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Cure Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Updated: 03/09/2010

"Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal infection. For grammatical reasons, some people prefer to call it vaginal bacteriosis[citation needed]. It is not generally considered to be a sexually transmitted infection[1] (see causes below). BV is caused by an imbalance of naturally occurring bacterial flora, and should not be confused with yeast infection (candidiasis), or infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (trichomoniasis) which are not caused by bacteria."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_vaginosis

MOST POPULAR BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS REMEDY:
H202 DOUCHE, ACIDOPHILUS, FOLIC ACID COMBO 80 YEAS

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

POPULAR REMEDIES:

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE	82 YEAS
FOLIC ACID AND ACIDOPHILUS	74 YEAS
FOLIC ACID	36 YEAS
ACIDOPHILUS	29 YEAS
MULTIPLE REMEDIES	13 YEAS
BORIC ACID	9 YEAS
PROBIOTICS	7 YEAS

ACIDOPHILUS

29 YEA
3 NAY
13 BETTER BUT NOT CURED
3 SIDE EFFECTS
1 QUESTION

[YEA]  02/12/2010: Kararn from Dallas, Tx, Usa writes: "Re: Bacterial Vaginosis

I've been reading a lot on this site about Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. Acidophilus) and its success in treating bacterial vaginosis (BV). For those who are having trouble getting it to work, here's some info that might help. There was a clinical study performed using four different strains of lactobacilli. L. acidophilus, apparently, may be helpful, but is not necessarily the best one to use. They found that L. rheuteri and L. rhamnosus are the most effective. BV can be caused by an imbalance in the pH which leads to a decrease in lactobacilli (good stuff) and/or an increase in Gardnerella (bad stuff). Antibiotics don't work well against Gardnerella because it exists in a biofilm - a community of organisms (bacteria in this case)that encapsulate themselves protecting them from the antibiotics. So the antibiotics never really get rid of the Gardnerella or restore lactobacilli and your BV returns. Gardnerella, lactobacilli, and pH are linked, so if your pH goes up for whatever reason, lactobacilli go down and let the Gardnerella take over OR the Gardnerella colonize and kill off the lactobacilli. Chicken or the egg. Anyway, of the four lactobacilli tested, L. rheuteri reduced the biofilms most effectively and the L. rhamnosus displaced the biofilms most effectively. So basically, one kills and the other crowds out. So if you're having success with L. acidophilus, great! - it's good for you regardless. If not, or you want to try something different...find a probiotic that contains significant numbers of L. rheuteri and L. rhamnosus. There's at least one particular brand that has this, carried at health food stores, in the refrigerated section. It's in a brown, glass bottle to protect it from heat and light.

For myself, I use 2 capsules of this probiotic orally in the morning w/ Vit. B12 400mg and Folic Acid 800mcg. Then at night I take Vit. B12 400mg and Folic Acid 400mcg orally and 1 probiotic capsule vaginally. Wetting the capsule first seems to help give it a kickstart dissolving. I also drink one low-sugar probiotic drink a day, found in the yogurt section of the store and take Vit. C and a multivitamin daily. This has really seemed to help. I do the hydrogen peroxide flush right after my period. Hopefully, this helps someone else. Also FYI I'm an RN and have suffered from BV aka "the life ruiner" since my teens and am just now finally getting it under control. Cheers and good luck!"

01/10/2010: Yourstruly from Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States writes: "I tried inserting Acidophilus. I have the form thats a caplet. It looks like a normal pill as if it were a pain reliever; thats they kinda make it has. it has no outer covering that you can break with insides. I first tried a 40million and that dissolved but was just gritty. and worked. a couple nights later i tried the 1 billion one and it never dissolved. i didn't put it too far up but when i went to feel it was still there but a little desinigrated (sp) and it was there for about 12hrs. so i scooped it out and it was very fragile but was powdery if i crushed it in my hand. im not sure which is the right pill to use the first one did work that was 40 million; mind you the 40million weren't put in the refrigerator i missed that memo. so the cultures were long killed. does anyone know if the normal pill form kind are ok to take. they are just a hard pill no layers"

01/18/2010: Sy from Houston, Tx, Us replies: "I truly understand your "problem" with the acidophilus. I tried an acidophilus capsule that required refrigeration it worked fine. No grit afterwards & it did dissolve. Just to help you further I would like to share my BV B GONE recipe with you.

40 million acidophilus in the am
1600 mg of folic acid a day
A collodial silver douche, 1 TBS to 8-10 oz water
1 acidophilus inserted at night
1 cup apple cider vinegar in bath, soak 15 to 20 min.

Now this method will need some adjusting according to your needs, cause we're all different but I hope it helps. It did wonders for me. I would suggest a fragrance free hypoallergenic soap. When it's gone treat yourself to new panties, throw the old ones out. get a special washing detergent for them also. Hope this helps!"

01/18/2010: Jordan from Indianapolis, In replies: "does anyone know why acv or acidophilus would cause vaginal bleeding. I convinced myself that I had bv because I had been treated for it and i could not make it go away. I took 3 500 mg tablets of acidophilus and 2 400 mg tablets of folic acid. The musky smell that lines my stomach line was lessen not gone. So I was encouraged because someone said the smell was the bacteria in my intestinals. But then I had bleeding."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  11/01/2009: Cici from Orlando, Florida, United States writes: "I am sorry to see that many women like me suffer from this, but glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was suffering from a yeast infection for a month due to the fact that I had more white discharge than usual and no odor, a burning sensation when urinating, and itching. I had these about a week before my period came on and then suddenly left during my period. However, after it went off the symptoms came back full force except I no longer had any burning when urinating. I tried an antifungal cream that contained miconazole, but it irritated my vagina even more and made it swell. So I only used it for 3 days and not 7. Now I think it may be BV because my discharge has changed to yellow and there's a horrible odor.

I have been taking acidophilus pills (100millionunits, not enough I know) to help and it has been. My itching has gone down, but I still have plenty of discharge and odor. I've tried inserting the capsule vaginally, but it doesn't really dissolve. So I wouldn't recommend using capsules inside the vagina. I've also tried sitz baths with apple cider vinegar and salt which help the itching temporarily. I'm going to try the folic acid and vitamin c next. Hopefully it'll work because dealing with this is so annoying."

11/08/2009: Ms.t from Madison, Wi replies: "Hi, today is my first time reading this website i got bv again for the 2nd time in a year and my doctor perscribed me metronidazole again. I first got bv when i was 6 months pregnant with my daughter. i was even sexually active my whole pregnancy. anyways my doctor told me about the acidophilus and i didnt end up buying it till after i had my daughter. i had bv for about 6 months until 2 months ago my doctor gave me nuvaring for it. it went away but a week ago i tood some medicine for something else and it took away all the good bacteria as well so i have bv again. and guess what metro again so i look on the website and find this website u guys have some good ideas that will hopefully work. because bv is nasty it smells and has a lot of discharge.it burns when i urinate and it itches bad not this second time around so much but when i was pregnant it was horrible. mines never smelled like fish but it has a smell none the less. I also wanted to know how you do the peroxide thing if someone could be a little more clear on that.i had some acidophilus but left it at my sisters 2 months ago. i have to go to the store and get some more. i will also pick up some of the things u guys suggested. this site really helps. i cant believe theres actually other ppl who have this same reoccuring problem as me. now i dont feel alone. but i have a few tips for it my self.

Tips to help: WHen your at home dont wear any underwear so your vagina can get some air.
Wear white cotton underwear while your infected
Take showers or warm baths 2 times a day and use blow dryer to dry area my doctor told me that
Also taking the capsule in the vagina is more effective so orally and vaginally.
Peeing after sex and making sure your partners genital area is clean or wear a condom because i believe thats how i got it this second time is from sex.
Use white towels or wash rags because they are more sterile colored rags and towels hide more bacteria and dont easily clean when washed.
dont dusche because it can make it worse plus its removing good bacteria.

But does anybody know what a good mild soap to use in that area because i use dove is dove to strong for the vagina?"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  12/03/2009: Jo from Atlanta, Ga replies: "I am a firm believer in the Acidophilus. I have only had BV once in my life and it was about a year ago. Well this year, I have had it 3 times and do not know why! I am very clean, shower every day and have had limited partners (and used condoms). You clear up the BV and then you get a yeast infection because the PH levels are so screwed up. Or you take Metrogel and get a yeast infection because of it being an antibiotic and then get BV again from all the activity in the vaj jay :).

Anyway, my doctor asked me if I had ever heard of Acidophilus. I said Huh ? She told me to take it for 14 days and i felt great while taking it. But as soon as I quit taking it, I felt like it came back. She tested me and said it did not come back, but about a month later I had such an odor from between my legs I could not stand it. So i went back to the dr and got checked, confirmed I had BV again and got some more Metrogel.

I was told that the thick, cottage cheesy discharge from the Metrogel is the bad bacteria coming out of your body.

I started taking the Acidophilus again and have decided to take it regularly to help with keeping it from coming back!

I have taken it for over a month now and felt great. But I bought a different kind and it only has 100 million bacteria in it, and I feel kinda weird now. So I wondered if I need to try the 2 pills/day and one at night in the vaj jay ? Maybe the dose is too little ?

Anyway thank you for all your comments and suggestions, it definitely helps and makes ya feel better that you are not alone!"

12/03/2009: Dameimei from Memphis, Tn replies: "Hi Jo,

I am also suffering between yeast infection and BV. Originally, I thought I got my first yeast infection 3 years ago but then I realized it was possible that I had it before but didn't know it. In my case, I don't get it every month but once awhile I get a very bad one which drags over 2 months length in the past couple years.

This time, I started with a yeast infection in the end of September and my nightmare began.

- September 29th, My new Dr. prescribed me 2 Fluconazole 150mg table (I didn't see the doctor, just got prescription over the phone). I felt better for few days but the itching came back.

- October 19th (3 weeks later), my Dr. prescribed me Terconazole 0.4% cream 45gm for 7 days. The itching was better but I knew it was not cleared.

- October 29th, I went in to the doctor and found out I had yeast and BV. So 3 days after I finished the Terconazole cream, I was on Metronidazole .75% gel 70g for 7 days and took another Fluconazole pill.

- November 13th (2 weeks after my previous visit), I went back to the doctor. Nightmare just kept going... I was still not cleared from BV. This time, he put me on Tinidazole 500 mg two tablets daily for five days. Finally I felt normal but the nightmare did not stop there..

2 days after I finished tinidazole, I was in Canada visiting my fiance. We only get to see each other 2 or 3 month interval dur to our jobs. I was there on Friday then by Sunday.. I started to get burning feeling while I pee. I was not sure at first and drank lots of water and started to feel a bit better but then it got worst so I went into the doctor in Canada (no insurance coverage) and found out I had urinary tract infection. Of course I was on antibiatic, Amoxycillin 500mg 3 times daily for 7 days. Now, I am back on yeast (or BV or both.. I am not sure).

I just don't want to be back on all the crazy antibiotic nor antifungal.. especially I want to have a baby soon. I am so glad that I found this site yesterday! I immediately got on Folic Acid, Lactobacillus acidophilus (the one needs to be in the refrigerator) and multi-vitmins. I just started it last night and I also put some Nystatin and Triamcinolone acetonide cream (antifungal to treats Candida ) around the lips of my v to help the itchness. I feel a bit better today. Not clear yet but I have faith in this. I plan to do this for a week before I try other remedies or back to the doctor.

You guys need to read the post from Ted on the yeast infection page in this site. Either click on the following link or type yeast infection in the search box on this site.

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/yeast_infection_questions.html

I truly believe if we can find out what we are missing in our diet, get our body pH balanced up, boost up our immune system, we can fight this thing!"

12/03/2009: Dameimei from Memphis, Tn replies: "Oh, another thing to add. My doctor mentioned about bleaching the underwears may help on the recurrence. Soak them in water with 1/2 to 1 cup of bleach added for 10 to 15 min before wash them. 100% cotton (in white) undie is a must!"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  12/05/2009: Dameimei from Memphis, Tn replies: "I felt better but it's not cured. I started on Folic Acid and L. Acidophilus on Wednesday night. I felt better on Thursday but started to felt itching on Friday. Here is the list of what I took..

Wednesday - 1 Folic Acid (800 mcg) and 2 L. Acidophilus (5 billon live cell) capsules at night.

Thursday - 1 Folic Acid in the morning and 1 multi-vitamin tablet. Since the multi-vitamin I took during the day contains Folic Acid 400 mcg, I skipped the Folic Acid at night and took 2 L. Acidophilus before bed.

Friday - In the morning, I took a multi-vitamin contains Folic Acid 1200 mcg but no L. Acidophilus.

I only took L. Acidophilus before bed since few women post that they have to lower or stop the L. Acidophilus to feel better. I truly believe L. Acidophilus is good for us but I also want to be careful since everyone responds differently. Maybe I didn't take enough.. On Friday, my condition got worst then Thursday.

So I went to the local natural food store and picked up some organic fresh garlic, a bottle of garlic supplement (6,248 mcg allicin - 90 tablets), tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide and a bottle of cranberry juice (fresh pressed, not from concentrate and no sugar added).

I never douched before and I don't know what I need to get so I decided not to try that yet. I decided to start on use a garlic in my v first.

Friday - At night, I took 1 garlic supplement and 2 L. Acidophilus. I also used organic non fat plain yogurt mixed with some L. Acidophilus (open 1 capsule and use the powder inside only) on the lips of my v. I left the yogurt mix on the lips for 30 min then washed off and dried it well with blow dryer. I was hoping to get some release from the itching on the lips. The yogurt was cold so it did calm the itchiness. It did seems to work (I can't really say it worked but I feel fine after). I decided to try the garlic method, put a fresh garlic in the v. I pilled the garlic and cut the end off. I also pressed few marks with my nail so the juice of garlic can come out a small tiny bit. I tied a string on the garlic by using needle passed the string from one end to the other then tie a knot at the end. Make sure the knot is not too small and it will lock on the garlic and help you pull it out from your v. I also make sure everything is clean! my hands, string, needle, everything I need to use.

Saturday - I felt much better! I do see some white discharge and I think what I have is yeast. (I get yeast and bv both usually) I took the garlic out after I woke up.

A hour later, I cleaned my v with hydrogen mix with water. Just to washed the outside, not douche. Before the wash, I tried to clean up some discharge inside my v a bit. Make sure my finger is clean and dry, try to scoop some white discharge out (no nail and be gentle and careful not to hurt yourself). After washed, dried it well and got another garlic. This time I cut it half and before I put it in. This happened 2 hours ago and I am really feeling much better!"

12/06/2009: Dameimei from Memphis, Tn, USA replies: "Question on L. Acidophilus.

If I want to use it to treat either yeast or BV by insert the L. Acidophilus capsule into the V, how many can I insert and how often? Will the condition get worse if I put too much? Thanks!"

12/08/2009: Sarah from Dallas, Tx replies: "metronidozle cured my bacterial vaginosis"

03/02/2010: Pahlee from Philadelphia, Pa replies: "Ms from Madison: In response to the mild soap, I think that if you are not allergic to it, ivory might be your best bet, it is suppose to be perfume free"

10/26/2009: Jessica J from Milwaukee, Wi writes: "I've been suffering from BV for about 10 years and I've been fed up with docters only perscribing metro gel or the pill for treatment. It did cure the problem for the moment, but right after my period it comes back. My doc finally sugested the nuva ring, which did keep me pregnant and bv free for about a year. about four amonths ago I stopped taking the birth control and have had reoccuring infections once again. Please help! I've been taking the acidopholus for three days now, I will try taking it vaginally tonight and keep everyone posted. Thanks."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  09/23/2009: Db from Greensboro, Nc writes: "I'm thankful to this website, as it led me to the cure for problematic bouts with Bacterial Vaginosis. The acidophilus and folic acid combo has worked well for me. I found a product that was particularly helpful and widely available at pharmacies called _____. If you get the supplement, It contains acidophilus cultures that are particularly helpful for maintaining ph of your lady area. Taking three of these a day (and inserting the CONTENTS of one capsule vaginally) each night for a week got rid of my infection. It is important to maintain consumption of the acidophilus, as the activities that upset your ph in the first place (mine was a sexual encounter with a new partner) may cause it to come back. It is also important to assess the factors that may have caused your infection. The first time I got it, it was from trying a new brand of tampons. Don't use heavily scented soaps to wash with, and use hypoallergenic laundry detergents as well. I also found that switching to all cotton underwear has helped immensely. Also, I would recommend sleeping in loose breathable clothing. Anything that can foster the environment for bad bacteria to grow is something you should try to fix. Since then, I've only had a recurrence when I quit taking the remedies altogether and did something that triggered the infection. The peroxide douche is also helpful, though I wouldn't use it just by itself as a remedy. It seems to be a temporary fix. When I combined it with my aforementioned remedy, it seemed to speed up the cure process. Within the first day of using the four capsule dose and one tablet of 800mg folic acid, the odor and discharge were gone. I used the peroxide to flush out the area initially before taking the pills. It did wonders for me, and I hope this helps someone."

[NAY]  10/06/2009: T-rox from Flint, Mi replies: "Ive been trying the folic/acidophilus combo for maybe a week now. At first I started taking 2 400 folic and 1 acidophilus. wasnt changing. so I startd takn 3 folic twice a day & inserting the acidophilus vaginally. Putting the Acidophilus in really made the difference, but the very next day it was back.The acidophilus insert is good except the discharge of the capsule is more gross than the bv discharge ( w/o the funky smell, its just like a **** my pants frm my vagina) I dont wanna keep havin to insert that everyday! Ive tried the peroxide and it really didnt help. None of this seems to wrk. I think Ill try taking 2 acidophilus 3x a day cutting the folic down to just maybe 400 1x day. If anyone has any other advice on how much stuff I should take then pls let me knw! Im gettin desperate & dont wanna go to the Dr.s"

10/22/2009: Pahlee from Phila, Pa replies: "Hi, I just read recently that full strength of h202 might be beneficial for us, I have been diluting it with h20 but found out that h202 has already been reduced down to 3%, this is my first night of full strength, so I will get back and do another post in about 2 or 3 days, good luck ladies"

12/24/2009: Dana from Rosedale, Ny replies: "I have a question. I want to drink the 1/4 baking soda with the two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar but I'm also trying to get rid of my bv and keep it away, is it true that taking ACV makes bv worse? is this true?"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  09/20/2009: El123 from New York, Ny writes: "I read what you all have written on this site, and I noticed that I usually get BV after having sex. I had one partner for 2.5 years and making sure that he cleaned his penis prior to sex pretty much stopped the BV. I had a new partner and got BV immediatley. I bought acidophilus chewable tabs by accident but was desperate. I inserted one and and noticed about 2 hours later the smell was gone. I inserted another one before bed and still no smell. No bleeding or anything. Only problem now is that I still have some slight itching and irritation around the vagina as well as swelling. now it feels like a yeast infection without all of the discharge."

10/21/2009: Joc from New Orleans, La replies: "I have been doing the hydrogen peroxide on a tampon as suggested by another person on this site. I started out putting it in for only five minutes (afraid of what might happen) and then increased my time. At one point i fell asleep with a peroxide tampon in and slept for about 6 hours before taking it out. It seems to be helping and no adverse effects. The odor is gone but one symptom is not and i'm wondering whether anyone else has this symptom. It is somewhat embarrassing, but it seems the bv gives off a gas so that when i sit down to urinate, I expel air from my vagina - slight but noticeable. This has been going on for months prior to the peroxide so i know it is not the peroxide. Also taking the folic acid and B vitamins, apple cider vinegar. I think i bought the wrong kind of acidophilus as i read that one must have the one with bifida reguilarie (sp) and mine doesn't have that so i quit taking it. I have tried the metrogel 3-4 times, the boric acid cure sold in drugstores OTC once. It always helps for a little bit. I am going to keep doing the hydrogen peroxide on a tampon nightly if possible."

09/02/2009: Vichick from St. Croix, Virgin Islands writes: "well, ive only drank one acidophilus a day, i havent seen a change, but i will try and start taking two a day as well as inserting one into my vaj (lol) and see if that makes a difference by this weekend, whether it does or not, i will give an update, im really thankful for all of these tips!!!"

09/05/2009: Jaxblkchic from Jacksonville, Fl replies: "I was reading everyones responses on the site to cure BV. Ive had this for a few years but never really red up on it. I just took my docs advise / medicine. I always thought it was b/c I was sexually active. I finally realize its just my body. I went to the store and bought the acidophilus and took 2 this morning, the another again a few minutes ago.Totaling 3 on the first day. The odor isn't that strong anymore, but is still there. I am also going to try the peroxide and H20 half and half in a seringe. Hopefully this works."

08/27/2009: Amy from Los Angeles, Ca writes: "hi everyone! I suffered from bv since I had my first baby nine months ago. Since then i've been to the doctor once sometimes even twice a month for creams, gels or antibiotics. Nothing seems to help! I even asked the doctor if there was anything I can do at home to cure this problem. She said she doesn't know becuase usually when someone gets bv, they take the antibiotic and that was it! Cured! For a long time I felt alone. I didnt know that theyre were others out there that was also suffering with the same condition. Suddenly I felt like I had hope! I'm so thankful for all u ladies out there who posted up remedies for others to try. GOD BLESS U ALL! I'm going to try the acidophus tonight. I am a little worried that it might come back like all the other stuff I've tried. However, I'll be back to let u know how the results went! Thank u ladies again. God bless u and I pray that each one of u ladies don't have to go thru anything like this anymore."

[YEA]  08/29/2009: Karen from Mobile, Al replies: "Amy, there is a combo treatment in the drugstore that you can try.. one is a pill and the other is a gel that you insert every 3 days. When you use both of these together along with 2 folic acids a day... you'll be bv free. I tried this method after suffering from bv for over 3 years and I am bv free. I didn't want to post anything too soon, because I thought surely it would return, but it hasn't. You will notice a bit of a disharge (may actually look like yeast infection in the very beginning), but this is normal so don't panic. Other tips include washing with water only (genital areas) until things are stabilized, wearing non-scented pads/liners every day (g-string too). I am pleased with the results and am happy to share this with everyone recognizing that I've been BV free for 3 months now. Good luck!!"

[YEA]  08/07/2009: Tanya from Los Angeles, Ca writes: "I had a major issue with this a while back. Here is what finally cured me:

There is a certain brand of acidophilus that you can find in the refridgerated section of the health food store designed specifically for women. It is far superior to any other brand out there. Take two of those a day when you've got the problem and then you can taper down to once a day for maintenance. If you feel something coming on, take two a day again.

Also, I was using grapefruit seed extract for another problem and I found that it kept everything else in check down there as well. It is an anti-fugal and seems to clear anything up.

Avoid too much sugar and starches. Eat a good diet and give your liver a rest now and then.

If you're suffering from a very bad case there are also these tea tree supositories that seem to work, but you should also be taking the internal stuff. I think the magic pill was that acidophilus I mentioned though. Give it a try!"

07/30/2009: Laurie from Honolulu, HI writes: "To my understanding from information from my OBGYN, you will always have good and bad bacteria in your body. So you are never really 'cured' of the bacteria. The trick is to keep the ph levels in your body balanced so that the bad bacteria will not take over. The acidophilus is what keeps the ph level in your body balanced. Also I have found the acidophilus that you buy in the refrigerated section of your health food store in the capsule form seem to work better than the pills you find on the regular shelf."

[YEA]  07/28/2009: Trin from Las Vegas, NV writes: "I've had BV about four times now. Every single time I had it my Ob-gyn would give me Metro-Gel. I just moved to LV recently and haven't found myself a new Ob-gyn yet and my prescription for the Metro-Gel has expired so when my down there started giving that awful smell, I was so horified. My boyfriend one day said ewwwww what is that smell and it was such an embarrassment. For a week or two, I would go to the gym and I feel like my trainer can probably smell me. I tried to get in with my family doctor but she was so booked thus I was googling for home remedies and found this website. I went to _____ and bout some Acidophilus and took two capsules right away and stuck the other one in my vagina. I was a little nervous about doing this home remedy but I was sick and tired of smelling like bad sushi. I have to say after a day, the smell went away and since then I've been taking a capsule everyday. I just want to say thank you sooo very much for all your great stories and insights. I find this site extremely helpful."

08/26/2009: Dawn from Toledo, Ohio replies: "I have also been a victim of this horrible stuff...ive had it as long and i can remember...somedays i dont know whats normal and whats not! ive been to the dr and hes given me pills...and it comes back...Im so glad i found this site! i have VB now and i didnt want to go back to the dr...i knew there was natural remedies out there...all i could find was this chick with the same problem SELLING THE CURE! come on! not fair at all i dont have that kind of money to spend on a book to find the cure in min....SO anyway i have vb now...its not bad...but its not normal either...i feel like everyone can smel me...but the odor really isnt that bad...anyway again! I also sweat alot down there...does anyone else have this too? ive done the alcohol rubs to kill any of the odoros causing bacteria...i cant wait to try some of the remedies that are listed on here...so glad for this site!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/28/2009: Daisy from Orlando, FL writes: "Hi ladies, I inserted a acidophilus capsule last night and slept with a panty liner on. This morning in the shower, I noticed I was bleeding as well. I hope that maybe it's just due to the capsule being drying to the vaginal tissue. Did any other ladies who spotted or bled have any more bleeding after the 1st or 2nd day of inserted the capsule?"

11/25/2009: Ming from Chelsea, Mass replies: "yes i have been spotting too..during sex also have you had this problem during intercourse?"

[YEA]  06/19/2009: Lucyloo from West Midlands, United Kingdom writes: "i was sick of anti biotics, so i tried my own remedy i used natural live yoghurt, i dipped a tampon in it i did this only twice and it completely cleared up. 2 weeks have passed and no sign of it returning. just thought i would let you know it is worth a try."

07/03/2009: Frustrated from Phoenix, AZ replies: "I am so frustrated also. I dealt with an infectin for 6 months straight. I thought I was done, forgot to keep taking my probotics and now it is back. I am trying the advise listed below- I have inserted one of my capsules in my vagina. I hope it works."

07/16/2009: Tamara from London, UK replies: "Having read a lot of if not over 100 posts on the site, I still do not know the amount in MGS of Acidophilus that firstly you are to insert and secondly to take daily. Seems most have tried and had success but not give the most vital information for us new readers. Sorry to sound annoyed but I have had BV nearly consintly for over 4 years and am frustated to have maybe found the cure/relief but with no guidence. Can some-one help clarify this for all of us first time site users. Thanks guys"

[YEA]  07/25/2009: Patricia from Las Vegas, NV replies: "ACIDOPHLIUS WORKS!

PERSCRIPTION - 3 capsules orally and 1 inserted vaginally.
TIME TO TAKE EFFECT - 1 HOUR OR LESS

I usually get BV twice a year if i'm sexually active. Definitely with unprotected sex and I notice definitely if I use Magnum condoms. I usually go to Dr. and get a Metrodizondale perscrip and it works. Was out of town and scent got so bad and there was no Planned Parenthood in the area so I typed in home remedy for BV into the search engine and this site pops up. I decide that I would try the acidophilus and the peroxide douche. I call walgreens and ask if they have acidophilus and to my surprise the pharmacist said yes. So I grab a box that says its -- --- EXTRA STRENGTH and 1 BILLION CFU'S per CAPSULE. ------

I get back home and realize that I forgot to get the Peroxide. So I take 3 capsules of ACIDOPHILUS orally and stuff one into my vaga. The capsule that I stuck inside of me was actually triple coated and when I checked to see if it was melting it was. But I did take one capsule and put it in a bottle with a small amount of water for 20 minutes then I took that capsule and pulled off the top layer. That layer was a bit sticky so I decided to take the one I had already inserted out and replace it with the one that I had just peeled. I will say 1 (ONE) HOUR LATER the BV scent was gone. Not to mention that I was on the last day of my period and the strong ammonia scent was at an all time high. Before doing this the scent was literally coming through my clothes and my pantyliner reeked of ammonia scent. GONE INSTANTLY!

Later that night I decided to peel another one and place it into my vaga but a little while later I started to feel a lil irritated on the outside like a yeast infection so I took the capsule out and the irritation stopped shortly after.

Reading the box I realize that Acidophilus is for the intestines and I also have a problem with not having regular bowel movements. The next day I had one. So Thanks to this site I've been able to fix 2 of my problems with one product. The box says take one a day so from now on I am going to take one a day and add some yogurt to my diet.

Thank you so much for this site."

[SIDE EFFECTS]  06/10/2009: Maryanne from Billings, MT writes: "After reading about the women who've tried using acidophilus IN the vagina rather than just orally, I decided to give it a try. I put a capsule up there before bed last night, and when I woke up this morning, the area felt pretty irritated, rather than soothed and improved like so many women claim it should.

Is this normal? Can this happen depending on what capsule you use? I'm definitely NOT doing this again. I'm really afraid I took a step backward by doing it, I guess I'm looking for advice and words of encouragement!"

07/11/2009: karen from Nashville, TN replies: "I have had bv since May here it is July. Been to the doc twice for different antibiotics, it did take away the odor... but the bv came back with a vengence. The itching burning yellowish grey discharge the reddness the swelling of the outside of the vagina is driving me NUTS!(but no odor this time) .... I am going to try the acidophilus and see if it helps. I used a garlic clove wraped in gauge in the vagina and that seem to really take away the itching during the day, oh and I haven't had sex since May to see if that would help..NOPE been eating yougart like crazy and I did try the peroxide flush.. caused me to bleed slightly."

[YEA]  05/30/2009: JD from Greensboro, NC writes: "I just want to say that I am sooo thankful for this sight. I have had BV atleast 3 times within the past year. I have been on Flagyl and other antibiotics....but nothing...and I mean nothing has worked as well as the acidophillus capsules that I opened up and inserted into my vagina. I started off taking these pills orally...which I don't think they work as well for me orally....so I came to this sight within the past week since I had BV and I decided I would open the acidophillus capsule and I took out the stuff inside put it into my vagina with my finger...I had a pantyliner on and laid down for a little while. I kid you not within a few hours when I checked back...The smell was gone....."THANK GOD" and there has just been my normal discharge...I am very happy ..and plan to use many other home remedies in the future...Those pills taken vaginally are awesome."

10/22/2009: Pahlee from Phila, Pa replies: "JD,, question?? Is the meds inside of the acidophilus cap, a powdery substance or is it once peeled, solid, if powder, how exactly do you insert it inside of the va2"

[QUESTION]  05/28/2009: ME from Santa Cruz, CA writes: "I'm about to go try the Acidophilus treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis as I too hate to take antibiotics. My question for ALL of you who tried it is: Does it just make your symptoms feel better, or is it actually curing you of BV? I ask this because many of you feel better, but say that you keep using it to keep it under control. It can be dangerous to have BV for a prolonged amount of time. I'd like to know if this method has completely cured anyone...or has anyone used the treatment and then gotten tested by a gyn who says they now have no sign of BV?

Thanks!"

06/07/2009: KM from Brooklyn, NY replies: "I am wondering the same thing. My symptoms return if I stop taking my acidophilus and Folic Acid for 2-3 days. How can it be gone if it comes back so quickly?"

06/08/2009: Dj from Pdx, Or replies: "My past experience with fighting BV for 3 years was too much sugar. Try to cut down or out any food and drinks (including pop) that have sugar in them.

Also keep yourself clean and dry. Use a hairdryer on your vaginal area after showers. Use water to cleanse the area after working out and thoroughly dry off if you do not shower right away. Consider not wearing underwear all the time or use natural panty liners to draw the moisture away.

If you sit in a hot tub often then drying immediately after getting out is a must.

If you are sexually active you and your partner may need to clean yourselves prior to intercourse. Condom use for a while would be better. This includes washing hands and make sure you scrub under the nails.

Treat your partner with acidophilus. There is liquid acidophilus and plain yogurt. Either can be applied to the area and let set for a while. It is possible for both men and women to carry the bacteria.

Make sure you wash your pants and underwear after each wearing until your BV is gone.

If you take baths clean out the tub with a bleach solution prior to your bath. And don't forget to use the hairdryer afterwards.

It really sounds like somewhere in your life you are coming back into contact with the bacteria."

06/20/2009: Eli from Portland, OR replies: "Hi everybody. Just wanted to add a comment. I got BV for the first time after my boyfriend and I stopped using condoms (I have an IUD). Apparently there's something (sugar, I think) in his semen that triggers BV for me. Hope that helps some of you with chronic cases."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  05/22/2009: Ms MC from Philadelphia, Pa writes: "I was looking on the internet for remedies, because I was tired of calling the doc especially when I had no insurance for flagyl. I finally said, I have to find something because even if I get another prescription for that stuff, its coming back! So I ran across this website, and finally decided to try acidophilus. I bought probotic capsules, 10mg, and have been taking 4 pills total, 2 in the am, 2 in the pm, and I've inserted one capsule in my vagina with an applicator(the ones you get when you have a yeast infection, that come in like a Monistat Box) with a teeny tiny bit of Ky jelly. Just to give it something to "stick" too I guess.

The next day, I woke up with this discharge, and no smell. I was shocked. STILL Shocked. I'm trying to not over do it. Its only been 3 days. This will probably be the last capsule I insert for the week. I think I may do one capsule insertion twice a week, and 4 capsules a day( 2 in the am and 2 in the pm) Oh, and I also had a bath with regular vinegar. Just a capful, and sat in it. I'd do that ONCE a week. Douching is bad no matter WHAT it is, your just flushing out good and bad bacteria, and PUSHING it back up. So try to avoid it, if your gonna do it anyways, then do it ONCE a week. Less is better, trust me. I also try and "scoop" out the discharge every time I pee with a finger, or at least see if its something in there. I know its weird but we do have to get the discharge out right? So anyways, I'm doing pretty well, Ive had no odor, and hopefully, it stays that way. I haven't bought any Folic acid as of yet, but I'll be adding that to my regimen soon. Good luck ladies."

05/07/2009: Liz from Athens, Georgia writes: "So I've been reading about natural cures for BV, such as aciophilus. I decided I'd try to take two tablets of the acidophilis orally and insert one vaginally. I did it once last night and once this morning. The tablets I've been taking have two billion live bacteria per two caplets. It's (lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, bifidobacterium bifidum, L. salivarius, and S. thermophilus). Toward the middle of the day, I noticed that I have a bright yellow discharge. Do you know what may be causing this sudden change in the color of my discharge? Please help. It's freaking me out.

Thanks,
Liz"

05/07/2009: Rachel from NY, NY replies: "I can't be sure, but if you are using caplets (i.e. not capsules) and inserting them, the color may be from the caplet itself just coloring any discharge. the caplets i use have the spice Tumeric as an ingrediant for some reason. This spice can turn lots of stuff yellow. check the ingredient list of your pills nd maybe switch to capsules."

05/07/2009: Liz from Athens, GA replies: "Turmeric is one of the ingredients! That must be it because I skipped a day of the acidophilus and my discharge is returning to normal. Thanks for the quick reply. I was getting pretty worried there. :)"

05/13/2009: Alex from Miami, FL replies: "I have had BV for the past 3 months and have been in and out of the Dr's office. Im sick of it. This month was almost over and i was so happy that i didnt get it, right when i said it, the next day it showed up. I started reading this website, and you ladies have def. been a life savor for me! THANK YOU! now heres my question. I inserted one tablet of acidophilus and i have been drinking folic acid as well. When you insert a tablet of acidophilus does it just stay there, does it come out? I know it sounds stupid but i am new to this and i was very hesitant to insert one.

Please advise on how this works!"

05/15/2009: PennyCoffee from Fort Worth, TX replies: "I inserted a pill on the second day and got yellow discharge also. Im just trying to get rid of it as soon as possible but I think that I will stick to just swallowing them."

05/16/2009: Dj from Pdx, Or replies: "Vaginal discharge -- I have taken the acidophilus orally many times for BV. Even taken orally I did get extra discharge at times.

It always seemed to me that if I got more discharge the acidophilus was doing its job. I would think the same would hold true if the capsule was inserted.

My impression is that if a person has a virulent infection then, similar to a sore on the outside that will get all pussy, an infection on the inside would possibly have a similar result. Kind of like multiple layers of bacteria. The more layers the more discharge a person will have when the layers die off.

It could be that some of you ladies just have more layers of infection and the more discharge the better. Personally I would keep inserting a capsule for a few more days and see what comes of it. Fortunately acidophilus is a natural bacteria and one does not need to worry about chemical overdose.

If my impression is all wrong please chime in."

04/29/2009: Annoyed in NY from New York, NY writes: "Been reading a lot of the comments here and am ready to start trying the methods. have now had BV 3 times. my fiance took antibiotics which my doctor told me would decrease any liklihood of recurrence -- but here i am 2 months later going through it again! Want to be sure i have the amounts of accidophollis right -- do i take enough pills to equal 500mg per day or is it more? also - is that only by mouth and then additional pills inserted vaginally? how many pills get inserted?? i'm a little hesitant about the insertion, but it seems a lot of you have had success. ALSO, do I need to take the folic acid as well? HELP! I am SO frustrated!"

[SIDE EFFECTS]  04/28/2009: leilani from Ewa Beach, Hawaii writes: "Hello I started inserting 1 tablet of Super Acidophilus from GNC into my vagina at night. By morning im getting discharge from the pill and slight bleeding. Is bleeding normal? Can anyone help me!!!!!!!!!"

04/28/2009: MissPriss from Baltimore, MD replies: "I did experience some spotting which concerned me at first but the second day the spotting was gone and so was the infection.. I was and still am amazed. I used the folic acid pills 2 500mg tablets per day and inserted the acidophilus for 3 nights at bedtime just to ensure it was gone! Amazing! I'm telling all my girlfriends."

04/29/2009: PR from Houston, Texas replies: "Bleeding is not normal as far as I know. I never used a tablet. I have always used the capsule at night and it work great. I would losen the capsule some so the contents would be more avaible. Maybe something in the tablet is a problem or you need to be checked by a doctor as something else might be going on. Good luck hope you get better."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  04/28/2009: Bea from Atlantic City, NJ writes: "I wanted to thank this website and all the wonderful women who provided me with a way to overcome a "curse" that I have been living with on and off for several years now. BV has haunted me and it has made me feel like less of a woman. First, I stumbled upon this site accidentally when looking for boric acid suppositories...something I heard was a natural cure for BV. I have to say, the boric acid didn't work for me. I tried, it seemed better, but it returned. Mind you, these ideas have become a sort of last resort for me because I have been through cycles of antibiotic over the years, only to have the BV return. I honestly turned to homeopathy because conventional meds didn't work long-term and I didn't want to keep taking antibiotics. When I found this site I must admit I was skeptical. How on earth could such a simple suggestion cure something that everything else I tried couldn't? Honestly, my skepticism was high. Thank God I was wrong. I'm ultimately writing this to say that, while I am not 100% free of discharge, I am @95% better. It's been 4 days now and I have not been so happy to be so wrong about doubting something. I have been taking two acidophilus supplements a say, one morning, and one night, and there's a ton of folic acid in the prescription vitamins I take. The acidophilus I take _______...so easy to swallow. I read some of the other posts, and I didn't quite work up the nerve to put one in the vagina, nor did I find the courage to use a hydrogen peroxide douche. So now I just stick with the acidophilus and the folic acid, and as I said I feel so much better and the results are fantastic. Again, I wouldn't say it's 100% cured, but it is so much better that I could shout it from the rooftops. I urge you if you are at the end of your rope with BV like I was and you think it's safe for you to take these supplements, to definitely try it. you know your body and what you can handle. I'm hoping that with more time the results will be 100%. I hope to share this info with my gyno. I don't know how he'll react to it since most doctor's seem to turn a nose at anything that isn't from a drug company, but I again think that if there's another woman like me with this BV curse, maybe he will pass it on to her. In the meantime, I thank all the ladies who had the courage to be so brutally frank on these pages. Somehow your frankness and suggestions brought me back a hit to this webpage when I googled it, and I couldn't be more grateful. My only complaint was that I couldn't find an exact suggestion of what to take and how to do this "cure". I had to read through several postings, and piece things together. If there's a page that has it listed (exactly what to do) I couldn't find it. So maybe someone (webmaster?) can take care of that. In the meantime, thank you again to this site and to the women who posted. I appreciate your insights and thank you for your help."

04/23/2009: Windjroby from Twin Cities, MN writes: "I have been suffering with BV for about a year and 2 months now I recently ran across your web site too. I have been trying the boric acid and acidophilus then I read that you cant use them during your menstrual so I stopped and I also read that you would have to waite a week after your period to start again but to use it for 30days. What I was wondering is if this will cure it completely I am in the process of starting up the treatment again but the smell came back, I am scared that I will have this stench for the rest of my life. I feel so many women on this site and I know how hard it is to deal with this problem I have went back and forth to doctors to see if they can cure this and I got the same treatments most of the women on this site have gotten, to no avail as soon as the treatment is over I am back to square one. I can just scream. Not to mention I work is a small cube with men and I know if I smell it that they do as well. I have people talking behind my back and that hurts so much. This thing has changed my life and what makes it so bad the doctors cant cure it. I wanted to so once the treatment is done what do you use to bring the ph back. I feel so dry. Oh yea and you can go online and buy Acidophilus."

04/20/2009: Fed Up!! from Santo Domingo, Dominican republic writes: "Im 26 years old and have been suffering from bv off and on for 8 years! Ive been prescribed pills gels creams supositories and it always reoccurres! Ive been married for eight years and I was starting to believe maybe my husband was messing around, but I noticed that we were seperated for 1 year and was surprised by the infection acouple of times. The gels are awful it stinged and had huge cottage cheese discharge, the pills were hard to swallow and tasted nasty I could go on and on!I mean it would relieve the symptoms but I always felt wet and nasty! Im embarrased with the employees of the pharmacy they must think This chick always has vaginal problems! I had just taken supositories 3 weeks ago I felt alittle better but not how I would of like! I went to a pool party and the water didnt seem to clean but my kids were dieing to jump in so sat in the water for alittle while next day i started feeling unpleasant. I had sex with my husband and the next morning I have a nasty stink! Ive been reading the post since yesturday and this morning ran to the pharmacy,but bad luck went to 2 pharmacy and made a couple of phone calls, they dont carry acidophilus! I even called my mom and told her to find it for me over in the great usa because in this country they dont have it or Im going to have to search all pharmacys until I find it, but in the mean time I was wondering if the plain yogurt works the same as acidophilus the pill Im desperate!"

EC: Yogurt might work if has something like "live and active cultures" printed on the container...

04/24/2009: Lorraine from Dublin, Ireland replies: "hi there i also suffered b.v for a couple of years but in the last two years i have been free of it what i have done is i take acidophilius, folic acid, zinc and 1000mg of vitiam c in the morning with a probiotic drink it really works i promise. how to treat an infection insert an acidophilus with live natural yougart for seven nights do all or the above and you too should be free. when you are cleared of infection carry on taking the above it has 100%worked for me i hope this helps."

05/22/2009: Pres from Asaba, Delta, Nigeria replies: "its like a miracle for me to have stumbled upon this site, i'v had BV for about 3yrs now and i must confess that its the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me knowing that i have a smelly vagina. my fiance has been of very great help consulting doctors on my behalf since i feel too ashamed explaining such trauma to a doctor. a lot of anti-biotics have been prescribed,including insertion tabets and creams but just as we start celebrating that its over,the smell comes back again in full force and this time double the previous.We've not been able to find acidophilus in pharmacies since last night when i first came accross this site, but i tried washing with 3% h202 last night. i get really skeptical about inserting my hands into the vagina while washing but of recent its the only way i can remove the accumulated discharge, plus i douched with summer eve vineger and water 3 days back but it seems to have worsened the whole situation, cant wait to find this acidophilus , it may be the miracle God has sent my way cos i have fasted and prayed for this ailment to stop tormenting my life.Thank you all for your feed backs in this site, at least i have hope once again.

Another thing is when i start taking it, is it going to be a life time medication or for just a specific number of days? cos i honestly do no like taking drugs for long especially when they taste like flagyl."

[YEA]  04/16/2009: Lori from Pittsburgh, PA writes: "I have suffered from BV for 12 years. I first noticed it when I was pregnant with my first child. Over the years, it has come and gone, I have taken Flaygl, Metro Gel, and recently Clindesse. All of these treatments worked temporarily, but then the BV beast would rear it's ugly head again. Over the course of the last 12 years, I've also suffered from numerous UTIs and kidney stones. I feel that all of this is related and when I felt the last bout of BV coming on, I started to look on the internet for some possible solutions. I am so glad I found this site! I started with the hydrogen peroxide douches, I did that every night for a week. I felt relief from the discharge and odor, but as soon as I stopped douching, the BV came right back. Then I bought some garlic tablets and inserted one in my vagina, it also worked well, but I couldn't stand the garlic smell, so my next stop was Acidophilus. I already had some capsules that I began taking orally, but I had read about the tablets (500 million cells), so I ran out and bought them. I started inserting them into my vagina and have noticed a HUGE improvement in my symptoms!! My sex life with my husband had suffered greatly because of BV, but I'm happy to say we had sex last night and I have no BV odor this morning. I did insert 4 tablets after sex last night, and he pulled out, because I was afraid that too much semen would upset the progress I had been making! I've also been taking folic acid, but seem to forget more than I remember, so I cannot say if that has helped in the improvement or not. All I can say is that I hope this continues, because this infection is horrible. I suffered in silence and embarrassment. I was depressed and couldn't understand what was wrong with me! Thank you for making this site available and I hope all of the ladies who live with this dreaded infection can find relief!"

[YEA]  04/12/2009: Rio from Charleston, SC writes: "hey everyone. i am 18 years old and recently visited the gyno...very nervous about the whole thing, it was my first time. but anyway, a few weeks later they called and said that things looked abnormal in the pap smear & to come back and get checked out for other things. i had a steady boyfriend for 2 years until he cheated on me. i though i had a "yeast" infection around the time that we were together but i never went to the gyno to get it checked. just used over the counter medz and a prescription that the doc gave over the phone. it cleared up just fine, but i got it again. that was two years ago. more recently i've noticed that i've had the most horrid smell between my legs. i was so embarrased to walk, sit, or even talk with anyone, b/c i thought they would smell me. i always say, if you can smell yourself...then you must stink. so this went on for a few weeks, then the smell disappeared and was replaced with horrible itching and burning. this goes on for about 6 months. it was hell. constantly trying to hide the pain and frustration when i walked was almost unbearable. sometimes i would just cry because i would be so irritated, nothing i did seemed to help. i used cold compresses, i inserted tampons with tee tree oil...i washed constantly from smelling....i felt like i wanted to jump off of a bridge! yesterday stumbled upon this site and was reading about so many success stories from using lactobacillus. so i went to target to grab a bottle of lactobacillus acidophilus and let me tell you that this product works. i took two tablets orally, and inserted a capsule vaginally. after 15 minutes, the itching had stopped. by the next day i didn't have ANY icky vaginal fluids. no smell whatsoever. this works wonders. i wish i would have found it 6 months ago, but i guess all the pain was worth it if i found this product that truely works. i recommend this to any female suffering from bv or any other infection at that! good luck!"

04/14/2009: Kim from Fall River, MA replies: "I've been suffering with the same thing. It started in 2006 and I just thought it would go on forever. I usually take ____.(not sure if I spelled that right) it would help but the discharge never completely goes away. I'm keeping the tampon business alive. lol. I was just hoping for some clarification. You insert 1 tablet (whole?) of acidophilus vaginally then take the folic acid every day or are you taking the acidophilus everyday? I'm so excited to try this."

04/15/2009: Mrs. Farris from Dallas, Texas replies: "Hello Ladies, I've stumbled over this website and it has won me over. My only concern is...I'm 7 months pregnant and I will LOVE to try it.I'm scared it would harm my baby. Are there any mothers to be out there that has tried inserting a capsule of acidophilus? Has it work? We're there any side effects?"

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