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.
139 User Reviews
Posted by Elysia (Whitethorn, Ca) on 09/13/2008
★★★★★
oh hey!!:) the folic acid and primadophilus reuteri treatment for bv really worked for me :) i started with (2) folic acid (400mcg) per day and (1) reuteri (5 billion cfu) (purchased online at vitacost.com) for two days, then upped doses to (2) folic acid and (1) reuteri in the morning and evening and the odor was gone in a day or less...(oh and i douched once with a 50/50 solution of sterile water and h202) what a relief, i have been hating and battling bv for a long time and finally something really works! Thank you Earth Clinic! :) :) :)
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Candice (Binghamton, NY) on 09/10/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I have been suffering with reoccuring bv for the past 4yrs now. It always seems to come back b4 my period ends and sometimes after sex. For the past 4 months I have got it every month right after my period. Im fed up with it, im fed up of going to the dr. So for the past 3 days I have been doing the acidolpolus, folic acid and peroxide method. The smell has been completley gone since the first time i did the peroxide. even though it was only the first day i noticed it and it wasnt too bad. but unfortunatly im still itchy so it hasnt gone away completly any suggestions? im bout to try yeast arrest to see if that will do it.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Tasha (Atlanta, GA) on 09/09/2008
★★★★★
this website is the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time. My BV is gone!! I have been suffering for about 3 years, since I started dating my latest boyfriend. I tried the hydrogen peroxide douch and that did not work, I tried the douche and the lacto acidoohilis and that seemed to lessen the discharge but it came back full force after I had sex. Then I tried the combination of all three the 800 mg folic acid and 200 million (2 capsules) live lacto acidophilis and the hydrogem peroxide (w/ a drop of tea tree oil) douche this is the first time in years that my vagina is completely odor free!! I feel like my life is changed. I was always wearing sanitary napkins for the discharge and changing my underwear a few times a day. I am free!! thank you so much, I even had sex and I am still clean as a whistle down there. thank you!
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Jersey85 (Here and There..., Jersey) on 09/09/2008
I've been reading, I want to try this part 1 peroxide and part 1 water. I'm not exactly sure how to do this. Can someone please post EXACTLY what has to be done. Do i take anything after? I'm not too fond of putting anything up there. It makes me a lil nervous. I take acidophollus and folic acid daily but I just need a lil something more. I appreciate the help and this web site is FANTASTIC!!!
Replied by Julie
(Indianapolis, IN)
09/19/2008
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Veronica (New York, US) on 09/08/2008
★★★★★
I was first diagnosed with BV for the first time at 19. (I'm not a virgin). I was treated with antibiotics. It was gone within a week. five months later it came back. This time the antibiotics didn't work. I took the flagyl two times, then i was given a stronger antibiotic, and then a flagyl again. Still no relief. The smell and irritation was so terrible it was ruining my relationship. Anyways, I found something that worked for me. eating yogurt every day helped, and so did taking 50mgs of acidophilus and 1600 mcgs of folic acid once in the morning and once at night. But the smell was still present so i searched for more answers. I came across a medical journal that someone else had posted on another website dedicated to BV. It said that a 17 year old virgin had chronic BV for I believe about 7 months and was treated with antibiotics a few times with no change. She was washed out with a mixture of salt, iodine, and peroxide and for 10 days in a row and the BV went away. It said that after a year she was still free of it. So i figured I'm no virgin, but it's worth a try. I found everything I needed at the pharmacy. After douching with the salt (don't over do it on the salt. try a tablespoon), peroxide, and iodine every night before bed i inserted a tampon soaked in yogurt and acidophilus (from inside the capsule) for the first 5 days. I'm on day 11 now because I decided to use the douche for two weeks instead of 10 days. The smell has been gone for 9 days and my discharge is no longer thick and pasty. It is such a relief after 5 months of constant suffering. This remedy honestly saved my relationship. I'm still taking the acidophilus and folic acid every day and i will forever. I'll also most likley douche atleast once a week. I know they say it's bad but it has only done good for me. Also if I feel some irritation i insert an acidophilus pill with some plain yogurt over night to replace some good bacteria. Good Luck;)
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by T (Carroll, MD) on 09/05/2008
★★★★★
Ok, Here is my story. I thought I had a yeast infection starting about 10 months ago so I kept treating with momostats for a long time. I kept calling my OBGYN and they would give me diflucan. Well, I should have went in because to my suprize it was not a yeast infection at all- it was BV. (I finally went in to the OBGYN about 5 months ago & had a pap. I was given metrogel and it didn't work for long so I kept calling and getting more (oral & internal)meds. I didn't even notice that the whitish discharge & irritation had stopped because I was so plauged by this yellowish-non-smelly stickyish discharge that started. I was like "WTH ! I have been married for like 12 years so I knew it was nothing std related)Then not too much longer after I found out I was preggo, needed metro again for the yellowy stuff my OB was saying was BV, then I lost the pregnancy. I had a d&C, and soon after the yellow discharge returns. I was so angry I called and got one more course of Flagyl and when that did not work I found this site. So I immediatly went to buy The peroxide, acidophilus pills and folic acid. I started w/ the douche for a clean start and inserted one of the acido-pills. Then I did the same the next day also taking 1600mcgs/day of folic acid. Now, my discharge was gone but still the most anoying external problems. Then low and behold the yellow-non-smelly stuff returns. So, I was like "That's it ! I'm going in to the OBGYN's" again.So, I went yesterday. He took a culture looked at it and said "I really don't see anything" he took a ph sample and did not say anything, then proceeded to tell me It does not look like I have BV any more and prescribed me an external steroid/antifungal treatment to help with my external probs. I am so confused by now so I said "What about the yellow non-smelly boogery discharge ?" He said "I'm not worried about that stuff at all, infact I think it's hormonal." "The paps are not going to change." So all in all, I guess The treatments did work (the metrogel followed by the earth clinic treatments) even though they felt like they didn't. I guess I have been free of Bv longer than I knew. I would definitely recommend taking the folic acid everyday along with yogurt,acidophillus pills twice a day or AZO yeast pills 1-3 times a day. I did however find out that I should not have douched with pharmacutical grade 3% hydrogen peroxide (even though it worked) it contains stabalizers that should not be ingested. Instead they suggest a food grade 35% hydrogen peroxide that MUST be properly diluted so it wont harm or burn you. Then the regimen from there I have heard is anywhere from douching only initially all the way up to twice a day up to seven days. As you know douching is not recommended by health care provided and should probably just be used as infrequently and done in the least amount as possible. I truly hope this helps ppl. Bv is the worst thing ever-Ever! Best wishes to all !
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Gialena (New York, New York) on 08/31/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
I too have been suffering from BV for 4 months now (since may 2008) and have been on 2 courses of Flagyl, taken flucanozole after the antibiotics to get rid of the yeast. It came from out of no where and while I don't have the itchy and sore symptoms anymore (they disappeared after the first round of antibiotics) I still am battling with this nasty smelling greyish discharge -which I feel people can smell a mile away on me. I have no idea where it came from -it literally just came out of the blue one day. I am a VERY clean person, wash and dry several times a day -don't use perfumed soap down there, am careful when shaving, stopped using dryer sheets -which I read on your site could add irritation.
My boyfriend also got treated for it but it doesn't seem to have any effect on him -he does however notice the smell from me (all of a sudden) and while he is understanding, it is SO EMBARRASSING!! I no longer just give into the impulsive "rendezvous" with him, but am paranoid and have to make sure I go wash before hand and have a hard time relaxing out of fear that we can smell me....
I have gone to my GP several times -who just says a lot of women suffer from it and to give it time -well, I don't have time and I can't do anymore antibiotics....
So... I have done the Boric Acid suppositories -which caused me to bleed 2-3 days after every time I started them (Had my period 5 times in 2,5 months as a result). -Went to my GYN, who has tested me 3 times now for everything -and I have no STDs. -Apparently I just am too sensitive for the Boric Acid??
-Has anyone else had those problems?? Please respond if that is "a normal response" as Boric Acid is harsh and if it is "ok" just to be sensitive to it?? Or if there is something else I should look out for/worry about??
God I hate having these problems; especially as I never have had them before other than the odd yeast infection here and there... (I am turning 31 and am wondering if it is a hormonal change??)
I also did start drinking ACV back in March 6 months ago and am wondering if that could be it -now that I JUST read your note on not to drink ACV if you suffer from BV (BV occurred for the first time in May) -The first two months I drank the ACV religiously and loved it -I also started oil pulling in mid march and had no problems. I have been drinking ACV on and off for the past 2-3 months -hence why I never paired the two together...
I then stopped oil pulling about 2 months ago (july) due to an inconsistent schedule and traveling a lot -but I miss it and will start that again -the benefits were AMAZING for my skin... However I don't know if any of that could have caused the BV to start?? Seems highly unlikely.... What do you think??
I now have been doing the Hydrogen peroxide douches on and off for about a month -they work great when I do them but how often and for how long should I continue with this?
I did the first 5 days in a row -thought I was clear but it came back and now I have just used them every other or third day as I don't want to overdo it??
I also started the 800mcg Folic Acid and 1000mg Acidophilus everyday for 4 days -which cleared me for 2 days about 10 days ago, but then it came back and I am back on your web site again, as I can't seem to kick this or am wondering if I am doing something wrong??
Do I need to take the Folic Acid and acidophilus infinitely?? As in the rest of my life -or will it eventually subside??
Sorry for all these questions, I am just at loss in regards to this BV and so sad to be dealing with this! I will however say THANK YOU TO THIS AMAZING SITE -for sharing all these women's stories and advice, and also for already helping me with ACV -when I couldn't get rid of laryngitis and bronchitis. OIL PULLING which cleared up my acne, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE which cleared my ear infection -I owe you a great great deal..... THANK YOU!!
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Denise (Opelika, Alabama) on 08/28/2008
★★★★★
I have suffered with BV for years and after metronizole and other antibotics. I would go from BV to Yeast infection to BV. It was a never ending cycle. The fishy smell drove me crazy. It was like I was nasty/dirty. I didn't know where to turn and then I found this website which was a life saver for me. I used the boric acid 2 teaspoons of boric in a regular douche bottle. I just bought a store brand douche and poured it out and mixed it in it. I also used the hydrogen peroxide douche 50/50 about a week after the boric acid douche followed by a daily doses of folic acid (800 mg) and acidophilus (2 pills). The smell or the discharge hasn't returned not exactly sure what helped but I was so desperate when I found this site to I tried all of the above. To date no fishy smell and it been about 2 weeks.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by 7thdayBeauty (Atlanta, GA) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★
I have been suffering fron BV fro almost nine months and HAve been almost out of my mind with embarrassment. I have been to the doctors 4x in the last three months and been given 3 diffrent antibiotics with no relief. Last night I got on here and read all the remedies and went straight to the drug store. This morning I had miraculous results, this is what i did.. I douched with 1 part water and 1 part Hydrogen peroxide last night and this morning. I took 2(1 billion tabs) of Acidpholous and took 800 mg of folic acid and ate 12oz of yogurt. I promise this morning no smell and discharge, i will continu this regimen for three days to see what happens, THANKS FOR ALL THE POSTS!!!
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Julie (Fishers, IN) on 08/26/2008
★★★★★
LADIES! This remedy works 100%! BV is gone in MINUTES!!!!!!! Only takes 1 minute to do it and cost $8.00 total. I wish i knew this 2 years ago. Nothing helped before. I am overwhelmed and want the whole world to know about it.
This is what I did:
#1 15cc bottled water + 15cc Peroxide (3%) mix together. I happened to have a large surrenge so i used it. Lay on your back in bath tub and put the mixture inside your area. I let it sit there for 15 seconds, then stand up and let it out. and repeat using only bottled water this time to just rinse it out.
Then take a capsule ! (note: it is a capsule) of acidophilus and OPEN it. Shake the powder into a cup and mix with 1 TBLSP of water.Using an unwrapped tampon (I used a small Tampax Pearl) absorb the mixture. It will immediately look and feel like skin lotion on tampon. Insert inside of you.
Take two pills of acidophilus orally. And take a 2 hour nap. THATS IT!!!!! GONE !U are fresh clean and happy again as soon as u take tampon out of you couple hours later. Never have i ever thought this could be possible. Not a sign of BV in 2 hours or next morning. It wouldnt hurt to repeat it the next day. AMAZING! Too sad doctors dont prescribe this instead of pills that dont even work. This method first cleans out bad cultures and then replaces them with good cultures. Love your web site! Julie
Replied by Janet
(Woodbridge, NJ)
10/22/2008
Replied by Roxy D
(Portland, Maine)
10/28/2009
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Believer (New Brunswick, NJ) on 08/22/2008
★★★★★
I suffered from BV on and off since I was about 22 and am now 28. I too would go back and forth to the doc for an antibiotic script that never seemed to be the long term cure. THank you sooooo much forthis site becuase I read all the comments and had to try this rememdy. I used 50/50 H202 solution for 3 days (douche which I purchased and emptied to refill with solution). Then I used 800 mcg. of Folic ACid and 1 billion mcg of acidophilous. Can I just say - it workd IMMEDIATELY! I am not one to sell anything but ladies, this is it. I can't beleive how great it worked - no smell, no discharge and I feel so great. Thank you so much for this rememdy. Only wish I knew it sooner.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Lisa (Crockett, CA) on 08/17/2008
★★★★★
OKAY LADIES....i;ve been fighting bv for quite sometime (so long cant tell how long) anyway. went to the dr last week and expected to get the usual remedy of metronidazole but, i didnt. the dr. told me to go buy the miconazole nitrate 7 day cream at the drug store over the counter? couldnt under stand why... she clearly said i had bv, so i left scratching my head, wondering if the last dr. was a quack and is this all i had to do to get rid of this? Anyway, i went to the drugstore and got the 7 day miconazole nitrate and applicators. i used 1 last night. funny thing, no funk today? couldnt believe it! is this really working? so i went on line to find out about the cures for this bv thing and i find this site. unbelieveable! so i go to the store get the folic acid 400 mg, and acidophilus pills 350 mg, and i already had the h202 so i bought a douche bottle. at 315pm today, i took the folic acid (1 pill) and 1 pill of the acidophilus and douched with the 50/50 h202 formula. i got to tell you,....i dont smell anything, i feel clean clean clean and i will let you all know in a day or so...how everything goes. cant tell which is working though, but i figure its a combination of the 4- miconazole,folic acid, acidophilus and the h202 formula. all i know is my va-jayjay at this minute aint funky and even it if is a mask, at least i know how to get rid of the smell for a while now. so thanks!
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by HDS (St. Louis, Missouri) on 08/14/2008
★★★★★
I have been suffering with BV since the age of 16(26 now) of and on for years. I have tried all the things that the doctors have prescribed also with no success. I even tried taking penicillian to no avail. I recently spoke with my mother about it and she said that a nurse told her one day about H202. When she said that I was in disbelief so I said I would look it up on the internet, low and behold I found this site that said it works in combination with other things. So I tried it and the was so amazed that I wanted to cry. I found that the H202 doesn't work alone though. I went and bought the acidophilus and folic acid last to go along with the H202. I used 1 part H202/ 1 part water, (3)400mcg and (2)acidophilus 1 billion, just to get the vitamins in my system. I will continue with the vitamins folic acid once a day and the acidophilus once a week. I woke in the middle of the night with no discharge and I will see what happens throughout the day will keep you'll posted on my progress. Thanks Ladies A Billion!!!!
Replied by HDS
(ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI)
08/25/2008
★★★☆☆WORKED TEMPORARILY
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Kat (Louisville, USA) on 08/11/2008
★★★★★
hi! I've suffered from BV for YEARS although I didn't know it. My new physician sent me a report saying i had it and it was just "a shift in my flora and if it didn't bother me, we wouldn't treat it!" With that I got on Earth Clinic and I've used acidophilus and the H202 and H20 tampon. Had also used plain yogurt on a tampon for years b/c I was told was just a "yeast infection"! The weird thing is my physicians are women- poor things! Thanks alot to all at Earth Clinic! I cried when I read this site-thank you! thank you!
Hydrogen Peroxide, Folic Acid, Acidophilus
Posted by Caitlan (Phoenix, OR, USA) on 08/10/2008
★★★★★
I have been suffering from BV off and on for quite some time. I thought that it was a yeast infection until I noticed an occasional odor. Finally I discovered this web site, and so far the acidophilus, folic acid and hydrogen peroxide and water douche has worked. I've only done it for a few days but it's very promising.
I take 800 mg of folic acid and about 8 acidopholus pills(1 billion per pill) a day. That may sound like a lot but it's perfectly safe since they make ones with 10 billion per pill.
I STILL NEEDED MORE INFO to understand why these things had anything to do with curing BV. It turns out that they help yeast infections too! I looked this up on wikipedia. Take a look...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus_acidophilus
"Lactobacillus acidophilus is one species in the genus Lactobacillus. It is sometimes used commercially together with Streptococcus salivarius and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus in the production of acidophilus-type yogurt.
Lactobacillus acidophilus gets its name from lacto- meaning milk, -bacillus meaning rod-like in shape, and acidophilus meaning acid-loving. This bacterium thrives in more acidic environments than most related microorganisms (pH 4-5 or lower) and grows best at 30 degrees Celsius. L. acidophilus occurs naturally in the human and animal gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and vagina.[1] L. acidophilus ferments lactose into lactic acid, like many (but not all) lactic acid bacteria. Certain related species (known as heterofermentive) also produce ethanol, carbon dioxide, and acetic acid this way. L. acidophilus itself (a homofermentative microorganism) produces only lactic acid. Like many bacteria, L. acidophilus can be killed by excess heat, moisture, or direct sunlight.
Some strains of L. acidophilus may be considered a probiotic or "friendly" bacteria.[2] These types of healthy bacteria inhabit the intestines and vagina and protect against some unhealthy organisms. The breakdown of nutrients by L. acidophilus produces lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and other byproducts that make the environment hostile for undesired organisms. L. acidophilus also tends to consume the nutrients many other microorganisms depend on, thus outcompeting possibly harmful bacteria in the digestive tract. During digestion, L. acidophilus also assists in the production of niacin, folic acid, and pyridoxine. L. acidophilus can assist in bile deconjugation, separating amino acids from bile acids, which can then be recycled by the body.[3]
Some research has indicated L. acidophilus may provide additional health benefits, including improved gastrointestinal function, a boosted immune system, and a decrease in the frequency of vaginal yeast infections. Some people report L. acidophilus provides relief from indigestion and diarrhea.[4] A University of Nebraska study found that feed supplemented with L. acidophilus and fed to cattle resulted in a 61% reduction of Escherichia coli 0157:H7. Research has indicated L. acidophilus may be helpful reducing serum cholesterol levels.[5]
L. acidophilus is part of the normal vaginal flora.[6] The acid produced by L. acidophilus in the vagina helps to control the growth of the fungus Candida albicans, helping to prevent vaginal yeast infections. The same beneficial effect has been observed in cases of oral or gastrointestinal Candidiasis infections. Certain spermicides and contraceptive creams can kill L. acidophilus in the vagina, clearing the path to possible yeast infections.
Antibiotics taken orally will also kill beneficial bacteria, including L. acidophilus. After a therapy that includes antibiotics, patients are occasionally instructed to take an L. acidophilus treatment in order to recolonize the gastrointestinal tract. To that effect, L. acidophilus is often sold in health stores in pill or powder form as a nutritional supplement. A part of the claims in favor of such treatment refer to attaining a better digestion thanks to a recovered normal intestinal flora, the ensuing reduction of constipation, while others indicate a link between L. acidophilus and a possible decrease in the incidence of certain diseases, including yeast infections in the upper digestive tract (especially those caused by Candida albicans), other gastrointestinal disorders, and a weakened immune system. However, despite popular belief, most researchers agree that the present knowledge on the nutritional benefits of taking L. acidophilus supplements is inconsistent and inconclusive, and that further study is needed before substantiating many of these claims."
I hope that helps!
