antibiotics, when you stop taking them it comes back (so far it has come back once), but they are good for healthy digestion as well, so in theroy you don't need to stop taking them.

Let me know if you find any other remedies. That is the first one I have tried from the v book as I have only just received it.

Good luck!

Hi,

i get bv every time I have a period. I take antibiotics which clear it...But it always comes back. Am going to try those lactabaccilus tablets that were suggested - which particular brand did you use? Really hope they help - hate taking antibiotics anyway
thanks

Look on first page of woman's conditions,there is info on bv.I know how frustrating bv is ,had my share of hell with it.I responded to meds,just kept recurring.I also went off yeast for several weeks and took diflucan.Also used probiotics.I'm not saying you should try this but it worked for me.Good luck,but a second opinion might not be a bad idea.Patty

Thanks for the info on probiotics and yeast free diet etc, will definately try that and see how it goes. I responded to the drugs too but just comes back every month. Had no idea the extent of this infection and how many women get it recurring.