Boric Acid Cure for Bacterial Vaginosis

I want to thank everyone here for sharing their stories and successes with battling BV. I've suffered from intermittent episodes for over 12 years. For the past year, I've used boric acid capsules and I have never felt more confident and FRESH! I ordered the H*** brand off Amazon and picked up the capsules from Earth Fare (although these can be bought online too). I fill the '00' capsules myself and insert them immediately after sex, which is when my vaginal acidity is most off, and at least once a week. I will also insert a capsule during and after my menses.

When I first started, I used one capsule every day for one week, and then dropped to one a week or post sex and menses.

This is truly a big YEA for me, but you should also supplement with acidophilus pills and/or supplements to help your body stabilize pH!

Good luck and again, Thank You ladies for sharing on this site!

I have a few questions, do the capsules completely dissolve in the vagina? And some of the other posters mentioned using an Oil with the capsules, what is the purpose of the oil? Which kind to use and how much?

It does work to get rid of smell and just overall dirty feeling of B.V but it needs to be done on routine. I used it for a few days before my vacation in Mexico and I found that by day 3 or 4, my bv was back.

Boric acid doesnt " cure" it but it changes the bacteria from bad to good ... once it wears off, the bv is still there and the bad is still there. I'd say you need to use it every 3 days or so to maintain freshness.

I personally struggled with it for a long time too and boric acid is the only thing that works.

This is my first time using the Boric Acid but is it ok to still have sex and oral sex while using it?

After MONTHS of reading, research, and skepticism and having actually bought the veggie capsules and Boric Acid (BA) from Amazon, I finally tried it. I had refills for Metronidozole oral, so I wanted to use them up first. But every other month or so, the BV would return immediately after my menses or intercourse. I can't tell you how frustrated and embarrassed I felt. I was thinking that I will have this for the rest of my life. Well, the BA capsule was finally inserted one night. The next morning I figured I would have some type of discharge or burning, so I prepared myself with a pad. Throughout the day, there was a little watery discharge - but no discomfort or burning, or anything like that. By the end of day...the foul BV odor and BV discharge was gone. This was last week Tuesday. Today (Sunday) so far, I feel squeaky clean, and still no funky odor. I am very happy with the results. It was a one time treatment, and I didn't have to set an alert on my phone to remind me to take any meds and I was able to drink alcohol. I couldn't be happier! But before I get too excited, I do want to see whether the BV will return or not. I am thinking the antibiotics was not just getting rid of the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria. So my search continues on getting my vaginal pH balance healthy and back on track without having to constantly resort to temporary relief. Any pointers? Another concern of mine is if the BA treatment could potentially cause harm in terms of fertility, or cancer?! And what if one becomes pregnant - my guess is that BA is not an option...?

Ann, don't focus on the scare, lots of people have metallic taste. Read up on it. You might want to try rinsing a couple of times a day with bentonite clay.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Used boric acid for 2 days for BV. Made my own capsule. Only filled the capsule up to half the amount allowed. BV is gone but now I can't get this horrible metallic taste in my mouth to go away. It's been a week now and I'm really, really scared. Anyone else have this?

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hello all, I just had to reach out and ask a very odd question about using Boric acid. I was wondering if any of you have experienced a strange metallic taste in your mouth after using it. I can't be more thrilled to finally find something to acidify my vagina and combat BV before it even starts. I thought I would die if I didn't find something! However, after a few months of intermittent uses of the acid, my mouth had the most intense all over metallic, salty sort of taste that seemed worse some days, and mild others, but still there in some form every day.

I went to my doctor and told her that I was really concerned that it could be kidney problems. She didn't see any changes in tests for various things like copper (I have a copper IUD). Then I asked if it could be slow poisoning from Boric acid. She said she thought it was safe, but to ask an OBGYN. Now every time I do a small regimen of acid, I get this taste. It's so strange. I even called poison control and they said it's supposed to be very safe and effective. They'd never heard of this. UUUUUGHHHH!! I just want to know that I'm not poisoning myself! I have done so much research on this method of BV prevention. I read that if it gets into your bloodstream it can cause poisoning and reek havoc on your kidneys. The only way it could get into the bloodstream is if you have micro tears in the vaginal wall. Also, I'd read that some people can be allergic to it, and can cause heavy drowsiness, sick stomach, confusion, etc.. I have had a few of these symptoms before, even after one suppository. Some times I don't experience any symptoms, but alas, will always get that metallic taste.

Has anyone had any of these symptoms?

Dear Judy,

The short answer is that boric acid and borax are not the same thing. The long answer is here for those who are interested:

http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-boric-acid-and-vs-borax/

Using Boric Acid for yeast is a folk remedy of midwives and I have heard it is effective.

Your condition sounds quite miserable. I am sorry to hear nothing is helping.

You might want to add Borage Oil to your diet. It has helped me to heal of skin issues when nothing was helping. I would take 3 1000mg capsules a day. It is anti-inflammatory. It may be the missing link in your not healing.

Let us know how it goes..I hope that these things will work for you.

~Mama to Many~

Hi, I am just wondering if Boric Acid and Borax are the same thing. Can I make pessaries out of Borax or do I need to get Boric Acid. Where is the difference.

I am having symptoms of thrush even though my swabs keep coming back clear. My vaginal area is extremely red and inflamed even though I rarely have discharge... the whole thing is a bit of a mystery to me.

I have been doing some electro dermal screening and the doctor did diagnose me with Candida Albicans so I do think it's worth me trying the Boric Acid.

So far nothing from the pharmacy nor yoghurt, tea tree etc helped. I also tried coconut and diverse other cold pressed oils, diet change etc.

The symptoms have been there for about five months now.

Hi Bron, what kind of Boric Acid did you use? I'm in Australia also.

Thanks so much, Judy

Rh...

No female expert here, but it is w/ satisfaction to here of your new-found hope in the Natural Medicine cabinet.

If I might add, in my long experience w/ chronic illness, one truth Iv'e learned is to always expand one's search using a variety of resources and make notes on what has best potential for yourself. My illness became debilitating about 1 decade before the internet so there was a deficiency of info then. Anyway, this leads to more truth about illness. Many times I made big stops to the progression of my disease and celebrated w/ elation of my cures, only too find myself back down on the bottom again. Lesson, thoroughly research your condition, and never only use one treatment as pathogenic organisms are both intelligent and aggressive which most times require multifaceted approach or remedies.

Try to find time to read and take notes on your condition here and keep the upper hand on the infection. From what I've read, Povidone Iodine should be rotated w/ the Boric Acid for a maximum full-spectrum effect. Oregano Extract Softgels taken by mouth before retiring every night will kill most pathogens in the gut and beyond after several wks use. Any of the herbal parasite cleanses would be recommended as almost all warm-blooded animals harbor & carry all sorts of parasites (if you have pets it is very important to keep them and yourself dewormed periodically). ACV and Coconut Oil taken daily will improve many aspects of a weakened body. Colloidal Silver, Turpentine, among others will be items you may need to incorporate (depending on your condition & constitution).

This website has changed my life in the past 15 mins that I have been on it! To read all of your stories, to not feel alone/ashamed/embarrassed in the 'battle of BV' and to hear of all the SUCCESS with using boric acid has brought me incredible hope, relief, encouragement, a positive outlook. I have battled with BV and yeast infections since I was 16 and UTIs since I was 5-6; I am now 31. It feels never ending; causes insecurities, depression; most definitely puts strain, distance on a marriage/relationship and unfortunately after years it can be the underlying reason for infidelity/failed relationship/divorce.

After the past 6 months of numerous pelvic exams (you know the OB/GYN has seen your hoo-ha too many times when they tell you that it looks different than last time! ), cultures, STD tests, antibiotics, metrogel, pills that made me violently ill, missed days of work, HUGE interference on my social life as I am venturing out into the single world after 15 years...my physician has finally tried something different and has put me on boric acid. When she told me to make sure I didn't swallow the pills cause they were toxic/poisonous, I had 2 thoughts...1. Why is she prescribing me something toxic to put in there? 2. Why would I swallow an ovule? Upon picking up the prescription these two questions were quickly answered for me :-) The sound/thought of putting acid in there did frighten me some but I was so desperate at this point that I did not care. I have been on the boric acid for only 4 days now...prescription is 2x a day for 14 days. Upon finding this website, I now have a positive outlook and am in greater spirits that I will get better, if not 'cured'. Thank you ladies for sharing your stories!!!

Hi Bron,

Just wondering if you could provide more details on how to order boric acid and make your own capsules? I struggle constantly with thrush, and going back and forths to the doctor is a nightmare, all the tests they put you through, everytime! I need to get a handle on this! Thanks, Sarah

I just wanted to quickly check back in as it has now been 8 months since my first post and since I started my boric acid treatment.

I am still BV free after 8 months - YAY!!!

I still insert a boric acid capsule on the last 2 nights of my period but I no longer take the vitamins or probiotics, except for folic acid (but this is more for baby making reasons than anything else.) While I do believe a healthy diet and the probiotic are beneficial to an overall healthy system, I'm not convinced they will cure or help rid the body of BV.

I hope you are all having success with this treatment!

I have been battling w/ BV since the day my son was born (2004). Havind BV Is the worst thing ever. On 09/01/14 my GYN prescribed Boric Acid for 21 days. I followed the direction after inserting it vaginally @ night w/ a disposible tube, this helps to put the medication as far in your Vjay jay as possible, it immediately started working for me, the only side effect to this medication is that your urine is dark yellow. I highly recommed (from experince) to put a thin pad on b/c u will be "wet" down there. DO NOT use scented soap, I use olny uncented body wash. DO NOT have sex, while on meds.

How is everyone feeling after being on the boric acid regimen? I know you posted in April, so just wondering if things are still good with the boric acid? Thank you for any information!

Thank you ladies for your posts. I'm encouraged. I just received my Boric Acid Rx in the mail from a local compounding pharmacy. I was not sure I would use them, even though they cost $60. They are very scary. I did some reading and saw that they can be deadly due to kidney failure if there is a cut or sore on the vagina. However, I've had candida for decades after taking antibiotics in the 70's for 3 years for my acne. I've tried everything else. I used Fluconazole 250mg on and off for years but I would drink a glass of orange juice and bv would be back. I am going to insert the first one tonight with a big gob of coconut oil. I am hopeful to experience the lasting results.

Boric acid capsules are safe and very effective at getting rid of both bv and yeast. The Humco brand of boric acid is readily available at Amazon. They have the empty gel caps too. Look at the user reviews for a wealth of information and positive reviews. One important thing for me was to use an applicator to insert the capsules. It makes using the capsules easier and I believe it makes them more effective at curing infections. My drugstore did not have any disposable vaginal applicators and it makes no sense to re-use them when you have an infection. I don't care how much soap and hot water you use, it's better to use a clean one each time. I googled "disposable vaginal applicators" and found a great website. For an active infection use one capsule at night for two weeks. You will need to wear a pad the next day because there will be a watery discharge. For prevention I use a capsule once a week.

After many episodes of struggling and suffering with infections I am grateful to sites like this one and every person who took the time to share their stories and ideas. I had a lot of anxiety along with these formerly chronic infections and I really hesitated to use boric acid suppositories. Thank God I got past the fear and discovered my cure. By the way, my naturopath did offer to give me a prescription for the suppositories at a compounding pharmacy. I make the exact same capsules myself for a fraction of the price. As a previous poster mentioned: you can search YouTube for an instructional video on making your capsules. I keep them in a Tupperware container with a tight lid. They ARE toxic to ingest so keep them far away from children and pets. Good luck and do not give up. These stupid infections can be overcome. Good health to all of you.

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The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

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Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and  fueled  her quest for the knowledge held in lore,  and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

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(Mpls., Mn) on 07/11/2014

Hey Christine!

If you are worried about a reaction, make a paste out of water and the boric acid and apply it to sensitive skin - the crease of your elbow, under arm, behind your knee - and see if you get an adverse reaction.

I have used the boric acid powder and made up my own pills using gel caps and it worked fine. You might also consider using Borax in the gel cap as well.

Good luck!

Ok so ladies I've been sitting here with these boric acid pills for a month now and I'm so scared to use them. I'm going to tell you why lol... Last year 4-13-13 I had my fourth son and things took a turn for the worse and I was bleeding out so they did a dnc and they stopped the blood. I'm eternally grateful but now I have bv. So sex and my period trigger it off and also I just got the Essure so I can't have kids anymore. I have tried the antibiotics that didn't work three times. I took the vaginal gel twice, nope didn't work. I tried the yogurt, didn't work. I've been taking probiotics nothing!!!!! So it's been a little over a year and I'm sitting here with these pills, 600mg prescription and I'm nevous. But Imma suck it up and I will be back if you don't hear from me well u know something's up but email me and ask me I'm open to to answer any questions because I don't know about anyone else. I also suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, so this is where I'm scared to use it.

You can have vaginal intercourse, but not receive oral sex while using the boric acid.

It has been 4 months since my last post so I thought I would check back in. I have been completely free from any BV symptoms since I started my treatment plan (see above).

I started with 2 boric acid pills on the first night of my period and then one boric acid pill for the next 5 nights.

Then for the next 2 periods, I inserted one boric acid pill for the last 3 nights of my period.

During this time I took a probiotic and folic acid daily. I also regularly but not routinely took vitamin D and vitamin C, probably every other day or so.

I have been free from BV for this entire time, despite regular and unprotected (baby-making) sex. I do not douche after sex and have stopped douching altogether. I have, however, had small bouts of thrush which is something I have battled with long before BV reared its ugly head. I did not take any antibiotics for this but instead persevered with my treatment plan and ate lots of probiotic-infused yoghurt.

I am so happy to be BV free after 2 years and would highly recommend this regimen!

I will continue to insert a boric acid for the last night or two of my period or as needed in the future.

Doing extensive research for my own BV prognosis, but I can no longer bite my tongue regarding two topics within this thread...

I. I have only recently been having this issue, brought on by the life-threatening necessity of taking antibiotics for a tooth that got impacted/infected a few months back. Unless my life is at stake, I will not use antibiotics. And doctors are so eager to issue them these days (& even for as little as a common cold! ), & in most cases, without even testing past taking your temperature &/or looking down your throat. The dispensing of these cell-murdering warriors has gotten far out of control, while doctors everywhere prescribe them like candy. Fact: it takes the human body one full year to recover from the damage antibiotics do to its cells... unlike natural garlic (an antibacterial, anti-fungal, safe alternative/remedy), which enters the body & kills only the defective, diseased, or infected cells, leaving the healthy ones in tact for reproduction. Antibiotics know no difference in cell tissue as being healthy or defective, so in ambush it kills them all. But in situations of infection & puss poisoning the blood-stream, this is a time calling for an antibiotic, STAT... I would have died otherwise. But THE WORST thing one can do when taking these meds, is NOT TO FINISH THE ENTIRE PRESCRIBED DOSAGE, as it will leave your immunity more vulnerable than ever, not to mention it interferes with the strain's ability to combat its enemy... dangerous for us all, ultimately.

Anyway, so here I am & I thank all of you for reporting on your status, trials, & errors, as I now understand how to address this issue. And Miami Natalie, I will be using your advised treatment recipe, as this is ingenious, covering all the components of BV issues. Thank you!

Nonetheless...

2. Striving to become pregnant is THE ONLY time you should allow semen inside your ever-so-fragile-and-delicate "holy-ground"! Think about it... would you eat a steak if you wore metal dental-braces, & then not brush your teeth indefinitely? Absolutely not... that steak would spoil rotten & thrive on the dark, warm, wet breeding conditions inside your mouth, creating an army of bacteria accompanied by the smell of decaying death & disease! Our vagina (I guess that's the plural form too...) are constructed of folds & small pockets, which is anything but the architecture of a straight line, & this spewed body gets trapped up in the pockets & folds of our intricately-balanced orifice, at the VERY LEAST, creating an odor they must be referring to on those Masengil not-so-fresh-feeling commercials (& again, douching is harmful to the flora)! We don't inject anything in there & leave it... so then why would we allow the intrusion of perishable, foreign body fluids, whose fate is to die & decay, within such a prime real-estate location??? Oh He, One who may find this to be a problem, doesn't have to deal with the repair necessary after the demolition & natural destruction they've invoked. And do they REALLY want to withstand anything other than a "scent" coming from us, vs an "odor"???

I've been battling BV for over a year now and have tried many things. Two triggers are sex and my period, with my period being the worst offender. While many treatments worked temporarily, the BV always came back after my period.

Here are some things that DIDN'T work for me:

• Antibiotics - about a week of relief that was quickly ruined by my period.
• Acijel (vaginal treatment in Australia that is supposed to correct PH imbalance) - which I tried inserting for the full course of 30 nights. This didn't work even for a day, not even during the treatment!
• Yoghurt douches twice daily for 7 days - offers temporary relief of symptoms but does not last (though my friend swears by this treatment for her BV, so different strokes)
• Apple cider vinegar/water/tea tree oil douche twice daily for 7 days - again offered relief but symptoms flared up about a day after I stopped douching.

So I came back to this site and started researching again. Both the hydrogen peroxide and boric acid made me very nervous so I went to my doctor to have a chat about the safety of these two treatments and she was very positive about both and stressed that both were very safe to use vaginally. Phew!

So I came up with a new treatment plan.

First I increased my vitamin intake as follows:

• 1 x very strong probiotic daily (Blackmores fembiotic for you Aussie girls).
• 1 x vitamin c daily (sugar-free variety, pretty much pure ascorbic acid)
• 1 x folic acid 500mcg daily
• 1 x vitamin D daily
• I also took a garlic tablet daily, and while this does no harm, I'm not convinced it did anything particularly beneficial either so I stopped taking this tablet recently.

Then after my period, I started a 7-day twice daily douche of 50/50 hydrogen peroxide (3%) and water. I also abstained from sex for the entire 7 days.

Once I finished this regimen, I STILL did a smaller quick 50/50 douche after sex. (It burned a little one time because I think the friction of sex may have caused tiny lacerations, but I just did another quick pure water douche and the burning faded instantly.) I had absolutely no BV symptoms whatsoever for weeks!

HOWEVER, because my period had always been a trigger, I decided to be very cautious and try a two-pronged attack. So I ordered boric acid and 00 veggie capsules (just from Ebay for you Aussie girls). I researched A LOT about this and came to the conclusion that there is no such thing as medical grade boric acid - they are one and the same. So don't worry, just order the 100% boric acid. I filled the biggest side of the capsule to capacity and then just popped the small side on - it's very very simple.

On the first night of my period, I inserted 2 boric acid capsules, and then for the next 5 nights, I inserted one every night. I just wore pads as I usually do. It comes out quite watery but you don't really notice it as you have your period anyway.

I have had absolutely no symptoms. I've even had unprotected sex (we are in baby-making mode) since and I am still symptom-free. I will continue to take my vitamin regimen indefinitely (especially the probiotic) and I will do my boric acid treatment for the next 3 periods (4 in total). Fingers crossed that all is healed!

I will definitely come back and give an update after the 4 months are up. PLEASE check back in girls as we all want to know if these cures are long term or temporary.

I've been suffering with BV for roughly 3 years. I know EXACTLY how I got it. I started using those cups to hold your monthly flow and left it in too long. Since it was at the very last day of my period I also had sex with my boyfriend after I'd already realized that I had that fishy order down there. From that point forward I was getting BV after every sexual encounter. I went back regularly to the doctor to get metro gel. Then the BV started coming right after every period. It was wrecking my life. After much research on this site and others, I started using hydrogen peroxide douches. That always cleared up the symptoms but it still kept coming back. I also figured that all my douching was clearing out my good bacterial which ain't good either. So I tried the boric acid capsules in my vagina. I made them myself (use Amazon to get all the materials). I started with 3 nights in a row then weekly from then out and whenever I had sex and on the last day of my period. VIOLA! While results are still early (like 3 months) I can say I've not had a recurrence and I was getting it like every 2-4 weeks depending upon my sex action. I'm keeping up with a weekly insert and see how it goes. I was fearful of using a roach killer down there but it's totally safe. No irritation just a little run off the next day or 2.

Thanks so much! I am also a nurse and for the last year this has made me feel so embarrassed, especially at work when I felt like my co-workers and patients could smell the odor. My gyn suggested Boric Acid months ago, but because I was so frustrated, I blew it off until last week. Amazon delivered Sunday, and I swear to goodness this morning (Monday), the odor was already GONE. I even did a finger test to the "honey hole" and I could not believe there was none of that smelly off white discharge! I am going to continue through Thursday for a 5 day total and see...I don't know how I will incorporate this into when I have "relations" or the dreaded "Mary" comes. For today, I just felt great prancing around without the scent of road kill lingering over me!!!

Can you please be more specific with what boric acid you used from amazon.

I am a very clean, border-line hygiene maniac, and so it was very bothersome for me when I started having episodes with BV after having my daughter years ago. My obgyn would prescribe a medication or suggest using plain yogurt and it would go away and stay away for months, but ALWAYS come back. One day an older lady, who was sitting next to me in the waiting room at my doctor's office, was talking to me about an ailment she had and so I felt comfortable enough to speak to her about my problem. She told me to be careful with what I take because it could destroy the good bacteria "down there". By that time, my name was called, but when I returned to walk back by the waiting room to leave, she stopped me and handed me a note that had "Boric Acid" on a piece of paper with a prescription of "You can buy them at the drug store or health food store. Insert one capsule right before bed, as far as you can once a week and you won't ever have the problem again." I can't believe how quickly it worked! I felt so much different not having that odor that next morning. I've been doing it for about 2 years now (not doing it every week anymore, but more like once every few weeks) and haven't had the problem since. This lady was heaven sent and Boric Acid really does work!