Top Natural Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies

WOW is all I can say about all the Women who is suffering from this crazy bacteria, I thought something was wrong with me. I went to my Dr several times and was told about BV.. I knew what it was but never understand it until I came across this site. Thank God because I have been dealing with this and not understanding how to beat it. Its been off an on since I first got pregnant at 30. Yes Ive been through the antibiotics a few times and it would clear up awhile then finally I notice a few months ago it would reoccur even after antibiotics. Tried all the over counter BV meds worked only temporary, So I went to my Dr once again to make sure it was BV and she confirmed it was and prescribe me more antibiotics and I decided ok I will get the antibiotics just in case my home remedies didnt work. Here is what I did, brought pro b probiotics, multi vitamins for women, folic acid, goldenseal which I take once orally everyday, and I do HP douche after period and sex or when ever I feel it creeping back. I must say after first HP douche smell and discharge was gone but of course I did the 7 days 1/2 water. My only neg about HP douche is it can cause alil itch, and make you a lil dry which I take vit E daily to help with that and you will need something for yeast at hand for any flare ups. Finally after doing more research I found online this product called yeast away and Alkalete an acid neutralizer which also balance your ph to wean myself off the stuff that I dont really need. I plan to still do HP when neccesary. So I hope this help someone because this site has helped me and I have been on the right track for 1 month now.. Ladies you have to be patient to find what works for you it does take sometime to get this under control. I am still working to stay free from this monster and I will give you an update on how well the last two I mentioned to my BV cure!! :) Thanks again because I feel refreshed once again and I am very grateful for all of you!!

Hi ladies. I've suffered from bv for about 5 years now and I've tried all the treatments suggested on this site, but nothing was a permanent cure. After I realized that I needed to get my pH under control, I found this water. It's formulated to balance your body's natural pH, and all you literally do is drink it! I've been drinking it for a week and since then, I haven't discharged and the smell is virtually gone!!! I've tried taking Metro gel, pills, peroxide, garlic, etc. And I was sick of putting my body through all of that. Ph Water is found at TJMaxx/Marshall's and Publix for $1.49 for a liter or $1.79 for 1.5 liters. I drink one a day, and hopefully my body will regulate itself. I hope this will help some of those out there with chronic and consistant bv.

I'm recently dealing with BV and wanted to share the treatment that my MD, who is also a naturopath, prescribed: purchase a natural sea sponge from the health food store (I found them at whole foods being sold as "cosmetic" sponge), then cut it to tampon sized pieces. Get the highest quality you can find of Thyme and Frankincense essential oils and mix 2 drops Thyme oil 4 drops Frankincense oil in 10 drops Extra Virgin olive oil. Soak up the oil with the sea sponge (after you washed it thoroughly with antibacterial soap- the water also makes it very soft) then insert. Leave in for 2 hours, 2 x day. Repeat for 7 days.

I looked up the medicinal uses of these oils and they are for bacterial infections, inflammation, and regulating female hormonal system. I suspect that the hormone imbalance is the real root of the BV. It is working for me with 80% improvement after 4 days - though I think I will get the boric acid capsules and better probiotics tomorrow. I have also done a few days of alternating tea tree oil suppository and probiotic inserted at night but the oils are the only thing I have been doing consistently.

I have suffered with BV for over 10 years. I have been through all the tablets and treatments, including the yogurts , I haven't used perfumed soaps or shower gels to no avail! However two weeks ago I started the Atkins diet, I also started taking a multi vitamin with probiotics at the same time. I have been totally BV free for about 7 days, no discharge no smell no nothing. I'm now wondering is it the tablets that are helping or is it the diet? I'm wondering if the foods I was eating were causing BV to flare up?

I have been suffering from bv for 1 1/2 yr already.... and at first my bv was awful but after I have change the way I eat and what I wash my clothes with and wash my body with thing have gotten better for me if anybody listens to what some of the woman on this page say about femodophilus doesn't work because it works. You just have to change the way you eat, don't drink soda all the time, at least have eight cups of water everyday because it keep you energized. Also it cleans your body. Try to stop eating food that have sugar, you could eat it sometimes but, if you eat too much sugar, you not going to do nothing but cause the bacteria to grow more. Try eating salads, snack on carrots and celery stick for a snack with maybe peanut butter or ranch dressing however you like it, make tuna sandwiches instead of greasy hamburgers, etc., bake your chicken instead of frying it, bake your food, try going for walks or working out if you could but, it's best to do that to get your body back. Take vitamin D3 1000. It was a study about bv where these doctors have found that vitamin D3 is somewhat connected to bv. This is the website http://womenshealth.about.com/b/2009/05/26/bacterial-vaginosis-linked-to-vitamin-d-deficiency.htm about it and you could go there and read up on it.

I have a friend who try vitamin D3 1000 Iu and she said it works. Plus she was taking femodophilus and she say she was cured for 6 months and it hasn't came back yet she said that she feels better. So whoever said that femodophilus doesn't work is making a big mistake or they are doing something wrong which causes their bv to get bad.

But I also try taking one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar right when I wake up early in the morning to find that it works for the itching.

I went out today and purchase femodophilus and the vitamin D3 1000 IU. I will let you know what happen in a week.

I hope this helps bye :)

My story is similar to Rs from San Carlos, Ca on 06/29/2010 I initially missed the boric acid remedy for BV. After a 5 month battle I've been posting under: the HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, FOLIC ACID, ACIDOPHILUS remedy as "better but not cured". I was getting results but did not feel NORMAL. Now, I am a YEA under multiple remedies because for me the addition of BORIC ACID finally bumped me into the - I FEEL CURED position and now I have a long-term remedy!

There is a dosage recommendation via a midwife farther down in this boric acid thread that is consistent with recommendations I have read by 'BV specialists' - Ask the pharmacist at a drug store for boric acid powder and self-fill veggie or gelatin capsules. Only fill the larger side of the capsule for 600 mg & cap with small side. Google for specifics, it's easy.

We are all different so it may take some time to figure out which products you need to use and realizing not all products are equal or that not all probiotics have the same strains. It can get expensive but I tried a few probiotics until I could tell/feel it was working. Find what works for you.

I felt like my BV was close to stable for the last month by using HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, FOLIC ACID, ACIDOPHILUS until I added Boric Acid to my mix because of an itchy yeast infection. Adding in the BA was like an ahhhh FINALLY! A DIFFERENCE!!! It sounds weird but it's like I feel differently throughout my body. I actually feel HAPPY and not depressed. I feel like my whole vagina region is clean, fresh and will remain so because I have the right defenses.

P.S. The Boric Acid does cause a lot of discharge. This is one reason insertion at night is recommended. Wear a pad to bed & a panty liner during the day. BA has made a HUGE difference in how I feel and has brought me some confidence! Good Luck to you all - I hope you find your remedy.

This is long but I am experiencing RESULTS!!! I have been battling BV for the last 5 months and am just now gaining control over this HORRIBLE and gross condition. 5 months ago I started with only Hydrogen-Peroxide Vag-washes and they work GREAT like a miracle for eliminating the odor immediately but it ONLY lasts for a few days. It kept coming back a little worse every few weeks until I almost vomited from my smell after sex one night. H2O2 is not a cure for BV but is part of the solution.

At the beginning of the year I got serious about beating this BV, I was super depressed AND I felt miserable with itching, burning and internal PAIN. I started a 10 day treatment & added a multivitamin with folic acid and a good probiotic with acidophilus both orally and vaginally, daily. I had to try different versions until I found the right ones for me. Orally I take Probiotic CD caplets (not good for inserting): it also contains strains: L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus, L. Salivarius, L casei & S. Thermophilus which were found to help correct BV in a study with Tori Hudson, ND. Her version femecology has some of these strains which I now use vaginally b/c the caplets form I take orally causes a messy discharge hours after inserting.

I have been monitoring my hooch and odor constantly for months. Hormones, blood and another's DNA/skin each change the pH of my vagina. I thought I had cleared my BV after 1 month of treatment but it came back ever so slightly after my period. That is when I read initial treatment should last 4 months & that menses wrecks pH if you are weak. I also felt like from time to time the probiotics were causing slight but unpleasant yeast imbalances. After my last period ended I did 2 nights H2O2 vag-washes followed by pro-b in the V. I could smell the slightest hint of BV at the tip of my finger. 4 days after switching off femdolphilus any faint smell of BV seemed to clear but my outer area started itching like MAD = yeast!!! When this imbalance occurred I was going insane after 5 minutes. I decided to give the boric acid method a whirl.

NEW ADDITION: Boric Acid capsules. Boric acid has been known to correct both BV and yeast infections. I am dealing with both. Read up about medicinal uses of boric acid and what boric acid is before you freak out about the word acid. Lemon juice and vinegar are both citric acids. Vitamin C is ascorbic acid.

In the afternoon I went to a local pharmacy and asked for boric acid powder and also purchased 00 empty capsules. My case is currently mild and on the mend IMO. As soon as I walked in the door I filled two capsules and popped em' in my hooch with a little bit of coconut oil & an all cotton organic tampon. I felt better almost immediately but for sure almost amazing in 1 hour. I then mixed grapeseed oil as my base and then added a few drops of calendula, tea tree, clove and oregano oils. I then added in boric acid to make a paste, then filled 3 capsules. I removed the tampon (the stuff leaks at this dose) & took a shower then unexpectedly had sex. No smell at all, no pain. There was a teeny amt. Grit on his willy but he didn't seem to notice (hopefully this will help him too!!! ????)) After sex I popped 1 of my oil & BA mix capsules & a femecology pro-b into my V. Within minutes I instantly felt FRESH. Like the freshest I have felt in 5 months. For the next hour I felt clean and normal for the first time in MONTHS and the feeling lasted until I fell asleep. I felt amazed. I wore a pad to bed, some discharge, this morning, no smell, no itches. I inserted another cap and again I feel so fresh and normal again it is amazing.

I finally feel like I have the upper hand. I finally feel clean. I finally feel normal. I finally feel like I have a way to reestablish balance.

My intention is 3 nights of my mixed caps in the V for the yeast itches & then stop. You are not suppose to use it continually for long periods and I want to use it during menses in a week. I make fresh caps with my oil mixture and will do one at night during my period for the next 4 cycles. I will more than likely also insert my new mix caps with a pro-b after sex. I may make a mix of all three.

The way boric acid kills roaches and other soft skeleton bugs is it ultimately dehydrates them which causes death - that is different than death by poisoning, however do not ingest BA with the hopes of better results. Keep out of reach for children and pets.

Some women complained that the straight homemade BA caps caused burning after 3 days. This was my reasoning for cutting my dose by adding good medicinal oils that may also help fight the fight and prevent this inflammation. I also feel my case is very mild now after 2 months of working on correcting the situation. I must say though, the BA feels like my biggest breakthrough with BV yet.

I struggle with bacterial vaginosis and have it for months and years at a time. I finally found my cure with cloves of garlic. I unpeel a garlic clove, put a few stab holes in it to release the healing juices and insert it in my vagina. After a day or two or three it naturally comes out. I finally cured myself and have been B.V. Free for several weeks now thank god!!!! I did a maintenance type of program with many things that kept the odor at a minimum and the white sticky discharge a little less in thickness with all of the following.

I have tried hydrogen peroxide douches with a few drops of tea tree oil (this kills the bad bacteria that is overgrowing and causing the problem), rePHresh vaginal inserts (these really help with the odor), eating probiotics daily (the refrigerated kind you find at Whole Foods) and elimination of sugar and coffee from my diet (hard to do but actually good for health and diet). Anyways, I just wanted to share this with everyone because I know the stress and aggravation this causes and I really think the cloves of garlic is what really worked this time. It lessened the white discharge within a few days, and it also created a more clear and slippery lubricant in my vagina and that was a relief. I also decided to stop obsessing over it and just tried to maintain it and I think this psychological shift really played a part as well. Best of luck to all women who face this problem. I hope this helps!

Has anyone else looked into the link with Vit D Deficency & BV? I have found from personal experience that when I don't keep the raw milk up the Hypoglycemia & BV flares up again. Also treating it with outside remedies is only temporary if your gut bacteria is unbalanced so you need to commit to a full diet change (like treating Thrush, No sugar, yeasts ect) for a period of time to get lasting results.

I wanted to share my wonderful experience with earth clinic and all the great posts. I had been suffering for about 2 years. And intially the problem was not too bad so I ignored it. However, as time went on it progressed and got worse. That horribe smell and soaking through all my undergarments even at time my pants. So I finally made the trip to the GYN, she confirmed that there was no sexually transmitted disease (which I knew, because I wasnt active). All she could offer was to wear cotton panties and use hypo allergenic soaps and detergents. Yeah!! This was only part of the solution. I began a regimen of folic acid, acidophilus and washing with the hydrogen perixode. At first, I saw no results and was disappointed. But I came back to earth clinic and read more and more posts and learned to be patient and give it time. Also I worked on my diet, as I learned this was a factor as well in changing things. I began to eat more ruffage, yourgurt regularly and decreased my sugar intake. The information was so helpful and encouraged me not to give up. So I didnt, and it took about 3 months before I saw results. And I am so proud to say that I have it under control. The symptoms will reappear if I forgot to take the acidolphilus or dont eat the ruffage that my body so needs. So now, no more foul odor or wet undergarments. Why dont the doctors tell us about this ideas? Thank you so much to all the wonderful ladies of earth clinic for sharing your stories and information!!!!

I have been suffering for over two and a half months with something that seems to have some properties from both a yeast infection and BV. I have tried so many things from prescription creams to Canestin. I've even tried some apple cider vinegar, yogurt, salt baths, vinegar baths and anything else I could find already in this house (Luckily my parents had all this already).

Then I read online about Tea Tree oil and remembered luckily seeing a bottle of it in the cupbord. At first though, using it by itself made things a bit worse. It is a very strong antifungal, can sting and make any redness/itchyness a bit worse. So then back to the stuff that wasn't really working I went. After a bit more time though I despirately went back to the clinic to have the infection looked at again. I had a lot of redness/itching/discharge. I was prescribed Monistat and a vaginal douche to use with some plain white vinegar mixed with a litre of water. So far the douche is working decently but the Monistat treatment has been over for a couple days now and hasn't worked much. Anyway as soon as the Monistat treatment was over I had searched online again and saw that Tea Tree Oil was one of the most recommended remedies for yeast and BV but that it should be diluted with water. I hadn't noticed the diluted part before so I then went and put all of what was left, about 1 tablespoon, into a 500ml bottle and filled the rest with water and throughly shook it to mix it up.

Now I use the plain white vinegar douche for the internal part of the infection and the diluted Tea Tree Oil on a clean soft tissue as a topical to help with the external part of the infection and to help clear the itching/redness. I use the douche once a day before bed to clear all the junk out from the day and the diluted Tea Tree Oil at least 2-3 times a day after I go to the washroom and/or bathe, plus I use no soap. So far the infection is slowly going away and I am so happy about this.:)

I am not sure if I found all of these in conjunction on EarthClinic site, but I have to tell you that this worked for my bacterial vaginosis that had been going on for some time. I only did the douche about 3 or 4 times in the first few days and I have continued on the supplements for over a month. I believe I was 100% improved within a few days, but I decided to continue the supplements until they are gone. Thank you.

I've almost read the entire thread and wanted to add my two cents. I've also suffered from BV, though I really didn't realize it until the last 4-5 years. I'll be honest in saying that I don't really know the cause of it, but after going to a few doctors I realized they had no idea on how to treat/cure it. In fact, I was told there was not cure for it. So I managed to just deal with it by doing a lot of the stuff by other listed on this site.

Interestingly enough, I started doing the Master Cleanse (referred to as the Lemon Aid Diet) to detox my system. I did it two times last year and started again this month. However, the last time I did it, I noticed that my pH was MUCH better, though still had a slight discarge but was nowhere near the color and it did not have an odor to it at all. But when I came off of the diet, it went back to what it previously had been (milky yellowish tent with an odor that apparently only I could smell). And of course, while some days were better than others and no one knew other than myself, I became extremely selfconcious about to the point that it affected my sex life.

So this time around, I bought the strips to test my pH levels before starting and I was at 7.5. After starting the cleanse and a few days into it, I tested myself again and I was down to 5.5. A week later, I was down to 4.5. However I noticed a difference in my scent the very next day after I started the diet.

So what I decided to do was incorporate the "cleanse" drink into my everyday eating. I am changing my eating habit and of course exercising now but I drink a smoothie in the morning (that I make each morning with various fruits, spinach and carrots). I drink about 6 18oz cups a day of the lemonade solution throught the day and with my meals. I also try to drink at least 32oz of water each day. I eat soup and salad for lunch and eat a pretty normal dinner but before 7pm. While I eat more baked fish and chicken, I make 1 weekend day a cheat day where I can eat anywhere from pizza, fried chicken, steak... whatever (but within moderation of course).

And while I just started doing all of this (this is week 3) I have noticed that my pH levels are pretty normal now with the last 3 tests I've done.

This may not work for everyone else... But so far, it's working for me. I just wanted to share my experience.

Here's an update...

It's been a few weeks now and my BV/odor/discharge is pretty much gone. I haven't been on any regular regimen since my post in December. My only actions at this point are to take a multi-vitamin once every few days, and an occasional probiotic orally. I think I've taken only two probiotics in the last three weeks.

I've been adjusting my diet a bit by cutting down on sodas, which is my main source of sugars. The rest is common sense - more water, more veggies, more fruit.

Thanks, everyone!

Ladies, yogurt is great. It is extremely important that you use an organic PLAIN yogurt with live cultures. Do not use a processed or flavored (even vanilla) yogurt. Take good care of your body.

For all the women out there looking for the most natural and least invasive way to cure and heal, I wanted to share this remedy I've found for bacterial vaginosis: The salt and baking soda packet mixtures commonly sold for sinus flushes. Use one packet of the sinus flush to 8oz of water then douche once in the morning and once at night for three days. Just like with a bacterial infection within the bladder, the salt acts as a sterilant. I've learned so much from this website, I wanted to give something back. Hopes this helps!

Three years ago I found this site while researching Vulvodynia. Which spawned from a huge yeast infection and a sever reaction to OTC. The Dr's I saw at that time perscribed everything they could which only made the Vulvodynia come to light. Since I have been dealing with (on and off) BV, Yeast and Vulvodynia. The Dr's are never sure what I have. one said BV but Flaygl didnt work after two rounds and quickly to passed me off to another dr who says its yeast but treats me for the Vulvodynia. I was given three packs of diflucan and told to take Vitamin C which will clear up hidden yeast and C will keep the Vulvodynia at bay ( but the DR said it was in my head) *SIGH*

This last time, ( after taking BV for Flagyl ) I have tried multiple things keeping in mind that all of these seem to happen sorta about the same time. I found the yogurt pills that are made with the 5 billion lacto rhamnosus gr1 and lacto reuteri rc14 ( made for vaginal flora)in the fridge section in a local vitamin shop. Picked some organic garlic bulbs, gauze and natrual yogurt to eat. After reading this site for more then three years I had a lot of other things on hand. I have garlic pills, olive oil leaf pills, goldenseal root and echinacea, calcium citrate plus vitamin D and magnesium. Oh and a nice bottle of ACV with the mother and tea tree oil. Ok so after a week on flagyl I had more itching and discharge that got "stuck" which is what made the irritaion worse. I had a heat like sting and dryness. Which feels like Vulvodynia as well. No smell. In fact I never have a odor! ? First night I used the garlic wrapped in gauze, I cut the string off a tampon made tied the guaze off and inserted. Took it out after a few hours. Let her air hour for a bit them put in another. I felt relief while it was in but.... I though that with the second clove in I would take a warm sitz bath and put two cups of ACV in the water. Sat for about 10 min got out. Really it felt better. The itch wasnt as intense. Used it for another day, so four cloves total. My garlic went bad quickly lol so I tried the garlic capsule. That I didn't like so much the gel outter shell irritated and I had to "get" it out. So I gave my body a rest. Kept taking double doses of garlic and the yogurt pill. Along with the goldenseal root/echinacea, vitamin C. I was eating Garlic even more so too. After looking through a home remedy book, it said to take some vitamins, the few I did have on hand (said above) and insert one yogurt pill in to the vagina every morning for two weeks. I made it about a week when I thought maybe I needed to let "her" breath because she started to itch again and the discharge came back. Almost called the Dr but I stopped myself. I added the calcium with Vitamin D (helps with Vulvodynia symptoms along with a diet change, low Oxalate diet) a multi vitamin and cut down on my double doses of all others. I took a Q-tip and put Apple Cider Vinegar on it. I sort of swabbed my inside and outside area. No burning but while I was waitng a few mins though I should also do a sitz bath with the acv. So I sat for about 15 to 20 min. Whoa! She was extremy warm feeling and a little on the dry side but much better. I had some back and belly pains not to long after the swap. I was a bit scared and that I did something bad!! I waited and it became more of a constipated feeling took a pill for that and the next day it was gone.

Since I have done that I have rinsed the outer part with tea tree oil (one drop)from a peri bottle. This helps cool any minor itch I have as well getting the discharge out. I feel tons better and it been two weeks. I still have a slight itch here and there. I may do another ACV soak since my period is coming. My main Dr kept telling me ph was extremely high. So I have like I said been watching myself with the foods since I have three separate things kinda going on ( thats what I think anyways)I have noticed that taking all into account has helped me.

I know my body can heal itself if I feed it properly! I hope this helps some what. I found the people and the information they share on this site to be priceless. It was hard to Wait it out and not call the Dr when things got bad again but I am going to stick with my instincts on this. If I need to go then it will be because I can no longer do it alone. Good luck!!

Thank you to all the wonderful women on here that share the same nightmare! So after months of wondering what the hell was going on, finally I google searched and found it was BV. The only way I could hide the smell at work was tampons, which sucked wearing all the time. So I got the BV Vh essentials from CVS, which does work. But only for a day, then you must use again. At $28 a box of 6 is crazy!!! Plus by the last day it ended up giving me a yeast infection. :( so then I tried the acidophilus, orally and inserting. Just basic stuff, I think it does make a difference of the strain of bacteria. Anyway, The inserting was so weird! You end up having gritty stuff come out all day. Gross! And it didn't seem to work either.

Next!!! Then I got some Kefir plain unsweetened cultured milk. Took a turkey baster, laid down and inserted. I ended up putting a tampon in. Low and behold! It's gone! I'm not sure for how long since I just did this yesterday. I'm going to try again and see. I'm still going to keep up the pills, and folic acid. But I will always keep the $4 bottle of kefir!! I'll update in a few hopefully with good results. Thank you so much for everyone sharing!!

I had been suffering from bacterial vaginosis for several years. My doctor had suggested to me that it might be related to a hormone imbalance during my menstrual cycle (most likely caused by my years on birth control pills). I decided to insert a Goldenseal supplement into my vagina during my period. Afterwards, I realized that I had remained BV-free for the rest of the month. I've been doing this monthly and haven't had a problem since.

I'm so thankful for this website. I tried the remedies I read and I just had to post my own story.

A few weeks ago I was at work and I noticed a putrid smell. After sniffing around my desk, I was mortified to discover it was coming from my crotch. I haven't been sexually active in months and I hadn't changed laundry detergents or soaps. I also haven't been sick or changed my diet. I don't even take pain relievers when I have headaches. The only changes I experienced in the prior two months was excessive watery discharge, but my body does things like that from time to time (excessive discharge, occasional spotting) and I just wear pantyliners - no big deal. It usually goes away after a couple of cycles. I figured my body is just doing it's thing since I am in my mid-thirities and I've read that in midlife hormone levels change as a natural process of aging.

Anyway, I noticed the odor would penetrate everything - it was absolutely disgusting. I decided to go onto the internet and self-diagnose. I don't normally recommend this, but I've always been an information hound and I research EVERYTHING and the earliest I could see my gynecologist was a few weeks out.

Based on the symptoms and what I've read, I'm pretty sure I have a mild form of BV.

I researched the postive/negative effects of Acidophilus, Folic Acid, vitamin B-Complex, effects of excess sugar (I realized my soda consumption had increased significantly the last two months due to free drinks offered at work, etc. ). I read up on whether or not too much is good or bad for you, etc. Do your research and I'm sure you will come to some of my same conclusions.

From everything I read, I decided my diet was the first place to start. The first day I took 1 multivitamin that I had onhand. It's the brand that starts with C and I took it because it had 400mg of Folic Acid in it. Within an hour or two I noticed the smell had significantly gone away. I was super excited to see these results, so the next day I decided to go out and purchase Acidophilus and a bottle of just 400mg Folic Acid. I started a regimen and I am happy to say there is no smell and no excessive discharge.

This is what worked for me:

Day 1: 1 multivitamin that has 400mg Folic Acid plus B-vitamins (taken at noon)

Day 2: 1 multivitamin, 1 400mg tablet of Folic Acid 1 Acidophilus 25 Billion CFUs inserted vaginally (taken/inserted right before bed). I wore a pantyliner since some people had posted there might be discharge from the capsule. Also, be sure your Acidophilus has multiple strains in it. I read somewhere that not all Acidophilus products are the same.

Day 3: 1 multivitamin 400 mg tablet of Folic Acid 1 Acidiophilus tablet taken orally (I took these at noon on an empty stomach and waited about 20 minutes before eating lunch. My research concluded it was better to take the probiotic on an empty stomach since food can affect the absorption and potency). I also had no discharge or smell this day.

Day 4: 1 multivitamin 1 400 mg Folic Acid. I skipped the Acidophilus altogether. Today my vagina discharged what was left of the capsule I had inserted. It was no big deal - just some granules (the mucous was kind of gritty), but it was noticeable when I wiped after going to the bathroom.

During this time I also cut back on soda and drank more water and soy milk. I can't exactly go cold turkey with the diet, you know? Baby steps and small changes!

I'm not sure if I will continue taking all of these pills daily, but I'm certainly paying more attention to my diet and what it's doing to my vagina. I'll probably continue with the multivitamin every few days and maybe throw in the additional Folic Acid from time to time and take an Acidophilus occasionally too, for maintenance purposes.

Thank you all for posting your stories. I'm a firm believer in natural remedies and that knowledge is power.

Good luck!

I've been having BV since a few months ago. In October I think.... The gyn prescribed me with Metronidazole pills which were really difficult to swallow. It did nothing to me, nothing. Then she prescribed me with the Metronidazole gel. A week of treatment for nothing, my BV was as strong as ever. I had no symptoms before treatment except some occasional itching, after it the itching got worse and had various discharges in the day.

After I finished my menstruation I decided to try with the gel again, and this time I really got better but it was NOT gone. I really didnt wanted to waste money again so I checked some natural remedies. I used tea tree oil for some days, helped me but too slow then I used yogurt and got really better. Had sex and ruined it all. Right now I'm using tea tree oil and putting plain yogurt with an applicator at night. Symptoms are slowly getting better, I'm having like one discharge a day or nothing at all. The itching is killing me, but that is also slowly decreasing and it may be that I irritated it by having sex. I'm afraid to try other stuff because I'm really, really sensitive down there. I'm still wondering if there is some other safe remedy that is suitable for me but I do encourage to use yogurt and tea tree oil (diluted of course) it helps but it requires patience.

A healthy vaginal environment has a pH of 3.8-4.5, which IS a highly acidic environment. So yes, healthy flora does exist in an acidic environment, in fact, it's the preferred vaginal environment. When BV is present the pH rises above 4.5, easily into the 5-7 range, which is highly alkaline.

I had been in search of a cure for bacterial vaginosis for sometime.. & I have yet to come across 1 until I read a post by 'bvfree from Walterboro, SC'. (second post) She recommended douching with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Just squeeze half of grape naturally without water and douche with it. If this was not a winner, I don't know what is! Works like magic ladies!! Trust. Thnx again 'bvfree from walterboro'!

The yogurt has been the best treatment for me. It has been a godsend. I stuck a tampon in low fat vanilla yogurt, which is what I had on hand, I will try no fat next time. It worked the first time around and on the same day. I've used it for three days thus far and it has worked. I have tried those antibacterial creams, the over the counter BV treatments. Give yogurt a try. If you are not sexually active right now, try it for a few nights straight. I had minimally discharge, because I don't soak it. Just dip and you know the rest. I have left the tampon in for a few hours. I haven't kept it all night. Good luck. Definitely worth a try.