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.
I just wanted to let everyone know that my 15 year old had been taking an antibiotic for acne for about 7 months and wound up with BV. She was miserable with odor, discharge, all that. I searched and searched for her an answer and found out that it is a particular type of probiotic that you need (multi-strain). I wish I had the link but I found what she needed on vitamin website.
[Probiotics w/ Reuteri] capsuls
It cleared her up within 10-14 days. She was very happy and continued taking them for a couple of more weeks. No side effects. It has not returned. (She is no longer on that anti-biotic either)
Posted by Health Nut (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) on 09/24/2012 ★★★★★
I'd like to begin by thanking everybody for posting your experiences. This site has been extremely helpful.
I first got BV at the end of November 2011. I had no idea what was wrong with me but I knew it wasn't a yeast infection and I knew it wasn't normal. I went to my family doctor as I recommend everyone should. She did not examine me but diagnosed me with BV and prescribed Flagyl. I took it as a vaginal suppository. It seemed to clear it up. I went to my gyno in January 2012 and had a test to be sure and unfortunately it was still there. Results came in just as symptoms came back. I now tried Flagyl in pill form. It made me quite ill but again seemed to clear it up. Again, that only seemed to last for a couple of months before symptoms were back. I did not want to be on antibiotics constantly or even every few months so I started looking at alternatives.
Thanks to this site, I found some. I started taking probiotics every day. I had taken them while on antibiotics but not after. So taking them daily was working but only as a control. As long as I remembered to take them, I was symptom free, but if I skipped a day, symptoms came back. I tried high doses for several days to see if I could regain balance, but again when I stopped taking them, the symptoms still came back. So I finally went back to my gyno, and she prescribed clindamycin as a cream to be used intravaginally. That was in late July 2012. I continued taking probiotics which you should do whenever taking any type of antibiotic. Symptoms disappeared. I went back about a month later and there was no BV!! But despite taking probiotics, I still ended up with a yeast infection. Hopefully the clindamycin will have taken care of it completely and it doesn't come back in a couple of months.
I will say, like most here, probiotics are a must. Your doctor may not have much to say about it, even mine said "It's not what we're taught", but BV and yeast are both about an imbalance of bacteria, and probiotics help maintain or restore that balance. I've continued taking them regularly and hope this is the end of BV for me. Best of luck to you all!
After trying EVERYTHING for BV that lingered for more than a year and a half I tried using Femdophilus from the refrigerated section of Whole Foods. I took it by mouth twice a day, and then switched to vaginally, nothing happened. I inserted 7 or 10 tablets at once one day. Bam! Cured. No pain during sex, no dryness or itching. Completely better and such a relief! If you've tried everything I suggest you try a large dose of probiotics at once. It might be just what your vagina needs to combat gardnerella.
Posted by Hopeful (San Jose, California, Usa) on 05/20/2012
I am so thankful for the tips/ experience that you all have shared! Although I feel frustrated and scared I also feel empowered to beat this thing! My bv symptoms aren't as bad as some of you have mentioned, mainly its just a weird nasty odor but I'm also concerned because I read that it can increase your chance of getting pelvic immflamatory disease which could lead to infertility. I am on implanon and have been in a relationship for four years, I am lucky because I told my bf about this and he's being great about it. Anyways, I mentioned being on implanon bc since I dont need to worry about pregnancy I let him ejaculate inside all the time. Now that I've researched BV I know that that is probably why I have it.
I'm trying to figure out a plan of action to get rid of this. I've already bought pro-biotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and rheuteri and acidophilus) along with that I plan on buying a 6 day treatment (vh) of vaginal inserts. My main question is whether or not I should use the prescription that my doctor gave me, it is a gel/lotion form of antibiotics (haven't actually gotten it yet from the pharmacy). I've read that for the most part the prescriptions have only helped temporarily for people followed by reccurence and/or yeast infections. This makes me not want to try the prescription if it will just kill all the bad and good bacteria in there and possibly lead me to a yeast infection. On the other hand, I am worried that there is too much bad bacteria in my vagina that's causing this and not taking the antibiotics would mean that the bad bacteria will remain in there. I haven't yet contacted my doctor about all this bc I forgot my online password and am waiting to get on in the mail, but as soon as I can I will, when I do though I'm a bit hesitant to follow my doctors advice since most doctors do not seem educated about causes or effective treatments for this. Any suggestions/ advice from you lovely ladies would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Magicgirl (East Bay, Ca) on 04/17/2012 ★★★★★
Ladies, there is an innovative, effective Vaginal Probiotic now on the market. It has excellent reviews, and the results are nothing short of miraculous! It's formulated for vaginal use, and is a super-concentrated blend of 11 probiotics specifically for use inside the vagina... No need to use oral probiotics "down there" ever again with this magical stuff! I rid myself of years of repeat BV and Yeast infections that prescriptions could not treat. I am so happy and confident again, and my sex life with my husband has returned... I could cry tears of joy! (btw, I buy mine on Amazon, but the company also has a very informative website where you can buy from too)
I just wanted to share my experience suffering with BV. I NEVER had a problem with vaginal infections in my life.... Until I took Prilosec. I did not suffer from acid reflux but gastrisis. I was told this mecidation was safe. However a month after starting it I noticed for the first time in my life, brown discharge. So I just want to throw this out there for woman who might be suffering from BV. GET OFF the anti acid medications... It messes with the natural balance of not only your stomach, but other organs... including female parts.
I still to this day have an on-off problem with BV despite discontinuing the drug over a year ago. Probiotics (fem-dolphis and Kefir milk), folic acid and wearing cotton underwear help me, but I've never been 100% normal.
Posted by Lady Garden (Manchester, Uk) on 01/12/2012
Hello ladies, I may have to take back a few of the things I said previously. I admit that I may have been wrong about one or two things but...
I think I've found a something which will keep BV at bay and is not too messy and not expensive and seems to do a very good job indeed and there's no douching involved!! It's called lactobacillus Sporogenes and it's a supplement which comes in tablet form. I have been using it as a vaginal supository and a suplement for several days (one week after my period when things usualy get bad) and there has been no odor whatsoever. You can get a particular 'daily' one from a particular supplement brand with the initials 'H. N. ' (google it). I have been using one a night vaginally and also taking one/two a day. However it feels like I could use the one vaginally less regularly and things would still be fine. I intend to try that out and experiment after I've continued with my current dose for 14 days straight. I've read about lots of studies in which BV was cured after using two of these particular types of supplement two (morning and night) a day vaginally for 14 days. The tablets disolve completely with minimal sticky leakage. If you put one in at night it's completely dissolved/absorbed by the morning.
Even if it's necessary to use these tablets for the rest of my life at least I know I don't ever have to deal with the awful symptoms of this horrible condition.
Lactobacillus Sporogenes is a particularly hardy probiotic which, unlike many, can survive harsh stomach acid and colonise in the colon. I truly believe that probiotics are the things we need to focus on if we intend to conquer this problem and stop it from consuming our lives. More studies need to be done in this area as all the ones so far have shown very positive and promising results.
I really hope this helps others the way it seems to have helped me.
FEM DOPHILUS!!! Thank you Amy from Deltona, FL and this wonderful website!!! I have suffered for years with BV and have tried all the antibiotics given to me by my doctor only to have it return a few months later or right after sex. I stumbled on this website and tried most of the remedies. The peroxide worked on the symptoms but did not get rid of the problem and I was tired of douching all the time because I know it can't be healthy. Then I read a post from Amy from Deltona about Fem Dophilus. PLEASE TRY IT!! IT REALLY WORKS AND IS SIMPLE TO USE! I had sex (my main trigger for an outbreak). That same day I started taking 1 pill a day by mouth then 3 days later my period started (another trigger). So I took one in the morning and one at night before bed during my period. When I finished my period I did douche with peroxide one time just for a cleanse and continued to take 2 by mouth for the first 3 days after my period then cut down to 1 a day. I'm pleased to announce that it's been 2 weeks and NO SIGNS of the BV!!! Not everything works for everybody but this worked for me and may work for you. No mess no fuss and you can find it at whole foods or any health food store. I hope this helps and if it does please spread the good news and help another sufferer find happiness again!! Good luck and I hope you all find what works for you!!!
I've read that you can insert these pills vaginally. I was diagnosed about a month ago and after the anti-biotic didnt work I started researching. I inserted the pills but they didnt dissolve, so they didnt work. Anybody know how you're supposed to insert them? I opened the pills and added water and used it as a douche. Not quite sure if that was effective, but I just wanted to get something in my body quickly. I was taking like 6-8 pills a day!! I think the pills were 5 billion. I think my symptoms went away and have recently come back. My insurance has not kicked in at my new job and can't afford to spend another $120 to go back to the doctor. Any suggestions on how to use the pills vaginally? I just think they'll work quicker than orally.
I want to thank this forum. After 7 years of embarrassing suffering from bv I tried the acidophilus remedy and it worked! :)I tried two different brands. The 1 St one ( 2 bil) didn't work but then I tried another brand DDS Probiotics from whole foods store and after 3 weeks it was gone. I take 2 per moring and 2 per night.
I am so glad that you have found your cure. I wanted to know what probiotics you used. But I don't know if this site will let you name names. If you can please let me know. Thanks
Posted by Lori (Yuba City, Ca) on 09/18/2009 ★★★★☆
Bacterial Vaginosis: I have been visiting this site for a few months now, and I'm relieved to see that I'm not alone! I'm hoping to answer some questions as to how much acidophilus to take ,how it's taken, etc. In MY experience, I like to take 1 acidophilus every day, as many CFU's as you can get. Mine has 35 billion and 14 different strains of bacteria and it seems to be enough IF it's taken regularly. Some ladies have asked why BV comes back if they skip 2-3 days in a row, and I personally think it's because your bacterial balance is always changing-from having sex, what you're eating, douching (which is bad, no matter what). So I think you need to maintain the balance every day. I'm more than willing to take a few extra pills a day if it means not getting BV! Why not?! As far as inserting the acidophilus directly into the vaj, I take one capsule and cut it open and mix the powder with alittle KY jelly, put it in an applicator that's used for inserting yeast infection meds, and insert it that way. It's tedious, but it absolutely works! I've thought about just inserting the whole capsule inside, but I'm not convinced that it will dissolve in there! Does anyone have input on that-any tips? Sometimes it only took one dose, sometimes it took a few capsules more. I also take about 800mcg of folic acid every day too, just for added benefits. So I hope this info helps others,and thank you to all who have posted their experiences for me to learn from!
Posted by Stuck On Acupuncture (Ft Lauderdale, Fl) on 09/23/2010 ★★★★★
The use of probiotics being places directly in the vagina is very effective. I insert it like I would an o.b. and almost experienced fast relief. I also take probiotics orally. As to how often I should use them directly I am curious. I have suffered from UTI for several years and the antibiotics have destroyed my system. I also find comfort in wiping with tea tree oil on cotton. I hope to get rid of this problem forever. One thing that has helped is acupuncture! I get fast relief and a better understanding of how my infection all began. I recommend acupuncture to anyone before or while on antibiotics. It's very effective!
I've only had BV once, but I tried the "acidify the vagina" route on the supposition that it was simply a matter of too-alkaline condition, but to no availe. My case of BV didn't go away until I killed the the bacteria (whatever kind they were) with colloidal silver douches.
That said, is it possible that your diet is too alkaline, or too alkalizing? You seem to eat mostly veggies with very few protein sources of any kind. This is just a hunch, but maybe you need to put some meat and eggs and raw dairy back into your diet, just as an experiment to see what happens. Maybe you are one of the few people who need more acid-forming foods in their diet to get back into balance instead of the other way around.
I agree with you though that sticking boric acid up your "cooter" (that is going to be my newest favorite word for awhile) is very extreme. Have you tried putting pro-biotics "up there" instead of just taking them by mouth? When I get a yeast infection, which is rare for me, I shoot some active-culture yogurt up there with a turkey baster. In other words, maybe some probiotics right at the source of infection would help.
I just saw a post on here where someone stated to "acidify" the vagina to get rid of BV. NO NO NO! Ladies you want to have a balanced diet ofcourse, but you want a diet higher in ALKALINE forming foods -NOT- foods that are high in acid. You want to eat more green veggies and less sugars/dairy products. Lemon water is a good drink, as lemons are high alkaline-forming, etc. After years of doctors visits, numerous medications and tons of research I have completely stopped having BV. What got rid of this condition for me was eating foods higher in alkaline but the main thing is 800 Folic Acid daily along with the B-series Vitamins. Just try it ;)
That was me, and you completely mis-read and misunderstood my post. BV causes, or can be caused by, an alkaline condition in the vagina. When I had BV was trying to re-establish the correct vaginal pH so that the correct vaginal flora could re-establish itself and crowd out the pathogenic bacteria, so that I wouldn't have to resort to stronger measures. When that didn't work, I used colloidal silver douches to kill the pathogenic bacteria and then repopulated myself with lactobacilli by douching with yogurt.
The person I had replied to mentioned in her post that she eats mainly veggies, with very little protein from any source. That leads me to wonder if her diet isn't TOO ALKALINE for health, and that her unbalanced diet is showing itself in a too alkaline vagina, which is causing an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (some of which are always present in the vagina). Health is a balance of alkaline and acid, and too alkaline isn't any healthier than too acid. Any condition that causes the vagina to become too alkaline can result in a candida (yeast) infection and/or a BV infection (sometimes both are present together). She also said that when she takes probiotics faithfully, the problem is not manifest, but that as soon as she stops for even two days, the smell, etc returns. This also leads me to wonder if the problem isn't a too alkaline diet. Probiotics acidify the vagina, which leads to the growth of a proper vaginal flora of lactobacilli. My reasoning is that perhaps if she added acid foods (mainly protein) to her diet, her vagina would become acid again like it is supposed to be. She has nothing to lose by trying what I suggest, and much to gain if I am correct. It could be that I am entirely wrong, but sometimes the answer to a problem is counter-intuitive.
p.s. In other words, her diet is ALREADY HIGHLY ALKALINE...PERHAPS TOO MUCH SO, which might be causing her vagina to be alkaline, resulting in an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, some of which are always present in the vagina, but over-grow and cause a problem when the vagina becomes alkaline. If you had read her post carefully, you would have seen that she describes a diet that is already highly alkaline. If she tries to make her diet even more alkaline than it already is, it just might make things worse, not better.
Kathy, I didn't want you to take offense to my post. The woman with the highly alkaline body could have something entirely different. Yes I agree with you that too much of anything is NOT good. However, I didn't want other female readers to think that they needed more acid in the body/vagina when it is quite opposite of what they need. Just for an example, sperm is highly acidic and can irritate things down there. I have read many studies and all I am simply saying is that most woman with BV do not want to be on a high acid diet. Most foods high in acid are the "bad foods" which are not good for BV. A good, balanced diet is best in my opinion. Everything in moderation! However, I personally believe that lowering the acid in your body will help with this condition, at least it has for me. Like I said, overall I feel my body was lacking Folic Acid (the birth control pill can deplete FA from your diet). Since I started taking the Folic Acid/Vitamin B series every day at the same time I have not had BV.
It is your misunderstanding of the science involved that bothers me. In point of fact, normal semen is alkaline, NOT acidic, with a pH of between 7.2 and 8.0, while a normal vagina is acidic, NOT alkaline, with a pH of between 3.8 and 4.5. These facts are available by typing "seminal ph" and "vaginal ph" into a search engine.
So, where in the world did you get the idea that semen is "highly acidic"??? And what makes you believe that all the acid foods are bad foods??? I agree that all "bad" foods are acidifying, but it does not follow that all acidifying foods are bad! Are organic, free-range eggs bad? Is organic, grass-feed meat bad? Is wild-caught salmon bad? And who recommended that she eat a "high-acid" diet??? Certainly not me!! I said that it might benefit her to add SOME protein (acid) foods to her diet, NOT that she start consuming a "high-acid" diet!! So, I do not know where you got the idea that semen is "highly acid", but you are 100 percent wrong, and display a serious misunderstanding of human physiology to boot. If semen irritates the vaginal canal, it does so because it is alkaline, NOT...I repeat...NOT because it is "highly acid".
LADIES PROBIOTICS WORKS!!! MAKE SURE ITS THE KIND THAT HAS TO BE REFRIGERATED. i HAVENT HAD A YEAST OR BV FOR 6 MONTHS AND I used to get either or every month before or after my mentrual cycle! No more stress and sleepless nights over vaginal issues!
Posted by Jamie (New York, New York) on 12/27/2008
Hello all, I just wanted to comment about the use of probiotics for BV. I am in my mid twenties and have been suffering with BV since a teenager! I developed BV before even having sex. I have researched it for many years. So far what I have found that has helped (and I've tried many things)...is using all sensitive skin products (free of perfumes and dyes). Not using soap (down there). Ironing underwear (been told the steam helps to kill any left over bacteria). I also try to use white cotton underwear (which isn't always sexy lol). I eat yogurt regularly, I try to cut back on my sugar intake and I don't drink anything with caffeine. After sex with my boyfriend I always make sure to get up and use the bathroom and also clean up down there with just a warm washcloth. I have taken Acidophilus tablets, Folic Acid, Vitamin B Series and none seemed to provide relief. This ofcourse, is after many years of taking all the doctor-prescribed antibiotics which NEVER worked for long. So, now I have gone to the health food store and bought Primodophilus Intensive by Natures Way. My health food store only had it in a powder form. It's was $25 for 10 packets. I mixed it with water (the taste isn't bad) and I downed it. It's only been a couple hours but I so far feel fresh and I believe this is going to help and maybe even cure me! I will report back in a day or two with feedback! I'm also praying these changes will rid me (and all of us women) of this nasty condition.
Ive have done alot of research on BV and have tried everything that Ive read, others have told me that works and I was so angry that I had this problem, upset that a doctor knew nothing on how to fix it and not to mention embarassed to be around others much less have relations with my boyfriend. I wondered into Wild Oats and found probiotics with 2 strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus reuteri). It cost about $24.00 (dont buy off the internet because it has to be kept refrigerated at all time). I took it and nothing much the first day...but on the second day I was feeling SO SO much beter and by the third day...no discharge, itching, foul smell. Im amazed...and i threw away all the BS in my cabinet. I stopped taking it after two weeks and was fine for about a week and then WHAMMY...it was back. I started up on it yesterday and today its like nothing happened. I take ONE pill ONCE a day, no douching, no 6-7 pills a day of folic acid and acidophilus. The pills that you buy over the counter dont work...it has to be refrigerated to keep the bacteria alive! I hope that this helps people!!
I just ordered this product online and the only one I could find that will send refrigerated items in an ice pack is iHerb... I paid 12.00 for overnight shipping so hopefully the probiotic arrives chilled. The closest market that sold this product was 2hrs from me... So I guess I saved on gas and time. Ive been taking acidophillus, folic acid, multi vitamin and complex b, but my bv came back with a veganence... I did the h2o2 douche which did help for a few days and it did make me feel better down there, but did not cure my bv. I am really hopeing this works. I will update to let you know how it works for me. I just started Clyndamyacin, this is the third time taking anti biotics and hopefully my last! Im going to take the probiotics as soon as they get here today... Im just unsure of how many I should take? maybe 2/day and one inserted vaginally 1/day?
Posted by Angie (Athens, Ohio) on 12/07/2008 ★★★★★
Regular Acidophilus didn't work for me. If any of you ladies out there are like me, use the super probiotics. Buy the probiotics with as many different bacteria as possible. They are more expensive, but well worth it. Health food stores are the place to look for them. Good luck.
Hello ladies! I too suffer from this terrible thing that we call BV and have for over 10 years on and off. I have tried everything from antibiotics, to yogurt covered tampons and my symptoms have gone away for a short while and then bam theyre back again. It seems like a never ending battle and the smell not even I can handle! In doing online research as I know you all have, I came across a website that mentioned Lactobacillus which is the sister of acidophilus as it was put. Anyways I searched high and low for these pills until I finally found them. The reason it to so long to find is it is actually a live culture pill that needs to be refridgerated so you need to ask your pharmacist for them. they are over the counter so you dont need a prescription and cost around $11. Make sure to keep them refrigerated because they are live cultures. You have to insert the daily dosage of 4-5 pills into your vagina just as you would almost with yeast infection medicine and let them sit over night. I personally noticed a difference the next morning, smell was gone no itching ect...but you are to continue it for 7 days. For me this was a god send but as we know all our bodies react differently. Now this has cured it for a while and then of course the BV rears its ugly head again so I personally keep a bottle of these pills in my fridge at all times and when i notice it I just go ahead and do a few nights of the pill treatment. I hope this helps some of you ladies out there because I know how horrible this is!!!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
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I douche with clean water prior to inserting a boric acid filled gel cap at bedtime. This provides enough moisture for the gel cap to dissolve. Things may be a bit *runny* in the morning, but at least the boric acid had all night to do its work.
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