FOLIC ACID

[YEA]  09/14/2008: Lisa from Pusan, South Korea writes: "Folic acid works! And this web site is a life saver, especially for women with BV. What happened? I had a new partner, had this terrible BV ooze and was put on an IV drip by my Ob-gyn!!!!OMG.Given a HUGE dose of metronaizole, and couldn't take it because my stomach can't handle it. Fever. Vulva-dynia, crabs, smells from hell.
Bladder infections with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Irratic bites and itches. sprayed the whole house with flea bombs. Douched like mad with all sorts. Hid from friends and relatives.

Out of work for 6 months, spent entire savings on 50 doctors visits. Pretended not to be going to doctor, but that was my twice weekly destination.Obsessed with my recovery. Got another job, terrified of BV returning, asked a question on Yahoo answers and some dear angel showed me your website!!!! Left work early, ran to the pharmacy, bought a big bottle of folic acid, ran home and took 800mg at night and 800mg in the morning, ooze subsided for several days and no smell from hell. Honestly this website has saved my life. I was feeling quite desparate in a mental health day sort of way. IT GAVE ME HOPE WHEN THERE WAS NO HOPE.
When I read account after account of women who had been desparate and said folic acid works, my depression lifted - I had hope.

09/01/2008: Julia from Miami, Florida writes: "I have been suffering from BV for several years now. I had multiple sex partners and did not use a condom each time. Now I think I am paying the consequences with regular BV infections. My boyfriend of 2 and half years now, has had to see me suffer from this. I am so embarrassed that he has a girlfriend that has a smelly papaya and it makes me feel dirty. I went to several doctors telling them I had a really bad odor and none of them knew what is was. I finally found a doctor that prescribed me the metro medicine and it went away. But ofcourse like all of you have experienced, it came back. Now it has come back again for the 5 billionth time and I currently do not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay a visit to the doctor. I called my Gyno's office to see if someone could recommend something and they told me to take Monistat 7. I bought the cream and started the first night, I then went online because I wasn't sure that this medicine would help me. From what I read Folic Acid is the best remedy for everyone and I went and bought some today before I went to work. I took 2 400 mg tablets and I don't want to get my hopes up so I don't really want to check just yet if it is going away. The monistat cream has been coming out all day so I can't really tell yet. I really don't understand creams, why put them in if they are just going to be coming out all day? I hope this remedy works and is the answer to my embarrassment. I haven't had sex with my partner in 2 weeks now because it's too stinky down there. I am eating fage greek yogurt as Im typing this. I never have talked to my friends or family about this because I think it's to nasty of a problem. Even though it's a horrible thing, I am happy at the same time that I have found other women that can advise me on how to get rid of this problem. THANK YOU ALL! If this works, will I have to take Folic Acid forever? "

[YEA]  08/19/2008: Deva from Arcata, CA writes: "I have been suffering most of my adult life with the embarrassing smell and the uncomfortable feeling of bacterial vaginosis. I once had a miscarriage that a midwife told me could have been caused by BV. I have tried literally everything: acidopholus, boric acid suppositories, various essential oils in my vaginal, homeopathic cures, Chinese medicine, garlic suppositories--ad infinitum. I even tried the guaranteed natural cures that you buy online and ended up getting my money refunded. But Hallelujah! I found your site and tried 800 milligrams of folic acid twice a day and the next morning my vagina was close to normal and this continues 3 days into taking it. I am so excited and want to share this with every doctor, midwife, and woman I know. Does anybody know why it works? Should men also take the remedy? (Please post these questions to the site) I decided to give some to my boyfriend in case he was a carrier as well. I have noticed over the years that men with foreskins intact can carry this bacterial inbalance as well. My life is going to be sooo much better!!!"

[YEA]  08/15/2008: Ann from Clearwater, Michigan writes: "This site is AWESOME. I have suffered with BV for several years. To many to count. I was so tired of having the fishy smell and the discharge that comes along with having BV. I tried the Folic Acid remedy and it DOES WORK... I take 2 tabs bid of 400 and then 2 tabs bid at qs. Layman terms 2 400 mcg in the morning and 2 in the evening 1600 mcg in all. This has been a GOD sent remedy. There is nothing worse then looking good but smelling foul. For some odd reason, know one seems to know why some women get this condition. I am not over weight and I am physically fit, yet I too suffer from this annoying condition. Ladies, you owe it to yurself to try this remedy. I can attest to the results. However if you stop treatment the symptons will come back. It is best to stay on this regiment daily to prevent a relapse. Good Luck."

[YEA]  08/09/2008: Marie from Boulder, Colorado writes: "I use folic acid for my bacterial vaginosis. I tried acidophilus and yogurt but nothing works as strongly and quickly as the folic acid. As long as I take it every day (1600 mcg/day), the BV is non existent. I will tell you this though. I experimented a couple of times by not taking it for a day and it comes back within 24 hours. I wanted to thank this website for having this information as I had originally found this cure here on earth clinic. I am an alternative health practitioner and will certainly recommend this site to others."

[YEA]  07/25/2008: Suza from Missoula, Montana writes: "I had been fighting off BV for two weeks when I came across this web site. I had been using boric acid suppositories. And when this didn't work, I was put on a course of Flagyl. The burning, pain, itch, and irritable bladder would not subside. I was feeling quite ill all over. I didn't believe Folic Acid could possibly fix the problem, but after being on an antibiotic for 5 days and no relief, I decided what could it hurt? I purchased a small bottle of 400 mg Folic Acid and immediately took 3 tablets. I expected nothing to happen but around 4 - 5 hours later my burning and pain had lessoned noticably. I continued the folic acid the next day and by the 3rd day my symptoms were gone! I still cannot believe it. Ladies, this is worth a try. Take it from someone who has been suffering with BV since 1997. Now I'm wondering if I were simply deficient in this vitamin. Bless you for having this site."

[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 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

I developed BV for the first time in mid-November. I went to the doctor and got antibiotics. Which cleared up the symptoms but not without 5 days of the ever inconvenient vaginal inserts. The symptoms stayed gone for a few weeks but then as soon as my next period ended they came back. Desperate to not have this be a recurring problem I got on the internet and started finding out everything I could about what caused the infection and how I could get rid of it without a trip to the Dr. I was a little skeptical at first but I figured it couldn't hurt to try and if my symptoms didn't improve I'd call my ob/gyn. I took 5 acidophilus and 1200mcg of Folic Acid the first day I also switched to 100% cotton underwear all day and none when I went to sleep. Within 24 hours I noticed improvement. The second day I dropped the dose to 5 acidophilus and 800mcg folic acid. Then 4 acidophilus and 800mcg folic acid for the rest of the week. After 4 days my symptoms were completely cleared up and didn't even return after having sex. It's been a little over a week now, my symptoms haven't returned and I'm planning to cut back to 3 acidophilus and 400mcg folic acid (the recommended daily dosages listed on the packages) as a daily routine so that I can hopefully just stop having to worry about this all together."

[YEA]  12/02/2009: Rhonda from San Francisco, Ca writes: "Im a 44 year old that has suffered from BV for almost 12 years. I always thought it was a yeast infection until I saw pictures of BV. Oh My God! I just got another bout of BV last week and was at my witts end. I have a new boyfriend and I have been evading sex, which I never did before. The smell was too much to bear. I did not want to call my doctor for another prescription so I hopped online and started looking for another type of cure. I came across this website and it has literally saved my life. I was just about to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. I tried the probiotic (acidopholus) and folic acid combination. Actually, I only had the probiotic (5 billion) at first and immediately shoved 2 of them up my "youhoo" that night and took 3 orally. The next day I purchased the folic acid and took 16mcg in the morning and 16mcg at night along with 3 probiotics (5 billion each) and shoved another one up my "youhoo" that night. By the first day it was gone with only inserting the probiotic. The second day with the probiotic and folic acid was a miracle. I never even did the H202 and H20 douche. I tend to be wary of those and knew it might make my situation worse. That is just me knowing my body. This site is dead on when saying you have to find the combination that is right for your body and most of us know our bodies. BV ruled my sex life for years. I think this is a regimin that has to be done for life. I dont think we can stop this. Its preventative medicine and BV will most likely never go away for those of us that suffer as we do. Im not going to stop this combination until it no longer works. That is the key......dont stop once you find the right combination. I also tried the ACV for my dermatitis and that was gone in 3 days. Im truly amazed that simple things like this, that have been available for ALL OF US, has just now been talked about. The medical community (whom I work for) does not want to loose money on patient visits so of course you will never hear about this from a doctor......NO, they would loose business. That is a shame. I just heard doctors at work talking about putting ACV on your face to cure things and they all agreed that is was a good thing, but they would never recommend it to their patients. WHY? They would loose money, that is the bottom line. Thank you for this site and thank you to all the posters who shared their stories about BV. Research certainly will never be done to help women with this problem, no none cares. Its up to us to find the cure, and I think someone has. If it has to do with men and their libido, then the money is there....otherwise forget it. THANK YOU!!!"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  12/01/2009: Sheree from Stockton, California writes: "Ok, seriously I want to cry right now. I came across this sight after searching so many places for a cure to BV. I have been suffering from it off and on for so many years I lost count. Not only is it embarrassing but it makes you feel like less of a woman. The odor is like bad eggs or rotten milk...and the itching before your period is almost unbearable. I would scrub and scrub myself in the shower and immediately after I would notice that I still smelled. Even worse, the discharge would get on my panties and it would be so noticeable that I would be scared to stand up and walk past people. Or I would leak through thin skirts...disgusting. I was on this site for 5 hours last night just reading people's testimonials and wondering if it was really too good to be true or if anyone was a paid sponser for acidophilus or folic acid pills, lol. Nonetheless, I trusted what I was reading. I have been off my period for about 3 days now...the itching is gone but the odor was here this morning like every day. I went to the store and bought some acidophilus pills (500 million live cultures? I think...) and Folic acid @ 400 mcg. I also bought some Splenda (they say sugar and caffeine increase BV risk), some plain yogurt and water. I took one acidophilus when I got one and one Folic acid pill...this was about 2 hours ago. I felt a little nauseous as I was cooking but it was very faint. So I come back to this site because now I am hooked, after we ate dinner. While I am sitting reading, I decide to take a whiff...nothing. I AM NOT KIDDING. I smelled for like 5 minutes...went in the bathroom and actually used my finger (I know, gross!) But it worked. Swear to God, less than 2 hours ago I squatted to talk to my daughter and smelled awful although the rest of me is clean...it's like you're insides are rotten or something. I cannot believe it. I am a real person and this site has saved my life...I feel like everyone in the world who is too embarrased to talk to their friends about it needs this site...it feels like a family. I will update more when I get about a week away from my period, which is when the itching/odor/irritation is at it's height, and let you know how it is. I will be taking 1 acdp. pill and maybe 2 Folic a day (400 mcg), along with the yougurt and limiting my sugar intake. If it worked this well already, I think I might be BV free in 30 days....thank you so much!!!!!"

[BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS]  11/28/2009: Angie from Houston, Tx writes: "I been suffering from bv for 5 months now and after taking the medication dit never went away so I started taking the folic and acidophilus n its betta but I haven't had my period for 3 months....I'm worried...does bv stop your period? Please send me your feedback. Thank you."

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  10/21/2009: Unexpectedimbalance from Bronx, Ny writes: "Ok so I am SO happy to have come across this website. I originally noticed the discharge a few months after being on birth control. It must have been the sperm environment messing with mine that cause the imbalance. At first I didn't think much of it, but after a while I started noticing the scent. I went to the GYN and she asked if it was a fishy smell, and I told her no.. it was actually a sweet smell.. Vanilla-ish even. Anywho, she took a sample and checked it out and confirmed it was BV. I was given the prescription for the gel and it worked for like 2 days after I came off it. Back I went and I got the antibiotics.. it helped for like a week or two. Then I started doing my research and used acidophilus pills. I took one in the morning, one at night, and inserted two capsules at night as well. I varied, sometimes taking 2 at night, etc.

Nonetheless, I was happy to notice that I was smelling like my ol' self again. Being happy with the result I had sex with my boyfriend again and it started once more. I was so irritated from that day forth that I figured I may have gotten a yeast infection as well. I bought a different brand of acidophilus and for about a month definitely didn't notice it getting better. That's when I read about the stronger pro-biotic capsules and Folic acid.. Instead of the other acidophilus with only millions of good bacteria, this one has 14 billion good bacteria and different strands as opposed to just one.

I just bought some today and will be taking 2 of the pro-biotic capsules a day, as well as one 800mg Folic acid during the night (or should I take 2?). Also, I will insert one of the pro-biotic capsules at night. Curious on whether the folic acid should be inserted as well??

I will keep you all posted on my progress! I hope this helps, this is a very horrible situation. I've gone through depression, being really self-concious, and also making me shy away from sex. My bf loves me and doesn't care but I CARE! He's away for Grad school right now, which will give sex a break and give me time to heal. Supposedly BV can't be transmitted to a male? Anyone have info on this? If so, should they be taking the folic acid, etc?

We're going to get through this ladies!! By helping each other out!

xoxo"