Bacterial Vaginosis
Natural Remedies

Top Natural Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Povidone Iodine

4 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  75%
4 star (1) 
  25%

Posted by Barrelmaniac (Summersville, West Virginia, Usa) on 05/21/2010
★★★★☆

Betadine for BV

Ladies,

I have suffered with this for years. Unfortunately I have never really been cured. The longest I have went is probably 6 months with no symptoms. I started a forum on a health board regarding peroxide for treatment 4 or 5 years ago that had 100's of posts to my surprise. That's when I discovered I wasn't alone.

If your BV is mild, don't do anything! Take your supplements and wait until after a period and see what happens. The more you mess around with changing the flora in your vagina the more you are going to get things totally out of whack. I learned the hard way. Peroxide worked for me, temporarily but always came back with a vengeance. The more you do, the worse it comes back. You are killing all the bacteria in your vagina and some things allow the good bacteria to bounce back quickly while keeping the bad at bay.

If you must treat it, add some Betadine to good distilled water (pH 7, city water with chlorine has a very high pH) douche with betadine for 7 days, You can even use the swabs to clean the vaginal walls. Do this in the morning because it takes 120 minutes for the flora to begin to bounce back. Lactobacillus first! At night use a good quality yogurt and a syringe and then insert a tampon to hold it in. Continue yogurt treatment for a few days. Take a good quality probiotic daily.

Also Vinegar seems to allow the Lactobacillus to survive douching while killing the bad bacteria. If your BV isn't too bad try the vinegar and the yogurt treatment, watch what you eat and try to boost your immune system. Wait it out, it takes time.


Povidone Iodine
Posted by Michelle (Salt Lake City, UT) on 05/24/2009
★★★★★

Please add this remedy in the Vaginosis section :)

I have tried so many things for this terrible, frustrating, humiliating and irritating condition - including the Hydrogen peroxide, folic acid, and acidophilus cures. What *has* worked for me is the combination of povidone-iodine swabsticks & high doses of vitamin c. A few years ago, I saw a MD who also did alternative care (when I had a wicked case of candida). He suggested that I swab vaginally with 50% povidone-iodine and 50% water. This was a tremendous pain until I discovered povidone-iodine swabsticks (google them for retail sources). After months of an unrelenting vaginosis (complete with fishy smell), I decided to try the povidone-iodine swabsticks on that. It works!! The wicked smell and discharge is washed away immediately!! I think it's important to do this 2-3 times/day for the first few days, but after that, once seems adequate. Note that I am doing this once or twice a day now - and am unsure of how long I'll need to do it, but it's ridiculously easy so I'm totally cool with that! Also, it doesn't sting - *at all* even immediately after sex, which I definitely can't say about the hydrogen peroxide douche (ouch!).

Also - I have been diagnosed with cevical dysplasia and was looking for a treatment for that. In the Doctor Yourself website, this quote is made: "Dysplasia is a study in scurvy. In vitamin C deficiency disease, there is insufficient production of collagen, the strong, healthy glue that holds your cells together. Whether dysplasia is triggered by a virus, physical irritation or other cause, the fundamental problem is weak intercellular ground substance due to inadequate ascorbic acid." So - I decided to start taking 3-6 grams vitamin c daily. (If you're concerned about this check out the vitamin c foundation web pages & know that Linus Pauling took 6-18 grams daily!)

Since adding the vitamin c, the smell vanished! I'm playing it safe and not going more than a day without one swabbing, but it really doesn't seem necessary so.. I don't know - it's just so easy that I figure it's worth doing!

Best wishes to you all :)

Replied by Sarah
(USA)
09/07/2012

In lieu of povidine-iodine swabsticks, you can make your own povidine-iodine douches or purchase betadine(povidine iodine) feminine washes premade. It's an easy search online to find the studies showing this simple solution cured a majority of BV cases. The iodine is supposed to encourage the regrowth of lactobilli.


Prescription Medications

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Anon (Arkansas) on 06/21/2015
★★★★★

I am telling my story because I swore if I ever got rid of BV I would share what my cure was. I had this condition for over a year. Saw a doctor, what he prescribed did not work. I couldnt afford to keep going back, no insurance. I tried anything and every home remedy, including the boric acid. Did not work. Very frusrating. Cried many nights. Was feeling like I would just have to live with it the rest of my life. Finally I did go back to the doctor, a different one, and he prescribed me: Fluconazole AND Metronidazole. THESE PRESCRIPTIONS WORKED. I have been healthy since February. The end.


Prescription Medications
Posted by Chrissy (LA) on 11/12/2006
★★★★★

i have BV and i have been suffering with this for almost five years and i have tried everything their is to tried garlic, vinegar, and yogurt. i went to the doctor and he gave me flagyl 500mg for seven days and on the six day it finally started to work so i went back and got it for seven more days and now i feel great. But while taking these tablets, do not take a bath take a shower and use dove soap. i got three more days on the meds but the smell is gone and i am happy to share this to the world.


Probiotics Plus

9 User Reviews
5 star (7) 
  78%
4 star (1) 
  11%
3 star (1) 
  11%

Posted by Penny (Kingsport, Tn) on 01/06/2017
★★★★★

Eat yogurt that contains probiotics including bifidus regularis 1 daily and drink water with lemon juice about 1 tsp added to 8 oz of water daily, I was better quickly. Try. I kept bacterial vaginosis for 2 years and this worked for me.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Christina (Queensland) on 01/12/2014
★★★★★

I have had BV for about 5 months. About 12 visits to 3 different doctors and 3 lots of Antibiotic Vaginal cream. I thought I was ok until each time after having sex with my partner the burning pain would begin again. Went to another doctor and got prescribed more anti biotic cream, this is after she told me I had no good bacteria in my vagina at all. This time I refused to take it and decided to do something different. I knew that by having more anti biotics was not going to help just make things worse. I did heaps of research over the 5 months and finally went for a natural remedy. I started inserting natural yoghurt and a probiotic specifically for vaginal health. Mixing the contents of the capsule with the yoghurt and using a plasic syringe inserting it at night. I also took one of the capsules in the morning as well. Had instant results, the burn stopped immediately. I have also been drinking Apple cider vinegar once a day in the morning, 1 desertspoon in a cup of hot water and eating a clove of raw garlic with one of meals. If you know for sure that you have BV

If you have been diagnosed with BV try the natural remedies, it will save lots of money and trips to the Doctors. The anti biotics are just killing off any good bacteia you have to help you fight it.

Try 2 teaspoons of Natural yoghurt the one with live culture in it, mix the contents of I capsule of probiotic. I use a plastic syringe ( no needle attatched ) to insert the mixture into my vagina at night. In the morning I take a probiotic orally, and repeat the yoghurt again at night. I got instant relief from this as I was recolonizing my vagina of good bacteria that all the anti biotics had killed.

You can apparently insert the capsules directly into the Vagina if you dont want to do the yoghurt thing. I found the yoghurt very soothing. I will also be trying folic acid as well. I have also been eating one clove of raw garlic with my main meal each day and drinking a dessertspoon of Apple Cider vinegar in a cup of hot water in the morning as well.

Good Health and happy sex life once again.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by It Works! (Lethbridge, Alberta) on 04/22/2013
★★★★★

I had reoccurent BV infections. Drove me nutsss!!! Was sick docs useless antibiotics. I went and got a probiotic, some potent garlic capsules (aged or dried contains no allicin and won't do anything), and some good colloidal silver (must be colourless otherwise it's no good and high ppm doesn't necessarily mean good) in rubbed a little right down there doesn't sting irritate or burn jus some instant relief, and a flax seed capsule. Usually it always returned after my period but period has come and gone and I feel great no infection. Give it a shot ladies. I know how embarrassing this can be.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Steph Suffering For 13 Years (Sacramento, Ca) on 01/23/2013
★★★★☆

Hi ladies I almost cried last week coming across this website. I've had the horrible BV since I was 17 years old and I'm turning 30 in a few months. I woke up one day with the horrible smell out of no where with no idea what it was. I went to my gyno and did the anti biotics with the outer cream & thought it would be gone. I was saddened to find out the smell was not leaving. I went through years & years of embarrassment and humiliation. I thought I was going to be a single mom forever as I had my daughter at 23 by myself. I'm now married with 4 children & my husbands great. I tried talking to him about it as I've never discussed it with anyone God forbid that humiliation right. His response was what smell you talking bout babe. Gotta love him. It bothered me so bad to wake up & have my entire bedroom reek of raw fish & BO. I decided to look online again since I haven't in years. 13 years ago there were no helpful remedies or forums. I read every post on here & was in tears knowing there were other people who could relate.

Here's where my mission starts. I have done the peroxide water mix & inserted it for 5 minutes a day first thing in the morning for the past 4 days. I have been on the probiotics with rueteri for the last 3 days & started one alkaline water a day. Reading everything on here made me realize this is def. harbored in my gut. This makes sense because I had my gallbladder removed at 19 & the doctor said I'd been suffering from it not knowing for a couple years. It got much worse after it was removed & I suffer from horrible acid reflux. I'm not a doctor but it makes sence all of a sudden there's this horrible bacteria in my gut causing the bv to flare up daily & the acid almost daily.

Today is the first day without the peroxide in the morning. I drank the alkaline water as well as taking the probiotic. The other suggestion on here was coconut oil. I was gonna try to eat it then chickened out seeing what it looks like. So I put a table spoon in a pan and made 2 eggs vtastes fine. It's about an hour past the normal time I do the peroxide and no over whelming smell. Yet. Hopefully this works because this has ruined my self esteem & emotionally caused seriouse insecurities and depression. Thank you everyone for there input. It's a support system so neede that only another woman suffering would understand. Good luck ladies & I will give feedback if it continues to work

Replied by Star
(Spartanburg)
06/21/2015

I have the same problem and I just started using it also plus the pills and also another cure that will help is tea tree oil mixed with Oliv oil put small amounts on a pantie liner wear for 3 hours it made me smell so good and no burning really does help.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Jessica (St.croix, Usvi) on 11/25/2011
★★★★★

I have 2 say what works for one person may not work for another, but u just have 2 keep looking for what works for u. I have been diagnosed with bv about 3 months ago & was givin antibiotics for the bv it whent but then came back about a month and a half after the treatment. I said I wasn't going 2 continue 2 use the antibiotics cause that also destroys the good bacteria in the vagina. So I googled & found many natural remedies for bv & the one that caught my eye was the probiotics & the organic plain yogurt & I started using the probiotics capsules 2 times a day & eating the yogurt I cup a day & inserting the yogurt vaginally once a day & I gotta say about a week in 2 the home treatment, NOTHING!!!! The fishy smell & the vaginal discharge was Gone!!! I knew that it was helping & I got rid of it with probiotics & organic plain yougurt Thank God & the home remedies. You just have 2 b patient when using home remedies, remember that it dosn't work the same way for everyone. For some it worked in just 3 days but for me it took a week in 2 b gone but hey it beats using anitiotics witch just helps for a while but dosn't treat it from the root. So try it & c what works for u. I just keep eating the yougurt daily & keep drinking the probiotics just 2 keep it from coming back. Good luck 2 you hope it works keep the faith :0)

Replied by Shane
(Ontario)
12/06/2017

Yes, there is no "one size fits all" cure for this. Probiotics and peroxide douches did nothing for me. Only the Vitamin C works. So I have upped the amount since it got much worse. But, since it's natural, and I'm not getting burning and it's going away I'm going to say that it's starting to work.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Alley (Sydney, Australia) on 10/18/2011
★★★★★

WHY did it take me this long to learn about this???

Get yourself a vaginal ph test to test the acidity of your vagina. It should be slightly acidic (3.8 to 4.5). If it is higher than 4.5 this means your issues are most likely caused by bacteria (aka, BV), if it is in the normal range it is probably yeast. For a year I have been misdiagnosing myself as having a yeast infection! Even the doctor and pharmacists let me diagnose myself without doing any tests or asking more questions. The symptoms can be very similar. Although, it is possible to have both issues at the same time.

Then the next question is, how do I get my vagina back to being acidic again?

WELL, I ALSO found a product at the drug store that is nothing more than ascorbic acid inserts, that's right, Vitamin C! Now I'm not sure what kind of vit c you can insert up there but it might be best to get the specially made stuff with a slow release unless you won't to a bit more research on it. The stuff I got is called Vagicare in Australia.

When your ph is more alkaline (>4.5), the good bugs, Lactobacillus can't thrive, but the bad bugs can. This is why taking probiotics works for so many people. (note, I've also researched that L. Reuteri and L. Rhamnosus are the best Lactobacillus for down there). Make sure you get a good quality enteric coated acidophilus, so that it doesn't dissolve until it gets to your intestines. eg. Femdophillus or Nature's Way Reuteri Pearl.

And this is also why everyone goes on about not washing with soap or douching, because these products are more alkaline and create an environment more hospitable to bad bacteria.

I don't know why it took my SO long to learn this but I'm so glad I did! Tell everyone about ph tests and ascorbic acid inserts and L. Reuteri and Rhamnosus!


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Grateful Dane (Allen, Texas) on 10/04/2011
★★★★★

To all the ladies that posted their solutions to relieve symptoms of BV!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I've been suffering from bv for a couple of years thinking the only cure was antibiotics. I was tired of using clindamycin inserts. It would relieve the bv but turn into a yeast infection. Then I would have to take 2 diflucan to relieve yeast infection symptoms. It was getting to be a tiring cycle of antibiotics. I was at my wits with the odor and discharge. Once I read all of your postings I was soo happy to find some kind of solution. I went out and brought medicated douche, walgreens homeopathic bv treatment time release vaginal insert, went to whole foods store and brought pearls probiotics 1billion, kefir yogurt smoothie, and 1 plain Greek yogurt. I used the medicated douche, then rolled a tampon in the plain yogurt and inserted for 30 mins. Took 2 pearls by mouth that morning and at bedtime, drank 1 cup of yogurt smoothie and insert 1/2 of walgreens vaginal insert as instructed for 1st time users. Woke up this morning smell is gone discharge is not smell. I'm clean as a whistle. I will continue this regimen for a while.


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Bree (Toronto, On) on 08/06/2011
★★★★★

Hi there! I've been a chronic BV (and yeast infection) sufferer for years. I've tried antibiotics, antifungals, oral probiotics, and folic acid to no avail! So I conducted an extensive research on the matter (I have access to scholarly research databases) and cured myself. Here's what I've done:

1. Vitamin D (2000 IU/day). Recent research show a direct correlation between Vit D deficiency and increased risk for BV. Vitamin D also promotes the regeneration of squamous epithelials that consists the mucousal lining of the vagina.

2. Femina Flora (1 capsule/night for 10 nights). This is a vaginal probiotic capsule with 10Billion CFU's of Lactobacilli species including Lactobacillus Rhamnosus which has shown ability to adhere to and colonize the vaginal walls. It also contains lactose (to feed the Lactobacilli) and Vitamin C (to assist in lowering the vaginal pH).

3. Oral probiotics. I suggest using FemDophilus or Ultimate Flora Vaginal Support. FemDophilus contains Lactobacillus Reuteri and Rhamnosus while Ultimate Flora contains Rhamnosus and other Lactobacilli species. Both aforementioned species are excellent in adhering to and thriving in the vaginal environment.

Note: These remedies don't have to be permanent. For example, if you live near the equator 15-20 mins in the sun without suscreen will provide you with 10, 000 IU of Vitamin D. Otherwise, you can supplement with 1000 IU once you're symptoms alleviate. Also, you can wean yourself off or lower your probiotics dosage after your symptoms are gone -- you can take 1 capsule every other day, then 2 capsules/week, then 1cap/week.

Good luck! ;)


Probiotics Plus
Posted by London (Sandusky , Ohio) on 01/18/2011

NEEM OIL, inserted into the vagina via tampon, soaked in several drops of neem oil, or an empty gel cap, once a day for about 4 to 7 days. Also, a probiotic, (most effective Ive used so far) its called "Femdophilus"by Jarrow brand. The probiotics go directly to the vagina, rather than die in the gut. The most supperior brand probiotic, altho expensive, worth it. Take 2 caps a day


Probiotics Plus
Posted by Saywhat (Chandler, Az) on 10/10/2009
★★★☆☆

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have read pages and pages of posts on this site. A week ago I was checked, as a last resort, for a yeast infection (I was sick but nobody could figure out from what so the vag check was a last resort). I had no itching, burning, oder, discomfort, or discharge but the Dr. said I had a small amount of discharge but it was "up there". He swabbed me anyway and sent it off to the lab but gave me a Diflucan in the meantime-which I took immediately. Two days later his office called and said the labs came back and showed BV and they had already called in a Rx for Flagyl (which I filled but never took--WAY too many side effects and I was already sick). It has now been 8 days since I took the Diflucan and I never felt like I had a yeast infection in the first place. I've been taking 5 billion CFU, multi-strain, probiotics w/ nutraflora (200mg) 2xday, 1000 mg vitamin C, and 1000 mg garlic daily for a few days now. I check everytime I go to the bathroom and there has never been the tale-tale smell of BV. Today though, I started feeling achy in my abdomen and my sunshine started to itch on the outside. Doesn't hurt to pee but it's uncomfortable feeling on the surrounding area. So, now what? Is this yeast, BV, or a mystery? The only thing I haven't done is take the folic acid and insert a capsule. Garlic will treat bacterial and viral infections but I don't think I'm up for shoving one up there, ya know? I can buy plain yogurt and folic acid tomorrow if anyone thinks that might do it. Thoughts, opinions, suggestions definitely welcome! Fortunately, I am not used to getting these infections but my PH (and everything else) has been off lately due to a serious illness. Thanks for everything!!!! LOVE this site!!!!

Replied by Dd
(Miami, Florida)
10/12/2009

Saywhat from Chandler. Sounds like a BV to me, I was in the same boat as you they thought it was a yeast infection. The Diflucan will giving abdominal cramping, especially if you take more than one does, plus it can give you a headache. I only have the slight discharge and burning from the BV. I do the hydrogen perioxide mix and a small syringe (no needle on it) and insert it slightly up in the va-ja area, then I also squirt a little around the outside area. I have been doing this for about 3 weeks now and am now only doing it about 4 times a week. Plus I take a folic acid and an acidophylius in the a.m. in the pill form with the rest of my vitamins.

Good luck with your BV and your other serious illness :)


Probiotics, Hydrogen Peroxide

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Nina (Philippines) on 11/28/2020
★★★★★

Hi EC family!

I just want to tell you how happy I am and thank you for sharing all your experiences.
It all started two years ago, after I got the worse uti! My pee was blood red, in so much pain. I went to the doctor and she told me to take cefuroxine axetil 2x/day for 7 days. My uti cleared but noticed that I was having bad discharge n fishy smell.

I tried everything to no avail. On and off it went. I took antibiotic upon antibiotic, no cure. Worse than ever. The smell was just revolting and I slowly lost my confidence in bed and stayed away from my partner. He was very supportive and tried his best to understand me but at times he would mention the smell and how embarrassed I was!
I do know what you all went through and how horribly clean you all are and yet this thing happens.

Thank God I read all your wonderful testimonies. I would like to share my experience in hope that it would help many women going through this.

  • I bought probiotics specifically for womens health 9.8 billion cfu, several bottles of 3% hydrogen peroxide, tampons and a douche bottle.
  • I douched at night from 50/50 mix with distlled water. Going up till I could tolerate a pure 3%hydrogen peroxide douche.
  • In the morning id soak a tampon with hydrogen peroxide and insert it as far as I could and leave it for 15 minutes.
  • I took one probiotic pill by mouth and I'd insert another inside my vagina pushing it as far as I can.

I did that for a week. I noticed that the smell slowly diminished.

On the second week I did not douche as much anymore coz the discharge and smell was nearly gone. I douched only twice a week n did not insert any hydrogen peroxide soaked tampon. I continued taking the probiotics. For the probiotic vaginal insert, I just opened the capsule got about a pinch of the powder n inserted it inside as far back as I could.
Also after being intimate, douched wd hydrogen peroxide and probiotic inserts were done.

Now I have zero discharge, no smell at all even my partner said the smell is gone! Plus my backache has gone as well. I'm not using any panty liners anymore. I'm cured! Thank God!
Ah it did bleach my pubic hair blond lol!



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