FOLIC ACID

[YEA]  06/22/2008: Lola from Houston, Texas writes: "After battling with BV for the last year, I finally had it with the antibiotics. I am social person and like to have a cocktail now and then. Flagyll and Clindamycin was killing me sexually, physically, psycologically, socially and mentally. BV made so uncomfortable. So I come to this site because I am sick of the doctor. Also, I get yeast infections after the antibiotics. One morning I wake up with BV, so I go to GNC and buy a bottle of Folic Acid 1000mcg. It was $5. I figured if it didn't work. I only lost a few dollars. The next day, no smell, no irritation, no nothing. So far, a week has passed and still nothing. I am taking one daily and will keep you all informed. I feel great."

[YEA]  05/14/2008: Melanie from Kobe, Japan writes: "Thanks for the site - I was so surprised to find so many women suffering from Bacterial Vaginisis. I cannot beileve this is not taken more seriously by health professionals and there is not more awareness in general. I think it's great that this provides much-needed support for women to share their experiences. I have the same story as everyone else here & after discovering this site, started taking 400mg of folic acid twice daily. the smell and discharge have completely disappeared!! It has been a week so far. I just want to show my appreciation and I hope this works for other women!!!"

[YEA]  01/29/2008: Dree from Houston, Texas writes: "I just want to say that I have been dealing with BV for about 8 years and I know I've been treated by the doctor at least 50 times. It would alwas come back after intercourse or my menstrual cycle. It has always come back until I came across this website!!! I tried the Folic acid (800 mg 2x a day for the first week) and the smell was gone within 3 days. I continue to take 800mg of Folic Acid a day just to keep the Bv at Bay. I also did the half peroxide and water and felt instantly clean and fresh! There is still a small amount of discharge though any suggestions for that? Thanks so much for the post!!! I feel like I have my life back. I had even stopped working out because I was so afraid that people would notice the fishy smell. My boyfriend of 6 years had suffred with this also. our relationship was strained because I was always embarressed of the bv and sex was at a minimum. So thanks once again!!!!"

[YEA]  12/18/2007: butterfly73 from Atlanta, USA writes: "I wanted to thank the women on this site for sharing the information on Folic Acid! My sister and I started using it and I promise 1-2 days later, we are BV free! Praise GOD for the sharing of information! After age 30, Bacterial Vagnosis became a friend of mine. My doctor would tell me that it is common for Black women to get BV. Well, I have changed soaps, made my partners take showers before intercourse and also taken the medicine (Flagyl and Metro-Gel). I was beginning to get tired of taking that medicine. ACIDOPHILUS works but not like FOLIC ACID did! I believe in sharing information in order to help others! Once again, thank you! Butterfly in Georgia!"

[YEA]  12/17/2007: Toya from Jacksonville, Florida writes: "I had been a BV sufferer f for about a year and I would continue to go to the doctor and would always leave the doctors office with some antibotic (does not work), and again no resolution to my BV. So I had decided to search the web with natural home cures for BV, and I continued to run across the folic acid. So I ran out and brought some folic acid 800mg and would take 2 a day. I promise after the 2nd day I was free of BV. No more smell, or discharge. I also wash with hydrogen peroxide after I have sex with my boyfriend so that it does not interfere with my ph balance messing up. And I continue to take the folic acid (1 tablet daily) just to make sure that nasty infection does not comes back."

[YEA]  12/09/2007: Zara from leeds, west yorkshire writes: "hi to all my BV friends, i call you friends because i am so happy that i found someone to talk to about our situation. i was also ALLERGIC TO MY X-BF SPERM. i have cried about having bv, because nuffin works 4 me. people could smell me from a mile lol.. so i decided to try FOLIC ACID 400g 3X daily, this works 4 me. so never give up!"

[YEA]  12/07/2007: Anna writes: "Update: I am still clear and the Estrace once a week has been discontinued. By way of clarification I was using the Estrace once a week for 2months and took a week of ORAL Clindemycin at the start of this use of Estrace. The clindemycin vaginal cream did nothing. (see previous post) The Dr. had not heard of using Folic Acid and was very open to the idea and gave me a prescription for a high dose. So far BV free and normal flora are restored to the now lovely environment of the vagina. Thanks to all."

[YEA]  12/01/2007: Anna from New york City, New York writes: "Thanks to everyone for the info on Bacterial Vaginosis, especially the effectiveness of Folic Acid. Before I found this site I had several months of metrogel vaginal cream, two series of prescriptions of the metrogel pills,(flagyl), clindamycin cream and as you all testify it just kept coming back. I researched the web and found out a lot about BV, in particular that Doctors do not know why the anarobic (bacteria that use no oxygen} overpopulate the vaginal canal and the good bacteria, which are oxygen loving, get moved out. Attacking gardnerella which is what the metrogel and flagyl do, might work but is usually temporary. Gardnerella is normally found in the vagina, but why does it get out of control? The conclusion of the best is that there is a synergistic or interdependent relationship among several of the anarobic bacteria. Clindemycin is a broader spectrum antibiotic and if metrogel and the pill, generic flagyl, do not work then Clindemycin should be tried. BV is dangerous because it can travel as a real infection to the ovaries and elsewhere, even into the lumbar region. Though it is caused by "overpopulation" of one bacteria naturally occuring, this definition may be a little too soothing. Waking up one morning with a sudden sever backache on the same time my first prescription for the oral flagyl pill was ready freaked me out because my research had come up with cases of "disc space infection" in the lumbar spine due to BV....So ladies don't relax on this issue. The discharge was greyish and fishy..not a yeast infection for sure. No itchiness. Swabs showed overpopulation of Garderella. Problem was the six months of repeated use of the metrogel cream cleared the vaginal canal and most of all the discharge, but the smell was bad...something was wrong. I believe the problem moved up into the uterus...at the end of each period the grey smelly discharge would manifest. This happened even after using the flagyl pill. As others said it came back. I went to another doctor. He used clindamycin along with ESTRACE vaginal cream once a week. When I asked why, he said, " Local Estrogen helps restore normal flora to the vagina." It worked. But he wants me to stay on the estrace for 2 more months. The key is restore the balance of flora. By the way the first thing this dr. did do was give me the acidopholus in the form of capsules (Culturelle) to use vaginally. But that did not work. After I read this site I started taking Folic Acid 800mg for two weeks and now take 400 every day. I eat yogurt, but probably should take the acidophilus also. Anyway here is my experience and I hope it helps. I plan to tell the Dr at the next visit about the folic acid. I don't know if I am out of the woods yet Thanks to all"

[YEA]  11/08/2007: Venessa from Honolulu, Hawaii writes: "Folic acid really works! I've been fighting Bv for the last 9 months, been to the doctors but ntg really work. I came upon this website and went to buy Folic acid and consumed it instantly. My Bv is gone after 2 hours!!! I can't believe it...i keep going into the bathroom and check if i'm really dry from time to time! It's really gone!!! If women know folic acid is the cure, then things won't be so complicated. It's cheap and you can get at any pharmacies w/o precription! take 3 pills a day and it really works!"

[YEA]  10/20/2007: Jayne from Sheffield, England writes: "After reading this site I thought I would try Folic Acid to cure me from BV. I have had this problem twice before and didn't want to go to the doctors again. I took 3x400 Folic acid and noticed within 2 days that the smell had nearly gone. I now take 2x400 every day and no longer have a problem."

[YEA]  10/07/2007: nicole from syracuse, ny writes: "I HAVE HAD A LIGHT FOUL ODOR AND SNOTTY LIKE DISCHARGE FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I WENT LAST NIGHT AND BOUGHT THE FOLIC ACID AND WITHIN 1HR THE SYMPTOMS WERE COMPLETLY GONE!!!!"

[YEA]  06/20/2007: Sara from MOLINE, IL writes: "I had been fighting bacterial vaginosis for almost a year when I came accross your website. I had tried flagl (metronidazole) pills, boric acid, clindamycin, and metronidazole gel. The gel seems to be the only thing that works. Even though the gel clears me up I seem to eventually get syptoms again. I also had my partner treated. Then I read on your website about the folic acid (3 pills once a day) and the apple cidar vinegar. This has helped tremendously!!! I have yet to try the plain yogurt but it is in my fridge just in case. I also use the metronidazole gel twice a week as a preventative medicine. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!"

[YEA]  05/08/2007: Melissa (libras72@sbcglobal.net) from Woodstock, IL writes: "i too thought i was having reoccuring yeast infections. till i got to the third day of yeast treatment and had no change . looked up yeast inf cures and found this site and realized i was wron it was my bv. i was excited to hear that i'm not the only one. i tried the folic acid. 3 @ 400 mic) and within 30 min the burning and itching was gone... thank god!!! i have a pap secduled hopefuly the bv will be gone . i plan to take 1 folic acid pill a day from now on... thanks ladies. ill let you know what the dr says."

FOLIC ACID AND ACIDOPHILUS

[YEA]  10/16/2008: Aimee from Lorain, Oh writes: "I came across Earth Clinic because I have been doing some research in regard to Bacterial Vaginosis, I have had this condition on and off for about 10 years, everytime I get it I go to the doctor spend a couple of hundred dollars, get some flagil then I get the BV back and do the same thing over again. Recently I came down with the BV again and I went and got the Flagil and it came back like usual as soon as I was done with the prescription so I started investigating and came across this site the acidophilus and folic acid have done wonders for me BV is gone, I started to take 2(1 billion) acidophilus capsules in the am and pm every day and 1 folic acid in the am daily I also inserted 1 acidophilus capsule 2 days in a row when I first recieved them (i didnt like inserting them because they are gritty and so sex will be out of the question for a few days afterward). So now its 2 weeks later and I have no symptoms at all!!!!!!! Hurray! Thank you so much Earth Clinic and everyone who has posted and helped out so many women with this ailment. I am also going to try the Apple Cider Vinegar daily and Oil pulling I will post on these things after I have tried them for a while to see how they work. Thank you again."

[WORKED TEMPORARILY]  10/16/2008: HOLLY (snowqueen227@hotmail.com) from COUSHATTA, LA writes: "I'VE SUFFERED FROM BV FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS. HOWEVER, I NEVER KNEW WHAT IT WAS TILL ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO - SINCE, I HAD NEVER BEEN TO A GYN BEFORE. I GOT THE BV AROUND THE TIME I FOUND OUT, YEARS LATER, THAT MY BOYFRIEND WAS CHEATING ON ME. I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN STD WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. I SUPPOSE THAT IT WAS JUST BEING SEXUALLY ACTIVE SINCE PRIOR TO THAT TIME MY BOYFRIEND WAS OUT OF STATE FOR A YEAR. FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND BEEN TOLD YOU CAN'T GET BV FROM A MAN. IN THE PAST, BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS BV. I READ SOME STUFF ON THE INTERNET ABOUT REMEDIES FOR VAGINAL ODOR. I FOUND OUT THAT BACTERIA THRIVES ON SUGAR. SO I STOPPED DRINKING SODA, WHICH I DRANK EVERYDAY, AND STARTED ONLY DRINKING WATER. I ALSO READ THAT ZINC DEFICIENCY COULD BE A CAUSE OF THE FOUL ODOR. I ALSO READ THAT SALT IS AN INHOSPITABLE HOST FOR BACTERIA. SO I BOUGHT SEA SALT SPRAY FROM GNC AND USED THAT TOO. BETWEEN AVOIDING SUGAR, TAKING 2 ZINC PILLS, AND SALT SPRAY. THE ODOR DEFINITLY GOT BETTER MAY HAVE COMPLETLY WENT AWAY. I DIDN'T KEEP UP WITH IT AND THE SYMPTOMS CAME BACK. 4 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO THE GYN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS BV. ANYWAY, MY GYN GAVE ME A RX, WHICH I TOOK EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK. THE FIRST DAY I TOOK IT MY SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY. MY ONLY PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS WERE BAD FISHY ODOR AND WHITE MILKY DISCHARGE. I NEVER ITCHED OR ANYTHING. AFTER I GOT MY PERIOD THE ODOR AND DISCHARGE CAME BACK AGAIN. I WENT TO THE DOC AND GOT THE RX AGAIN AND AFTER I GOT MY PERIOD I'M NOW I'M BACK WHERE I STARTED. I TRIED THE 1 800MG FOLIC ACID & 1 1/2 BILLION ACIDOPHILUS PILL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST RX DIDN'T WORK. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THAT'S WHY I WENT BACK TO GET THE RX AGAIN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I'M GOING TO TRY THE FOLIC ACID & ACIDOPHILIUS IN HIGHER DOES AND THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE/WATER DOUCHING MIX AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AFTER HEARING SO MANY WOMEN'S SUCESS I THINK I SHOULD TRY IT AGAIN."

10/07/2008: Lisa from San Francisco, Ca writes: "I have been dealing with BV for almost a year now. I have tired every medication under the sun. Up until two week ago I was using flagl (metronidazole) off and on for 4 months. I would feel great for a short time and that same bad feeling would come right back and plus the flagl gave my boyfriend an allergic reaction because we were having sex, and I realize now that wasn't a good idea. Last week I came across this website and last Friday rushed out to GNC to pick up a bottle of Folic Acid 400MCG and a bottle of Acidophilus 2billion per pill. I am currently taking 1200mcg of Folic Acid and Acidophilus 4billion morning and night as well as 800mcg Folic Acid and Acidophilus 2billion at lunch time. I also recently begin inserting a tampon of plain yogurt with live cultures a few hours a day for about a week, and last night I used medicated douched to rid myself of that awful smell. I have to say I do feel better but not 100%. I was wondering what is the average time frame in which anyone felt 100% using this cure, and does anyone think I should use the flagl one more time the right way in conjunction with the Folic Acid and Acidophilus pills?"

Anyway, I read ALL of the entries and found this remedy to make most sense; because I have seen this combination in more than one place (ebooks and other websites). I went out to Walgreens and talked to the pharmacist to find an Acidophilus that was 10 billion CFU (because I did not ant to take a lot of pills). The brand I chose is Culturelle; it cost about $21.00 - it is great and has a great shelf life and is worth it. Also I started out taking 2 (400 mg) Folic acid tablets for about 2 weeks now I am down to 1 Folic acid tablet per day. I have been BV free for more than a month. I am so happy my intimate life with my husband has gotten so much better. I have very little to NO; I mean NO discharge. And I take a whiff every time I go to the restroom just to make sure I am still scent free. Thanks to everyone for their input and I hope that my entry will inspire someone to go out and try this remedy because it works! People it really works - try it. I am a real person email me if you have questions. GOOD LUCK."

[YEA]  10/03/2008: Sarah from Austin, Texas writes: "This site is a god sent. I am so thankful to all of you who posted feedback. I have had BV for about 2 years and it got to the point where it was starting to control my life. I was so self conscious of people smelling me that I stopped going places with people for long periods of time. I was afraid to use public restrooms. I dreaded doing physical activity because it made the smell worse. It started effecting my relationship because I only wanted to have sex after a shower and even then was uncomfortable. My boyfriend has never noticed because I always shower, but I shouldn't have to take 4 showers a day! I want to be okay with one or two showers a day. I've tried everything and started to think that nothing was going to work. Then I stumbled across this site and ran right out to get the folic acid and acidophilus. IT WORKS!!! It really works. I can't believe it. I'm so happy that I have my life back. I can have a normal sex life now! I can feel comfortable with myself again. I've been taking 1-400 mg folic acid in the morning along with 1-1 billion acidophilus. I also take the same dosage at night. I just can't belive that it works. Thank you earth clinic!"

[YEA]  10/03/2008: Lindsay from Atlanta, Georgia writes: "I have been having bouts of bv for 6 months now, and I havent told my boyfriend. Instead I was using the Rephresh douche and gel, which the bv came back after 2 days. Tonight I tried the folic acid and acidophoulis pills, 2 each 2 times today, and it went away. No discharge, no God awful smell down there. I'm so excited that I don't have to live like this anymore. I hope to God it doesnt come back tomorrow. I am going to take it religiously everyday. I am telling you ladies- TRY IT!!!!"

[YEA]  10/02/2008: Maggie from Washington, DC writes: "Hi ladies, like many of you, I am tired of living with this awful disease. I've had BV for two years and because I took so many antibiotis that worked for a lttle while, it always came back with a vegence.

Just this past weekend, I was at home and I told myself to go search on the internet for anything that could help me ride of the BV, most of all, for the stench that is unbearable. I say thank you to all you women for all your comments.

I went out to CVs right after reading all your comments to get myself the Folic acid (800mcg) and ACIDOPHILUS probiotis. I also got the hydrogin peroxide but was too scared to use it.

Anyway, I began to take the tablets, 2 of the folic and five of the probiotic ( 5 to make it a billion of the organisms required). I woke up the next day and the smell wasn't as bad. My Dr. prescribed the Clydamycin (antibiotic to insert in the vagina) for 7 days.

First of all, I'd say its important to know the magnitude of BV, VARIES FROM MILD TO SERIOUS. Mine was serious. She also advised I insert a tampon with natural yogurt inside for two weeks to 1 month a few hours a day. So far so good. I continue to take the folic and probiotic and do as my dr. says.

My prayers go out to each one of you ladies out there suffering with BV. BV is awful and the worst is that people do not understand that it affects so many women, others toatlly ingorant about it and therefore the scorne from too many a one when the smell is evident. Hope my comment helps somebody out there. God bless us all."

[YEA]  09/25/2008: Determined from Atlanta, GA writes: "ok... so like many other BV women, i found this site and read every word posted! its like a roller coaster high when you think you might have found the CURE! and then, u rush out, buy everything every writer posted in the hopes that the combination of all of them will work on you!

usually not the case... but the hope feels great so we always try ONE more time.

well - this time i am in awe!!!! it worked!!!!

i read a story about folic acid and ACIDOPHILUS (which sounds like an animal at the zoo if you ask me) which caught my attention due to the fact alot of healthy foods we eat have therse 2 formulas in them.

but i also read many other stories about inserting the tablet, swallowing the capsule, 400mg, 800mg, etc.
there was NO clear prescription on what to take and how to take it. so i went with these 2 items because i could find them at the average pharmacy and not need to ask a pharmacist for it.

i was just recently diagnosed with BV. i got it once from a new sexual partner, got a presciption, was devastated, thought my life was over, cried, suffered from slight depression, etc. im sure i could go on and on, but you are reading this story probably due to the fact you suffer as well... so back to my story - i got diagnosed in '07 and NEVER once did the doctor tell me i might suffer from this again. i thought i took the cream for 7 days and i would never see this BV thingy again... well recently in '08 i noticed that oh familiar odor!!! i almost died! i thought how could i get this twice in my life not realizing women suffer from this for years!!!! so i jumped on the internet in the search of a more natural cure. there was no way i could face my doctor again - since the first time was due to a sexual partner i thought there was no way she'd believe me that it wasnt this time.

i landed on earthclinic. i was addicted to the stories because they gave hope.

so back up to speed, i went to walgreens and grabbed some folic acid and ACIDOPHILUS. i couldnt insert the ACIDOPHILUS because it was the chewable strawberry flavored tablets. i did get tablets with the intention to insert but didnt realize they were chewable until i reached home. so i chewed 5 (it said 10 was the max for adults) and then took 2 folic acid tablets which were 400 mcg. i plan to take one in the am and one in the pm but i wanted to double the dose to get it started. i also took 5 more ACIDOPHILUS before bed.

lets just say i woke up and went to the bathrm not even thinking it would work that fast but there was no odor!!!!!!!!! i swear!!! nothing! even the discharge was light and this was before my shower!

im in shock! i never thought i would be visiting this site again!!!!

i promised that as soon as i got to work i would write a comment about the way it worked so quickly! now i dont want everyone to think this is the cure for them, it just happened to do wonders for me! i know its only been through one night, but if you know the symptoms of BV, you know that eliminating the odor alone is a reason to jump!!!!

i dont want to give my email out for the simple fact i have a public job but i can check the site often to answer any questions. i had quite a few when i got to the pharmacy because there were so many different options for ACIDOPHILUS and folic acid. i got a natural one, i got tablets instead of capsules and i figured i would get a small bottle so that if it didnt work i wouldnt be broke AGAIN from trying. now i plan to get this in bulk!!!!

good luck to all you women who have this god awful disease!!! i pray this works for you as well as pray that a true cure will be developed!

now i can go search for relief on my gallstone issue... ugh... *sigh*"

[YEA]  09/25/2008: Audry from Sacramento, Ca writes: "I've had BV for about six months now, it started when i got together with a new guy. Very embarrassing. Went to the doctor for it so many times. Found this website, and Folic Acid, Acidophilus works so well. It has been gone for three days now.

This is what i used:

1 800mcg Folic Acid in the morning, then 20 minutes later, a probiotic supplement that has 1.5 billion live cells per capsule.

I also repeat this at lunch time.

This really seems to help. I didn't have this "gooey" like feeling in my vagina anymore, and no more sharp random pains either. THANK YOU EARTH CLINC!!!!!!!!!!!"

[YEA]  09/15/2008: Tina (tina2571@comcast.com) from Hull, MA writes: "I would like to thank you all for this site!! I have been suffering from bv since my early 20's. I am now 37. I have tried everything!!! From flagyl to boric acid every nite for a month!! I started taking folic acid 800mg daily and either eating a yogurt or acidophilus 20mg(200 million live cultures)every day. I am happy to say I just finished my period and DID NOT get my monthly BV!!!!!!! I saw my Gyn just to be sure and she said it was the best I'd looked in years! I would always get bv after sex, after my period and any ole time it felt like coming!! I don't think I've gone a month free in years!!! Thank you , thank you!!! I hope this cycle continues!!! This is the cheapest cure I have found so far! I will continue with the folic acid and acidophilous forever!! A yogurt a day doesn't hurt either! Thanks again and good luck to anyone else that has suffered from these atrocious infections!"