Hydrogen Peroxide for Bacterial Vaginosis

Hi all, I found this article when I was doing research about the H202 and restoring the vaginal ph. I was also researching its uses for BV. The article, published on the website of the US National Website of Medicine states,

"AIM: The authors have evaluated the real efficacy of using hydrogen peroxide for previously treated recurrent bacterial vaginosis that is resistant to other forms of treatment. METHODS: The study included 58 women aged between 18 and 42 years old. Vaginal irrigations with 30 ml of hydrogen peroxide (3%) were prescribed in the evening for a week. The follow-up was carried out 3 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: The results clearly show that the use of hydrogen peroxide in vagina can eliminate the main symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, and in particular the malodorous leucoxanthorrhea in 89% of cases at 3 months after the end of treatment, a result that is comparable to that obtained using metronidazole or clindamycin as a vaginal cream. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide facilitates the restoration of normal vaginal bacterial flora (represented by H202-producing lactobacillus) in 100% of cases and normal acid pH (pH<4. 5) in 98% of cases; it also fosters the disappearance of clue cells from vaginal smears and anaerobic pathogenic flora from vaginal secretions in 100% of cases. The amine test became negative in 97. 8% of cases. All results underwent statistical analysis and were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Hydrogen peroxide represents a valid alternative to conventional treatments for recurrent bacterial vaginosis, and associates the absence of collateral effects with low costs, excellent tolerability and real therapeutic efficacy. "

You can view it at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14676737?dopt=Abstract.

It might be helpful for someone like me who has to do HOURS--if not days-- of research before putting something in my body. Though I have found that I always start and circle back to earth clinic. I always prefer natural remedies but sometimes I just get impatient or convinced by my doctor that I need to take perscription meds. It is comforting to find some validation in the medical world for natural remedies.

I imagine it's because the vagina is irritated - but if it is BV then it should work. I'd probably put some plain yogurt in there afterward to replenish the good bacteria, and soothe/lube it a little.

Thank you to everyone for all the information on dealing with BV.

I had a Mirena IUD inserted just over a year ago and it took till very recently to get a diagnosis of BV to explain the persistent discharge and the smell.

When the doctor handed me a prescription for Flagyll I decided to look for alternative treatments on the Internet and found this very helpful website.

I tried swallowing cranberry tablets and acidophilus capsules, as well as inserting yoghurt, Acijel and Boric acid capsules. Nothing worked for very long. The Boric acid didn't work at all. Eventually I decided to try what so many people said worked for them: douching with H2O2.

At first I used one part H2O2 to 3 parts bottled water in a sterilised syringe, once a day. After 4 days I moved on to two parts H2O2 to one part bottled water. The bubbling feeling inside was disconcerting but not too scary.

It took over 7 days for it to work, but eventually the discharge and the smell vanished. I've been free of all symptoms for about 6 weeks and hope they won't return.

Every morning I take a rounded teaspoon of Inulin and an acidophilus capsule just in case it helps maintain the balance of whatever bacteria I'm supposed to have. At least it can't hurt. Does anyone else take Inulin for this purpose?

First off Lisa, BV is not by any means an STD. It is not something your partner 'gives' to you. the bacteria that cause the infection already exist in your vagina. However, there is a delicate balance of 'good' bacteria to this 'bad' bacteria. Sometimes semen can cause your pH to be a bit off, which provides a great environment for the bad bacteria to flourish. If the hydrogen peroxide doesn't work for you, team it up with some vitamin D3, folic acid, and acidophilus. The D3 is linked to bacterial imbalance, the folic acid will work to kill off some of the bad bacteria, and the acidophilus is the same type of 'good' bacteria that already exist in your vagina.

You may need to play around with the amounts until you find what ratio is right for you. I use the tampon in peroxide, and take two, 1000IU D3's, one acidophilus, and 1000mg of folic acid daily. I find that when I forget to take them, my symptoms come back. I would suggest the peroxide douche, with only the 3%. If it causes discomfort (other than the bubbling, which is a good thing) switch to 3 parts peroxide to 1 part water, then to half and so on. I try to keep the solution in for at least 20 minutes, although I fell asleep laying down waiting for an hour once. Do it for at least a week, maybe twice a day if it is convenient. If the symptoms appear to be gone before then, still continue to use the hydrogen for the rest of the week. Keep taking the vitamins even after this week. I take them every day as I do not want a recurrence, besides it clears my skin, gives me more energy, and oddly enough improves my mood. If you have more questions, you can email me at, [email protected].

I say try another Doctor and Lab,,just a thought

from Merryanne in Florida

I am new to the site. I was diagnosed with bv 5 weeks ago. I have done the metro gel, then antibiotic metronidazole, then the gel again twice a day! Today I am starting a new antibiotic tindamax for 5 days then a suppository of boric acid for 2 weeks!! I am sick of doctor visits and the bad news that I still have bv. This is the first time I have heard of this infection and am 50 years old DO NOT have Periods anymore and had my tubes tied a long time ago. My point is I have no symptoms. Went in for pap and came back with bv. I have No symptoms no odor, burning, itching, cramps, or discharge. Nothing. Has anyone ever heard of this, and I can't get rid of the infection. I have been doing the meds for about 6 weeks now and am still trying new ones every week or so as the doctor perscribes them! I need help on how to get rid of this awful diagnoses. my email is [email protected] if you have any advise!

To Backspace:

I was told that douching is not recommended to do regularly because it can disturb our natural flora/good bacteria in the vaginal tract. You can kill it or reduce the amount by douching too much. Some say it is ok to douche every now and then, but you really don't need to as our vaginas have a self cleaning mechanism.

Hi all, thanks so much for helping other poor suffers like me to have a decent life. My question to you all, From the time I was a little girl I was told that douching was not good for ladies...... can anyone shed some light on this...is it a myth or fact?

I used hydrogen peroxide and it worked - yay! However - it is important to note that I dont have chronic BV, I just get it once in a while. It took about 12 days in total to clear up, and I changed my routine a little over the course of the 12 days. I started off with a 1 to 3 ratio of HP to water (regular tap water), and I used a squeeze bottle to squeeze it up my vaj. I did it right before bed. It stung like crazy, but it gave me relief for the night, but then by the next morning the itching was back. After 2-3 days I changed the dosage to a 1:4 ratio (slightly weaker), but then I started trying to hold it in for 5 minutes. After about 6-7 days of doing this it was definitely working and my symptoms were going away, but then they started to come back. So I started to hold it in for 15-20 minutes instead. This I did for about 4-5 days, and I think that's what cured it. I would recommend trying 1:3 ratio, if that stings too much then do a 1:4 ratio, but hold it in your vaj for 15 minutes minimum. Eventually I bought a 60-cc syringe from a medical supply store since the squeeze bottle was kind of annoying to use, and just blasted the HP right up into my vaj - I kept the syringe in place to block the liquid from pouring back out. I did feel a little silly laying on my back on a towel holding a syringe halfway in my vagina while a timer counted down 20 minutes, but hey, it worked. I think another key is to keep doing it for a day or two after your symptoms seem to be gone - sort of like antibiotics, where you feel better after a couple of days, but you are still supposed to keep taking them for the whole entire prescribed time. Good luck!

Hi Guys, I really just wanted to say thank you so much for all of this feedback. I'm 23years old and off and on I've been getting this BV thing for quite a while. It always comes with uncomfortable itching which leads to scratching and sensitivity, pain, etc. The worst part of course is the awful and embarrassing smell. I feel like everyone around me can or will smell it too and I've been avoiding outings with friends and most certainly sex with my boyfriend. The last time I got it was over a year ago and I was convinced I'd probably never deal with it again! Normally I get this either right before or after my period for about a week and then it goes away on its own, but recently I got it again and it's lasted for over 3wks!!! I'm telling you I was on the verge of tears today, I had searched for an answer online already and read about this product called R_sh. It's a suppository gel that you can get at most pharmacies, it's supposed to correct your vagina's PH balance to eliminate odor and itching, etc. I was so relieved because I thought my worries were finally over, but then I used it and about an hour later, the smell was back and the discharge was the same. I used another one about 4days later since it's supposed to last for about 72hrs and the same thing happened, not even a day's worth of relief. I'd gotten so fed up, and I finally went to Google and typed in Cures for BV and this wonderful page was the 2nd link that came up for me. After reading all of your entries and how respectful and tasteful and compassionate all of you guys have been I just can't thank you enough. I take my personal hygiene very seriously and this had given a huge blow to my self esteem. Now, I have hope. I haven't even tried a remedy yet, but I'm definitely going to try the tampon idea most of you guys have tried. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm really so grateful I could cry.

I would like to say thank you to earthlinc.com & all of the wonderful ladies who have shared their stories & remedies for BV..I have suffered from this since I was 18 years old. I am now going to be 28 in June..I couldn't see myself accepting this problem because for one, I am a super clean person & I was not going to keep taking Flaygel (if that's how you spell it) because it simply doesn't cure BV! I was browsing several different websites for home remedies that could possibly cure BV when I came across this site...THANK GOD FOR THAT! After reading one lady's remedy I immediately wrote everything down and went straight to the store. I brought the peroxide, got some disposable douche just so I could use the bottles, I got folic acid 800 mg vitamins as well as acidophilus with 1 billion active cultures..I got home and this is what I did:

1/2 cup luke warm water
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
mixed the water & peroxide in my disposable douche bottle (make sure to empty the original douche mixture out and rinse out any remaining substance)

After mixing the water and peroxide together, give it a gentle shake to mix it together
I washed up as usual, washing my vagina area with only white soap

I douched till the bottle was empty. then, I took 2 cap fulls of the hydrogen peroxide and poured it down the middle of my vagina, as well as all of the external parts of my vagina. Then, I rinsed my vagina out with the shower water. OMG..I was soooo fresh and felt soooo clean! it was AMAZING! NO more smell!!! I only douche with the mixture twice monthly. Once after my period, and then in the middle of the month. I use the 2 cap full's of peroxide as I stated as a rinse in the shower daily! My sex life with my fiance is Soo good now!! Thanks again to all of the wonderful ladies for sharing your stories! Oh, before I forget..I only take 1 folic acid and 1 acidophilus vitamin once daily with a meal!

I have the same question. I have BV and developed a yeast infection using the metrogel, so last night I tried the hydrogen peroxide douche but have been taking acidophilus and folic acid. Yesterday I had and ACV cocktail. Am I undoing my own work or am I on the right track?

I used 1/5 3% hydrogen peroxide douche mixed with 1/5 distilled water. prepared another douche bottle with just distilled water. Sat in the tub, used the hp mix and waited 5 minutes then rinsed with the distilled water. I did all of this 2 times and then inserted a vaginal probotic right after. I did this 2 times in the morning and 2 times at night for 3 days. BV was gone but left me itching. I found a chart with symptoms of vaginal infections whiched helps me alot. Now I think I have a combination of yeast and Cytolytic Vaginosis. I'm using an ordinary 7 day yeast infection kit and I'm filling up a capsule full of Baking Soda and I am inserting the yeast cream in the morning for 7 days and inserting 1 Baking Soda capsual at night only 2 days a week for 2 weeks. I ended up with to much good bacteria i think and a yeast infection go figure. The Baking Soda will reduce some of the good bacteria.

Hydrogen Peroxide it worked like a charm i douched && used 2/3 peroxide && 1/3 water it burned for a little bit then it was fine i havent had a discharge so far lets see how it goes!

my gyn/ob said that i only should douche once a month. he said that that is sufficient to not cause problems.

Bacterial Vaginosis - Hydrogen Peroxide

Out of no where (a year's time) I smelled that unmistakeable smell this week. I didn't want to get medication as it usually leads into a cycle of UTI's. I came here after trying another solution to a problem (which was successful) and found this message board. I followed the advice here and began last night. I made a solution of three parts Hydrogen Peroxide and one part water into one cup and inserted it, two teaspoons at a time, via plastic syringe, in the shower. It instantly took away the brown goo and eliminated the smell. It is the next day now and I smell absolutely nothing. The only discomfort was a little burning and bubbly feeling for about half an hour after the insertion was completed. Thank you! I hope this isn't temporary but regardless, I will probably do this about once or twice a month from now on just to feel renewed! The next test will be the day after my period when I tended to smell the worst. Can't wait to see (what a weird thing to look forward to).

Cured after one douche!!

Hi everyone, I've gotten another BV and I had read about Hydrogen peroxide 3% being used as a treatment for it so I tried it using 1/4 cup of Hydrogen peroxide 3% to 2 cups of distlled water. I douched this morning around 8:40a and by the time I finished my shower and started getting dressed, the fishy odor and discharge was GONE!!! I was so amazed and kept checking to see if the odor had really left before I officially left for church and it did!!! Thanks so much for all of the info. God Bless each and one of you.

WORKED TEMPORARILY

I've tried exactly the method you are using with Hydrogen Peroxide. Also did the douches for 7 days. The problem with me, is that as soon as I stopped the Hydrogen Peroxide applications, the odor returned right after intimacy.

I discovered after almost a whole year of doctor's visits, antibiotic Metro gel, Hydrogen Peroxide and even Boric Acid. My cure which I found was a nutrient/vitamin deficiency. I usually take a good multivitamin daily. But I added vitamin d3 (2000 IU per day). And I swear that I've been odor free ever since. I pray and thank God that I found this link, by reading in my local library. It worked! There is a link between a woman who is deficient in vitamin d3 and vaginal infections recurring! So please supplement with Vitamin D3 as many of us working women who get little sun or who are lactose intolerant are deficient in VITAMIN D3. God bless and good luck!

I also have been using the H202 and H20 douche and I bought a childs medicine dropper at my local drug store (2 tbs.) and it works much better than a regular douche because you can really get the liquid higher up in the vagina to kill all the bad bacteria....BUT, you have to resupply the good bacteria with acidophilus or you will still have the infection. I do the H202 and H20 (50% & 50%) twice and let the liquid stay in the vagina for at least 5 minutes each time, then I flush my vagina with distilled water (you must use distilled water, there is no chlorine or flouride in it like tap water)....THEN, I use the medicine dropper and insert liquid acidophilus. I do this twice also to coat the inside of the vagina really well. I have done this for 3 nights in a row and I got much better results than inserting a acidophilus capsule after douching, its less messy the next day and no discharge like you have with the capsule. As long as you resupply your good bacteria with acidophilus after douching, you can douche 3 times a week as needed until the BV has cleared up. I will most likely do it every other day for awhile. I think this BV thing will take a few weeks to a few months to totally go away, if it ever does. Good luck and keep us posted. We are all in this crazy thing together and if we dont help each other, no one else will. THANKS!!! (PS: Im also still taking 1600mcg of folic acid a day along with a B-12 vitamin, and a 50 Billion acidophilus probiotic daily, and D3 vitamin with great results. My skin is fabulous!!!)

YEAH.. MY HUSBAND IS UNCIRCUMCISED AND HE REPEATEDLY GAVE ME BV. IM GONNA TRY THE HYDROGEN PROXIDE!

Hi all... I came across this website a few months ago and I an so thankful I did! I've been suffering from BV for many years now and for me I get it everytime I have unprotected sex with an uncircumsised partner. I've had three partner that were not circumsised and have gotten BV repeatedly with all three but with others that were I have been fine. Anyhow.. my current partner is not circumsised and I have been using the 50% HP and 50% water douche and it has been working miracles... Is it safe to use it often? I've been using 1-3 times a week... any thoughts would be great

I too started using the H2O2 with a tampon and started having extreme itching on the outside of my vagina. Is this normal? I am going to continue the treatment because I am tired of having BV with the hopes that the itching goes away. If anyone has solutions that would be great.

I have a question I'm currently taking ___ acidophilous ____ and doing the h202 douche but I'm also drinking the ACV mixed with baking soda mixture, Is it true that ACV makes BV worse? I don't want to sabatoge my treatment.

HI ladies! I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your posts all night. I too suffer from BV, and it's only been this last year. I keep having to spend money at the doctor every month or every other month to try and clear this up! It's embarrasing and definately hinders any action in between the sheets... So after reading your posts tonight, I jumped in the car and got the supplies I need! I'm really excited to see how it works out. Thanks for all of your honesty and stories. It really helps!

thank you for all yor help ladies! ive spent countless nights crying and losing men in my life out of fear of having sex with this terrible odor! i look forward to tryin h2o2 because Flagyl DOES NOT WORK! Thank You so much ladies, GOD bless you all for havin the courage to speak up.

4 hrs is too long.

Hey ladies, I was so happy to find this site.I'm just really frustrated to have to deal with this again and I'm surprised that so many woman deal with the same thing. I was 20 yrs old when I first realized that I had BV, my doctor prescribed the antibiotics, (the nasty pills and the metro gel) that I only used for 7 days. It worked for four years with no problems, until about a week ago.I tried the Folic Acid and the acidophilus pills...the smell subsided but did not go away. It's just a horrible thing to live with. I'm really looking forward to trying the h2O2. But I'm not sure if I should try the tampon thing or the douche. I'm really afraid to douche because so many say it's not good to douche. What would give me the best results? Someone help please. Thanks a bunch to everyone who published their story!

That is very rare for a dr. to give you a home remedy like that. I did not know until today what was going on with me. All I knew was when symptoms started to occur I would eat yogurt. And NO, I do not like yogurt. Within a day to a few days my problem would be gone till next time. One small container was all I would have a day. I do plan to try HP or even both at the same time. From what I have read, it seems catching it early is key. Maybe for the more complex cases taking days or weeks to cure, the yogurt with the HP douch will help to reduce your recovery time.

I just tried the tampon deal soaked in hydrogen peroxide 3%. I actually had to do it two times the first time I left the tampon in the plastick insert that you normally use to put the tampon in. Then I didn't feel any "bubbles" how everyone said so I thought it wasn't working or I didn't have BV. Then I tried again I soaked just the tampon in the hydrogen peroxide and then pushed it up there. I left it in for about 15 mins or so and I definately felt the bubbles this time. However when I took the tampon out it had blood on it and I am not on my period. I think that I may have a cyst again and maybe the hydrogen peroxide helped to open up the gland. (I get them in the glands that normally keep us wet or moist) So anyway I am hoping that maybe this could be the cure to that too. Otherwise I have no idea why their was blood on the bottom of the tampon. By the way I do not currently have any funky smell.

Thank you for the assistance.

Thanks for sharing Jane! I'll consider trying with my period if I have any future problems.

I've been battling with BV for over a year now and gave up on the metro gel and flagyl pills. Yogurt (Mountain High - Plain) worked for me once clearing all signs of the smell, but then itching returned. BTW - spoke to my OB-GYN about the yogurt he said it was a great thing to do.

I finally decided to try the peroxide and it Totally WORKED! I tried soaking a tampon with peroxide/H20 (3%,your regular over the counter bottle). I had temporary relief....just tried the actual douche (half peroxide half water)and immediately the itching stopped, the discharged is regular..and the itching has subsided. My vaj-jay was still a bit dry after so I used some KY to get me through the day. This was one of very few days that I didn't think about my problem!

I started noticing a change in my body and a disgusting odor coming from down there, and it started getting worse over a course of a few days. I came to the conclusion it was BV. I started doing some research, and came upon this wonderful site (SOOOO thankful that I did!). I tried the tampon and 1/2 3% h2o2 and 1/2 water, soaked the tampon in the solution, and squeezed excess out, shoved it up there, left it in for about 2 hours, took it out and the smell was GONE!!! I couldn't believe it. I'm continuing to do this for atleast an hour a day, and am also taking 3 400mcg of Folic Acid daily, along with 100mg of b-6. Also, I heard that Apple Cider Vinegar works wonders for the body, so I made a little cocktail of 1 tbs of ACV and actual apple cider, you can't taste the vinegar at all!! I'm feeling very confident all these remedies will work. Hope this helped some of you! :)

To Jane in England,,,,That is very good,,don't wait until you are totally sick to do something,,,I have been doing a simular thing with cold symptoms,,,if I have a small itchey throat and a few sneezes, I take 3 aspirin every hour for 4 hours or I will take 1000mg of L-Lysine for 4 hours, and sometimes I take both. I am not going to wait until I get a temperature and total congestion and miss a week's work. I think you did great. Merryanne in FL

Just thought I would say I was clear from BV for 2 months then during my second period I smelt the smell again very faintly. I didn't give it a chance to get worse - I used hydrogen peroxide for 4 nights (whilst I had my period and just after) and it went. Happy camper.

OK LADIES!!! Symptomatic BV sufferer for the past 14 years. My boyfriend and I have been having intercourse consistently (at least once a week) for the past 6 months and I just got a flare up this past week.

I'm just tired of it. The constant changing of pantyliners...and that's AFTER you've decided you have to stop using tampons to mask the smell because of TSS.

SO I FOUND YOU. As long as I've suffered with this, I never new it was so common. TONIGHT I WENT AND GOT THE LACTO ACIDOPHILUS, FOLIC ACID tablets (400mg) and a NEW BOTTLE OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE 3%. IT'S THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2009.

I WILL UPDATE TOMORROW, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT.

WISH ME LUCK.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Hi to all! I tried the h2o2 sugestion with soaking a tampon in 50% 3% h2o2 with 50% h2o and it was effective, however afterwards I noticed floaties in my urine. Has anyone else experienced this?

I would like to say first off, I SO LOVE THIS SITE!!!!!Now down to business. I too, suffer with BV. It is embarrasing because it just comes out of the blue. Today your fine and then the next day its like a fishy smell followed by this thick yet frothy discharge. I followed one persons suggestion with the tampon dipped in 3% hydrogen peroxide. I tried it and i'll be dangonit............it worked. I am a happy camper. Now i'll have to see how long it will last. Just to know I dont have to go the dr's office is great. No it didn't burn at all but i did feel it bubbling. Understand that each individual is different. As the 3% hydrogen peroxide dipped in the tampon worked for me, someone else a little more sensitive may have to add additional water to the peroxide.

I started getting BV within a few months of seeing my now-fiance. For some reason I never got it before-- I have a feeling I'm allergic to semen because before him I never had vaginal contact with semen before. I thought he gave me an STI (I have trust issues), but then I found out from the gyno I had BV. She prescribed me antibiotics and that flagyl stuff (which tasted horrible). This didn't work--not even for a little while. The BV never went away. I started looking up cures and came upon this website.

I have to say I was at first reluctant to try hydrogen peroxide "down there" but I did some research on it, and it seemed fine (plus I was at the end of my wits). I used a douche of half hydrogen peroxide and half luke warm water at first. I also started taking a multivitamin that is folic acid fortified as well as one acidophilus capsule a day (I found them 2 bottles for $5 at the drug store). I never used a douche before and I have a feeling I was using it wrong because it only gave me temporary relief. I then decided to saturate a tampon first with luke warm water then with a bunch of hydrogen peroxide (I didn't really measure it, just made sure it was saturated and that the hydrogen peroxide was the second thing I poured on it). I then inserted it and waited 5-10 minutes. It tingled on the inside (but didn't hurt)and I heard it fizzing. On the outside it burned but I think it's because my BV had made my outer genitalia quite sensitive. The burning subsided after a little while however. When I pulled it out there was a lot of yellowish discharge on the tampon. I sniffed it (seems gross but it had to be done) and it didn't smell fishy or anything (BTW, my BV is weird, sometimes it smells funky and sometimes it doesn't, but at that time, it was DEF smelling funky before I inserted the tampon). So the peroxide got rid of the smell. That was a good start. I continued the tampon for 3 days, 2-3 times a day (at least once in the morning and once at night, sometimes once in the afternoon). I also wiped the outside of my genitalia occasionally with diluted hydrogen peroxide on a folded piece of toilet paper. The discharge was less and less each time and by the 4th day VOILA! No discharge! It was amazing! I'm very happy. I haven't had sex yet but I plan to use the peroxide saturated tampon to clean out down there after sex and I am also going to minimize my contact with hubby's semen. This is all very recent so I might update later with how it's working out, but as for now I'm very thrilled with the results.

Don't hesitate to try, and don't give up if it doesn't work the first day or two. It's like a regimen of medication, and you have to do it for a few days before you see the results!

I am so happy that i found this website. This bv is very embarrasing and disgusting. Me and my boyfriend have sex at least once or twice a week, and this smell is so embarrasing, it comes and goes, but sometimes it is really bad, and i just want to crawl under a rock. He does not say anything because he probably don't want to hurt my feelings, but i can just imagine what he is thinking. I went to the doctor and was prescribed medication that only worked for a short time, so now i am facing the same issue. I am going to try the peroxide and I Pray literally that it works. Thanks Ladies.

Recovered from BV

I got BV about 6 weeks ago. I'd been diagnosed with Thrush (yeast infection for the Americans) and was using Canesten cream internally. I stopped using it when I got my period and had noticed an improvement. I got BV for the first time as my period was ending - I have no idea if it was related to the Canesten but thought it was worth mentioning because it was the only thing that was different from usual. I noticed the smell at work and took ages to work out it was me - I ended up in the toilet with all my clothes off checking the armpits of my top and was horrified to discover it was coming from my knickers. I have to say I tried everything possible to get rid of this smell - it was horrific - I bought acidophilis, I ate some, I put one in my hoohoo and it felt really wrong and made no difference (but it was a powdery one - not the good ones I've read about here) and I took the antibiotics. I also took garlic tablets and folic acid (in the quantities on the jars) Over the week the smell reduced and then disappeared but I still had a constant feeling that I was cold and wet down there. Whenever I stood up I could feel it and was super paranoid that there was discharge in my knickers and that it would smell. In England we don't have enormous drug stores with all the things you need - I had to buy hydrogen peroxide from Ebay! By this time it was about 3 weeks from when I first smelt the terrible smell.

I took the advice from this site and took a large tampon with the plastic applicator and replaced it with a small tampon. I filled 1/2 a shot glass with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and 1/2 with tap water. I soaked the tampon in this and left it inside me for 30 mins. I did this for 7 nights. On a couple of the nights I used the applicator as a funnel, rolled onto my shoulders and put the left over liquid inside me for a few minutes and let it out over the bath. I know this is very graphic but the descriptions on this site really helped me - you can't just buy a douche in England - not where I shop anyway, so it's hard to know how to make it work.

The cold and wet feeling went completely. It hasn't returned yet thank god.

I'm so grateful to this website. Everyone's experience helped me so much - but mostly it helped me to persevere when it didn't feel like it was working. For me it took quite a long time for the wet feeling to go completely. I am so happy now. I've been unlucky with my sexual health and suffer from cystitis and thrush a lot and the BV on top of that really upset me, but now that's cured and I can concentrate on sorting out the other two (have already bought Apple Cider Vinegar and Alka Selzer - I feel like I can take them all on now!!)

Thanks so much!

I agree. I've been using hydrogen peroxide for 2 months now, and I have no smell, no discharge. You guys rock!

I'm 34 years old and didn't know that I had BV until last week. I knew something was wrong but didn't know it was BV until I finally said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I was done with wearing pantiliners every day of the month just so I didn't end up with wet pants in the store or something because I was leaking secretion and not pleasant smelling secretion. Musty, if you will. I was done with smelling like fish the minute my husband and I would "interact". I was done with the smell lingering for two days after. I was done with having to wait to have sex until my crotch was "decent enough" to get near. Done with the wetness and just generally done. I did the over the counter yeast infection test and saw that my ph level was higher then it should be. Read the paperwork that came with it and researched the "what it could be" things. Found this site and a couple of others (medical sites) and realized you all were saying all the same things I was. I'M NOT ALONE. Thank God. I felt that I was just generally less clean then everyone else. Everything short of shoving a scubber "up there" I was as clean as anyone else.

I read about all the pills and food things and just felt overwhelmed. I then read about eating yogurt and the H202 douche and figured "I like eating yogurt but H202 in my woohoo? That's kinda scary cus I've seen how it bubbles and fizzes when I put earrings in it, do I really want that in me?" Answer: YES!!! Last night I was so desperate to just spend a "fun filled, worry free" evening with my husband that I grabbed a douche, emptied it, filled it half with H202 and half tap water. Jumped in the shower, did what I needed to do then filled it with tap water and did it again. Did the "finger test". Not great but not gone. So I thought "Screw it, I grabbed the bottle of H202, filled it 3/4 full and added a smidge of water (just to make me feel better about the chemicals inside me) and did what I needed to do. No second flush with water. LET THE ANGELS SING AND THE LIGT SHINE DOWN.... I DIDNT SMELL. NOT EVEN A LITTLE! My husband and I (warning: get explicit here) started the night with him "finger and taste testing" and he said "PERFECT". We went at it and NO SMELL NOTHING ZIP ZERO ZILCH. Even after... Even today... I almost cried last night when we were done and again this morning. First time in YEARS that I didn't dread it. Even as I sit here typing on my laptop, sitting pretzel style, NO SMELL!!!!

I dont know if it will last, but I dont care. I'm 100% willing to buy H202 by the gallon if I need to and whenever I smell it coming on... I'm killing it. I am also adding 2 yogurts a day to my diet to help keep it at bay and I also found AZO. A vitamin thing to help regulate the ph levels. One pill a day was more simple to me then a full round of all the other stuff that was mentioned and a lot cheaper.

In short (I know it's too late for that (o: ) but don't be afraid, just give it a try. There is no "cure" for BV but there is a way to heal the symptoms. Try different things until you find what works for you. For me, I am IN LOVE with H202! If you have any questions what-so-ever, please get a hold of me, I am more then willing to help in any way I can. Sometimes, just knowing you're no the only one is a HUGE relief. I will keep you all posted as my symptoms do what they do!

"Oh honey... kick the kids out... mama wants to take advantage of our new found freedom" (wink)

Right, douching in and of itself is not harmful. What is harmful is what you douche with. Those commercial douches with perfumes and all that artificial stuff is what upsets your vaginal flora. Douching with hydrogen peroxide has really done wonders for me and a lot of other women.