[YEA]  03/01/2009: Collene from Detroit, MI writes: "I have been experiencing BV for several years now and have continuously gone thru the CONSTANT cycle of taking the prescribed meds for it. Its just one big cycle. I swear I think the doctors arent concerned and don't care about prescribing a permanent solution because it keeps you spending money with them and keeps the drug companies' pockets fat! To boot, My doctor would say things to make me feel like a filthy whore because I kept coming back with same symptons. I felt judged every time I had to make an appointment and dreaded it. I didn't have multiple partners and I used condoms and would still get it. I was fine as long as I didn't have sex after taking the meds. As soon as I would have sex, it would come back. In 2007 I simply stopped having sex. In 2008 I couldn't deal w/that anymore either and the BV cycle started all over again. That is the most embarrassing smell in the world for a woman. It makes me feel extremely filthy! I am determined to find something that works permanently. I have been taking 50B Lactobacillus for a week and am going to try the suggestions on this site. I felt I was the only one dealing with this. Here goes!"

02/25/2009: Betty from Orlando, Fl replies: "Try using extra virgin coconut oil as your lubricant."

02/26/2009: Marlee from Los Angeles, CA USA replies: "Jessica,

I understand if you don't want to go to the doctor but #1 You should be sure what it is first. Bacterial Vaginosis smells like fish or strong cheese, there can be discharge ranging from clear, white, yellow, green-grayish, the more color the more bacteria. The smell definitely is from the bacteria, the normal "friendly flora" we have does not smell. If you have researched this from the many online sources you may be correct that you have BV, it could be Trichomonas though.

What most of the articles, although informative, DO not TELL you is THAT MEN CARRY and spread these unfriendly bacteria. YOUR husband needs to be checked by direct urethral swab. IT is possible that you can get this unbalanced bacterial situation from bad hygiene, but you would have to run around pretty sweaty, damp and with tight clothes, unnatural fabrics that don't breathe or a wet bathing suit or tampon for way to long, then have sex so the bacteria from out side gets pushed inside. Unless you are a real slob then you probably got it from a man. I got a terrible case from my boyfriend. Here is my experience and what I learned from this experience:

I noticed that my new boyfriend smelled bad 'down there". It was summer so I thought , sweaty, don't worry and I didn't want to embarrass him or ruin the moment by telling him to wash. With in a few weeks of this I started to smell bad and I NEVER have had any bad smell at all in all my 47 years. I knew of Gardnerella, the former name for BV, so I smelled his semen too to make sure that it came from him, it reeked so I told the BF that we had to get checked out, and he did test positive as did I. We took the antibiotics and assumed it was gone as we didn't smell. Then a few weeks later his semen smelled again, then 4 days later I smelled again. he took the antibiotics again and I did Hydrogen Peroxide, I don't like to take drugs. No smell again for a few weeks but it came back again so we did the antibiotics again and I INSISTED on a re check to make sure it was gone this time, the nurse on duty that day thought I was crazy but I wasn't taking a chance again, I checked out clear, NO BV in me. The clinic that my BF went to did a urine test only on him (may not be enough bacteria coming out in urine to show), not the swab and said he was clear but he had a yeast infection from taking the antibiotics (yes men do get this too and can pass it to you) So I was clear and I hoped he was clear (but used condoms just in case, didn't work see below on condoms) he didn't want that swab up there again, not fun for guys, well boo hoo because he was not clear and gave it to me yet again. At this point "my" nurse told me that HE must have a resistant case and has probably had it a long time. I questioned my BF, "Did you smell this when you were with your ex before you were with me ? YES he did AND he said his pee smelled also ! I asked him if he knew that smell was not normal and he didn't know, thought it was nothing to be concerned about and like many uninformed guys think that women smell like fish anyway, you know those awful "Tuna" jokes. MEN can get this from a woman who has it because, not to be crass, but by rubbing his dick against bacteria laden vaginal walls the bacteria gets inside his urethra and STICKS to the skin cells in there and also sheds into his semen and possibly urine, though more in the semen with force of ejaculation, follow ? Then he gets a new girl and gives it to her. He did have it for a long time before we got together so he had to take antibiotics 4 times to clear it.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS, We have a natural balance of good and bad bacteria, usually if we are healthy and clean, eat a good diet (preferably with out acid forming foods such as meats, cheese, eggs, dairy, SUGAR, white flour products and refined/junk foods that promote bacterial growth) then we can maintain proper pH balance and have enough good bacteria in our system to kill off any invaders and not be overtaken by bad bacteria. HOWEVER IF your partner is infected with too MANY bad bacteria (or you happen to get them on/in you otherwise) and passes them to you, these "bad" bacteria will kill off your "good" bacteria, move in, raise your pH (normal vaginal pH is acid to kill bacteria) to their liking (they produce amines, that smell and change the pH to alkaline) and live in you and you two will both have this back and forth forever. Note some people can have this at a level where they don't smell but still have enough bad bacteria to upset your particular balance and infect you, so if it smells stay away but know that it can be there w/o smell too. You can test your pH with litmus paper, a little roll with a pH chart on it, (normal vag. fluid shows yellow on the paper-acid,good. If it's turning green or blue it's bacteria- alkaline, not good). get at health food store or recently some kind of vaginal pH test has been advertised on TV, if you can find that in the drug store ?

SO what you must do is get clear, take the antibiotics if you must, no alcohol or vinegar while on them !!! may not work and can make you sick. DO NOT have sex, (even with a condom as some pre ejaculate can leak out with movement or be on him before he puts it on and it gets on his hand then on the condom, I got it this way also) until you are both certified clear. Also, you can get it from uncircumcised men easier as they can get bacterial growth under the foreskin. Regardless both partners should wash and dry thoroughly before and after sex anyway so any potentially infection causing bacteria will be washed away and not have the chance to get up in side either of you. Also AFTER taking the antibiotics and probably yeast medication, as the antibiotics kill of your good bacteria too and allow yeast to over grow, YOU both NEED to take PROBIOTICS, a good multi, OPTIMA,or MEGAFLORA that have many types of healthy flora including the acidolphilis etc. This will restore the healthy flora that the antibiotics kill in your system. Rhamnosis and Rueteri are supposedly good for vaginal health, you can pop these capsules directly up there to stop yeast and restore your flora after you clear the infection.

Last word, Good luck and about that ovary problem, I had enlarged left ovary for years, doctor said it was normal, lots of women have that, bullshit, NOT normal !! I resolved it by changing to a balanced Macrobiotic diet, way of eating naturally and this ovary has been fine since as well as several other health issues that are no more, in fact I have not been sick in 17 years since changing to this Macrobiotic lifestyle, except for the lovely infusion of nasty BV that my dear BF gave me which upset my own balance for a while but it is over and I'm healthy w/o smell and normal vaginal pH. I encourage you to study and try macrobiotics, GOMF.org is a good place to start, you can get healthy, feel great and resolve the ovarian problem, get your balance back and your periods. i hope this is helpful for you as i got this BV and didn't know how, if I was so healthy and I was never ill, how I got it, why it "got me" so it made me do lots of research to find out more than "you got this from your underwear or tampons" which was not the case as I found out, the gift of too many bad bacteria that over rode my own balance and led me to learn much more about this than is known even by doctors, mostly men who don't think "they" have anything to do with it. I dug deep found many studies showing it in men and found a lecture by a doctor in Texas who explained that it is a more serious thing than most MD's think, and he explained the facts of how the bacteria overtakes us and causes the imbalance, so don't necessarily believe those articles that say it's your fault that you are unbalanced or you have this due to bad hygiene or washing with soap or douching, although douching can upset your balance, If you are healthy you don't need to do this, the natural, normal clear, non smelly vaginal fluid discharge is there for self cleaning purpose.

Reply back to this thread if you want anymore info.

Salud,

Marlee"

04/23/2009: windjroby from Twin Cities, MN replies: "I do still have the same issues I have been having this prblem for about a year since sleeping with my husband afer we broke up and I went to several doctors and I still have this problem I tried the boric acid suppositories and the folic acid and the probiotics and I had my period and it came back Help Please write me."

09/30/2009: Samonica44 from Miami, Fl replies: "Okay Marlee I am writing you because I am a little confused about your post regarding BV on earth clinic. My questions are about the treatment of males with this virus. Please e-mail me back so that we can be in communication with one another. I am literally at wits end with this thing and would really appreciate any and all advice you can offer. Thank you so much Sam-I-am"

10/01/2009: Kathy from Dubois, Pa replies: "This is a great response to the whole subject of BV because it is the first time I've ever seen anyone address the idea that an infected man can be the cause of a woman's BV problem. Usually the doctors assume poor hygine on the woman's part...you know, they assume the woman "wiped" back-to-front instead of front-to-back, or doesn't wash her hands, or because, as "everyone knows", women are just plain "DIRTY down there"...and their unconcious misogyny blocks their thinking, so that they can never get to the "root" of the problem (pardon the pun), which might be a man!

As for the men's health, surely it cannot be good for the poor dears to be harboring such a bacterial load! I wouldn't be surprized if a carrier of "BV germs" is that way because he has prostatitis (whether accute or cronic), which could lead to prostate cancer in later life."

12/29/2010: Loana from Houston, Tx Usa replies: "Thank you for this post. I never had BV until I got with my BF about 4 years ago. When we first started having sex I didn't notice any difference. We split up for several months (later I found out he had slept with someone else during that time). When we got back together and started having sex again, I noticed a foul odor with discharge from my vagina. I made several visits to the dr and kept getting treated for BV. I would get rid of it, then get it all over again. For a while I was back and forth between BV and yeast infections. It's horrible and embarrassing! He and I split up again almost a year ago. After that I haven't had any issues with BV or yeast. The smell has been gone and I've felt great. Recently, we started seeing each other again and having sex again. Guess what - the smell is back. The BV is back! I hate this and I know it's from him. It drives me crazy! I don't know what to do. I feel like if I'm with him I'll live the rest of my life with this issue."

03/28/2011: Olivia from Troy, Michigan replies: "wow this is some great information and I am having my boyfriend to my house tomarrow and I am going to read this whole page... Every article but especially yours with him... I have experienced this bv for years I am 29 y/o and it became a huge problem when I was with my ex my daughters father my first real boyfriend I was sexually active before him but when we got tohrther and it was just us together faithful we decided to stop using protection and no matter what everytime we had intercourse I would get bv b4 I could get rid of it it was right back. I thought whats wrong with me???? when I didnt have the infection there was absolutely NO SMELL AT ALL and right after sex one time hours later I smelled like fish... I felt dirty and like he must think I am not clean either.... Men dont understand it is the infection he would tell me things like clean it out up there wanted me to dousch take a shoer w me and he still couldnt bekueve I had an odor....

Finally I found out I had cervical cancer cells and once I had sergery for that ad egab having sex again the bv went away I wasnt getting it nemore and I became pregnant w my daughter whom is npw 3 and a half the whole time I was pregnant I never once got bv.... Time went on and still I hadnt gotten bv.... Then when my daughter was about 1 y/o I started getting the infection again it started out every once in awhile until it was back "full time" I thought I had gotten cervical cancer cells again I brokw up w my daughters father and wasnt sexually active right away so the infection lessend but didnt completely stop then I started dateing someone new it didnt get serious so we used protection... It wasnt a problem and then I met my bf now we have been together a yr and we got seriouys almost right away and have not used condoms almost right away of course after std testing... Every single time we have sex I get the infection.... I have had a papsmere and everything came back fine no cancer cells no std's.... This infection is embarrassing and I wont even let him newhere close to that area when I have it. I tried to explain to him what it is and he has been very patient and understanding so b/c he knows I am getting bv when we have sex he thought by him pulling out nd not ejaculateing in me that would stop the infections....

About almost three wks ago is when he decided to not let any sperm get in my vagina and has been pulling out well... We were having sex for the first wk and it went okay and I didnt get the infection.... But then it came back. It was horrible I tried explaining to him when I tried to get an appointment w my doctor it would have taken 2 wks to get in so I made the appointment but time went on and I couldnt deal with it as the odor got stronger I decided to go to the er... Since the doctor doesnt know me or my history of bv and bc I was having unprotected sex he decided to treat me for everything this was yesterday, the doctor in the er said it would be newhere from a few days to a wk b$ all the cultures came back so he will treat me fpr basically all std's and write me a script for metro-gel n he call me if nething came back post. N to follow up w my doct. I know that it was bv but my bf is thinking bc he didnt ejaculate inside of me that I must be cheating o him and that it is an std.... I was trying to explain to him that it could be just from sex bacteria on him that I can get bv.... Well I went to fill my script and they had to order it and it wont b in untill tomarrow soetime, I couldnt stand this smell so I decided to try a dousch and or this product rephresh I dont know if ur familiar w that or not but its a tube and a gel u can buy it over the counter its supposed to balance your ph levels and eliminate feminine odor... Rephredh pro-b is a probiotic feminine supplement that is clinically shown to balance yeast and bacteria to maintain feminine health. It maintains a healthy vaginal ph level... Basiacally like u said we have a "good" bacteria and a "bad" bacteria and I have no splean so my immune syaytem is already low so I need something that can help me build up my good bacteria and and help my ph levels stay balanced the whole point of my story is nothing I have ever tried has ever worked besides flaygel in the gel form, not pills bc it nakes ne nauseatedwell the smell was horrible earlier today and I used a medicated dousch my sumers eve and after I used one appplication of rephresh and three hours later I used the bathroom and the odor was almost gone.... So I was thinking u ca use it everyday but one application lasts up to 72 hours, I was thinking to use one of those at least every three days but especially after intercourse.... I couldnt believe how it worked today so after I use my medication I was prescribed I am going to use that and I pray it will build up my good bacteria and will prevent from getting bgv and hopefully I can have a normal sex life with my boyfriend b/c this infection is seriously ruiing our relationship.... And my life, there has to be a treatment that can prevent ladies like ourselves from living w that odor...

It doesnt help either when DOCTORS ARE TELLING US THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT GET FROM THE GUY THAT A MAN CANNOT HAVE THIS BACTERIAL INFECTION WYHEN IT DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE IF A MAN HAS BEEN SLEEPING UNPROTECTED W A WOMAN WHO HAS IT WHY CANT HE BE A CARRIER AND WHY WOULDNT A DOCTOR TREAT A MAN FOR IT TO BE SURE THAT HE DPESNT PASS IT BACK N FORTH, ITS NOT FAIR THAT THEY MAKE US FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS NASTY WITH YOU FO0R GETTING AND HAVING A INFECTION U CANT GET RID OF AND U ARE VERY CLEAN! I AM VERY CLEAN W MY BODY TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF MYSELF CLEAN VERY GOOD AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS SO I AM VERY GLAD I READ THIS ARTICLE AND ALL THESE SUGGESTIONS AND I AM GOING TO TRY THEM AND I HOPE MY SUGGESTION N IDEAS WORK FOR ME WHEN I CONTINUE TO USE THIS REPHRESH AND IF NOT ONE OF YOUR IDEAS. AND I DID NOT CHEAT ON MY B/F.... VERY PISSED OFF THAT SOMEON IS NOT TRYING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD TO GIVE MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INFECTION!"

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