What Causes Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)?

I am so eager to share my experience with BV. It took years to fully understand my body and how it reacts to different things. I've suffered on and off again since early 20's.(now 48) It wasn't until about five years ago that research finally paid off. Come to find out, I was allergic to latex. I would use condoms in my active years and it never occurred to me that most comdoms are latex, causing a flare up and here I'd go to the doctor. I switched to non latex condoms. Then realizing that my area down there was still just too sensitive to harsh soaps, and washing liquids too. So I decided to try washing the panties alone in antibacterial hand liquid soap, the dollar store brand is fine, and swapped to a separate soap, Dial Gold, for the south region area. I'm here checking out the site because I swam in the Gulf, and a busy pool and a bayou and I am certain I'm having a flare up, but here for an alternative method for relief. So for you sufferers over and over again, try the above for and make it routine, period! I also wanted to point out that my daughter suffered as well and for the most part, free and clear.

I've been suffering with BV off and on for about 20 years, and had a partial hysterectomy 5 years ago. Yes, I am still suffering from this aggravating pita! After reading this entire page I'm hopeful that I've finally come across some info that can help me to get rid of it once and for all! Have to agree with the fact that some partners semen seems to set it off quicker than others. But after seeing someone ask "what is happening to all of us that is causing this?" Do any of you use fabric softener in your laundry? I for one am going to get some more borax and wash my panties in it and add white vinegar to the rinse cycle. That is sure to remove any residue that is lingering, and I've read that WV is a great natural fabric softener. As of tonight I'm sitting here typing this and trying the Hydrogen Peroxide & water tampon method, with VERY high hopes that it will work!!! I do think that there is something to the eating yogurt as well. When I eat yogurt on a regular basis I don't have any issues. But I haven't eaten any in about a month now and shew the smell!! Bless my bf's heart he seems to understand as he was raised with a bunch of sisters and gets the female anatomy. He just wants me better. Having wondered if men can this I asked a doctor about 6 years ago. (thought my husband was cheating on me! ) Doc said it is something we can give ourselves and is possible for it to be passed from one partner to another. He was gracious enough to give me enough medication for both of us, and it worked for a while. So if a doc says it can't be passed... Yes it obviously can! But still can't find any info on how to properly treat your male partner in a homeopathic method. Any ideas or suggestions? Would be interested in feedback. I'll be back in about a week to update how the Hydrogen Peroxide/Water is doing. Good Luck Ladies!

Please help ladies. I have no idea what's happening. I've never had BV and I've only ever had a yeast infection once. Right now I am suffering from some awful pain. It seems the whole "area" has got this burning feelings. It doesn't happen when I pee but if I touch it it stings. Having sex is painful as ever. It's burns. I have no abnormal discharge and no odor (boyfriend checked for me, thank god). Has anyone else ever had this? How do I treat this? I stopped all gels for shaving and soaps for washing and strictly use soap and water. Is this BV? I have an appt to see a doctor on the 23 but I'm just so worried and in pain.

Hello, I just read a post yesterday of someone using borax in capsules for this. You can make them at home with regular borax (20 mule brand) and empty capsules from the health food store or online. My mom and sister use this remedy for regular yeast infections. I have used acidophilus capsules for regular yeast infection too. Both work for regular yeast infection. It will cause some discharge because the yeast and bacteria need to die off and be emitted from your system. (I have never douched but I would guess that an iodine or colloidal silver douche might work too).

I would also recommend treating it from the digestive end as well. You can use lugols iodine, raw crushed garlic, ginger, colloidal silver, or a 1/8 tea spoon borax in a liter/quart of water sipped over the course of the day. These are all very good antibacterial, anti fungal remedies. Look on this website for details of how to use each once you decide what one you are going to try. You should also reseed your system with acidophilus or fermented foods such as traditional sauerkraut, kimchee, kefir, Kampuchea tea, apple cider vinegar etc.

You might even consider doing a full body cleanse. One option is to simply cut out all processed foods, especially anything with sugar (lowers your immunity), artificial sweeteners, favors, colors, preservatives (lowers your immunity), and gmos (interferes with immunity by upsetting digestion, bt toxin from gmos is a pesticide that can be manufactured by bad bacteria inside your intestines! ). Most people feel 100% better on a paleo diet which excludes grains and dairy (hidden allergies) and emphasizes grass fed meat, eggs, coconut oil, flax oil, fish oil, nuts, seeds, organic fruits and veggies.

For some immediate relief, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil is the first thing I would try, topically. It should be soothing. It is antibacterial and antifungal. You can add a few drops of tea tree and or lavender essential oil per Tablespoon of Coconut oil as these are also healing.

Whole Milk Plain (no sugar) yogurt (preferably organic) topically may be of relief as well.

@Kris, your symptoms as you describe them sound like Vulvodynia. Check out Earth Clinic's page for ideas for how to remedy this. Stretching seems to be the cheapest and easiest for many women. Good luck!

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/vulvodynia.html

tea tree oil bar soap, rubba dub dub

I use to put the oil on my finger and rub it up there several times during a shower and then go lay down to die , killed the outbreak of fungus and it was really painful.... take some pain meds first.

The soap worked well and was nice compared to that.

I enjoy reading all the stuff about BV but when the metronidazole didn't work my doc grew out a vaginal culture and found that I not only had the regular BV, I had vaginal E coli causing mine. Keflex didn't work.

BV from E coli doesn't stink but I am such bad discomfort sometimes I have to soak in the tub or I cry and I swell up terrible and I can never wear pants or underware for that matter so I am stuck in a long skirt without panties and that isn't my style.

I am having the best luck with oil of oregano 4 times per day by mouth put it in a veggie cap and only buy the pure expensive stuff and goldenseal vaginal suppositories however it is a very slow road and it seems if I stop or slow down one or the other bam I am sore again. No sex for almost 2 months just hurts too much and I also am taking refrigerated probiotics twice a day on an empty stomach and lots of Vit C.

Is there anyone out that that has battled BV caused by Ecoli and how did they get rid of it?

Thanks sore, sad, and going insane in Va.

Cinnamon - kills E. Coli. You don't have to use it topically. You can also try it together with Olive Leaf Extract and acacia (arabic gum) supplements.

When I was younger I used to get BV all the time. It took me about 3 years to figure out what was contributing to the problem. It was the condoms we were using. Started using trojan and never had another one for about 8 years. Recently a different brand was used and..... I now have it again! This may not help everyone but it dosent hurt to try.

Ladies! I have just found the cause if what ive thought for weeks was bv. I did all the things on here, spent a couple hundred dollars on vitamins, hours researching, the horrible odor had gone away but came back. I started douching with a vengeance(peroxide) then brown almost tan tissue like stuff started ciming out when I douched! Scary. Started reading that maybe it was the bad bacteria coming out. Then watched a video on how to check yourself for a LOST TAMPON! I thought there was no way I could check myself with my short fingers but if u can!!! It was a little tricky but felt around and thats what it was!! Once I touched it and pulled on it I was certain it had to be it. It was sideways and no string. It took a little bit to tug it out and this may be gross but what finally worked for me was to stick my nail into it and pull. Mine was not black from blood but I realized that was prob bc all the crazy douching I had been doing! Nonetheless it was the source of the problem!

I never post on things like this but as horrible as that odor and discharge etc experience was, I felt I had to share! And im telling u, u really dont have to go to doc, unless maybe to make sure it hasnt caused tss. If u sit on the toilet, first slowly insert CLEAN finger as far as u can, feel around, then bear down like u are pushing out a baby or whatever and continue feeling around. You may have to use a sweeping motion or like I did and claw finger it. Its almost unmistakeable because it wont feel like part of your body. If u havent douched it will probanly be dark n smell rank im guessing. I was very skeptical bc had already had sex several times since any tampon could have gotten stuck n thought if there us one up there theres no way I'll get it out but as we all know this stuff is so awful we'll try nearly anything and I couldnt believe how easy it was.

Does anyone have a problem with recurrent uti's because of BV? I seem to have this prob. Wondering if anyone else does... I also suffer from recurrent yeast/bv. Thanks.

I've had bv off/on for years, didn't realize what it was until last gyn visit. He didn't seem concerned about it, but I was!!! I've had 3 UTI's in the last year. Last bv treatment did vh essentials, worked too well and ended up with yeast infection as ph went too far the other way. Then back again after antibiotics for uti, ugh.. Bv now back again so doing the boric acid capsules (bought at publix and capsules at local health food store). I'll only do for a few days so I don't end up with a y/i again. Most likely will do after monthly as well.

Hi ladies! I am so thankful to read all of these posts! I had BV several years ago and the DR. gave me a script (don't remember what it was - but it was pills). It went away and did not come back... until last month. I noticed a dicharge and odors - both sour and fishy. I went back to the Dr. and he gave me metrogel. It worked but now it's back again. I was hoping that it would just go away on it's own. I know it's not very good to keep taking antibiotics...it will just create a super strong strain of whatever is ailing you. Well it hasn't gone away. I made an appt with with Gyno again and I'm going in next week. I can't go sooner cuz I'm about to start my period. I actually have taken both folic acid & acidophilis before just never for this and it's been a while since I've taken either. I took two 400 mg of folic acid tonight and I'm going to go get the acidophilis again tomorrow. We'll see how that works. My biggest concern is the information out there suggesting that the only way to get this is by having new or multiple sex partners. I've been in a relationship with my boyfriend for more than 4 years. I've been faithful. I can't even think about sex with another man! As soon as I told him about this, he looked it up online and is convinced I cheated on him. Has anyone else gotten this without new or multiple partners?? It seems like there isn't really any rhyme or reason as to why women get this other than PH levels going haywire. I'm so confused and upset! Help!

I beg to differ with everyone, but i am a nun and celibate. i have had this myself. i hope that puts your boyfriends suspicions to rest. peace be with you

I have suffered from BV for years. The reason why boric acid works is because it is a natural disinfectant/antiseptic. It chemically has a natural PH balance that when added in an unbalanced environment such as the warm, dark, PH unbalanced, area where BV flourishes it will lower the PH to a normal level that all the natural flora can begin to grow and literally eat up the bad bacterial. (I actually paid attention in chemistry class, and have researched this topic for about 17 years) however I am not a doctor but I know boric acid was actually capsules were given to me by a disease specialist to try. I had to tell my doctors about the treatment so they could help other patients that had the same problems. It also treats a yeast infection as well. However if you have any issues or think it's yeast or BV and are not in a monogamous relationship you should be getting STD tested every few mos. If you are in a monogamous relationship you should still be getting tested every year when getting your annual pap smear. And FYI not every doctor tests unless you ask to be tested for STDs at time of annual pap smear nor annually tests for BV. I always have them look for everything just in case. Always protect yourself and trust no one. But back to the treatment of BV and yeast infections with boric acid capsules. If you go to a Walgreen's that does compounding they will make them for you w/a prescription from my doctor. It costs about $35 bucks and is not covered by any insurance. Boric acid has not been sold over the counter in a pharmacy in years due to the harmful effects if ingested via mouth. Too many kids were getting into it in medicine cabinets. Try the suppositories for about 7-10 days up to 2 weeks. It helps and you will be so happy!!! Make sure you take 400-800mg of folic acid every day and I highly recommend Floragen as well. It's better and cheaper than RePhresh probiotics. Floragen sells for about $14.99 for 30 day supply and $21 99 for 90 day supply. It will also you keep your digestive tract healthy as well.

Way back in the mid '70s I had what I believe was BV. We didn't know about acidolpillus and they had just come out with a cream to insert for yeast infections but being BV that didn't work. I tried everything but the kitchen sink and finally I read in a book about spermicidal jelly killing EVERYTHING. So after 6 months of agony, I tried it and it worked! So if all else fails, you might give it a try. It's not "natural" but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.

Bacterial Vaginitis

I have read many of the posts discussing regimens different women have used; it's a bacteria affected by pH of the vagina. When the vagina has a higher pH the bacteria grows well. Blood, semen, soap all have a higher pH, and when the bacteria is exposed to these things they give off the typical amine odor that smells like fish. Any way the vagina can be kept a little more acidic will help. The pH table runs from 1-15. You don't want to be much less than 7, because too acidic will be irritating too. It's a balance that if found will help keep the flora and fauna protective to prevent overgrowth of one organism or another that creates the imbalance. Good Luck with this aggravating problem. Women have such complicated plumbing sometimes and it can be so annoying!

Best report ever.. thank you for being so candid and so scientifically observant of your own experience!

First off, Id like to thank everyone who responded to my first ques. I have been so desperate to get rid of both BV and a yeast infection, that I have tried just about every remedy posted lol. Not really sure whats working or what causes it as almost every day I add something new... I have a really important question though...CAN TAKING TOO MUCH ACIDOPHILLUS (oral capsules) ACTUALLY CAUSE A YEAST INFECTION OR BV????

Hello there, I have been dealing with BV for almost a year, I found probiotic yogurt called Kefir that have live cultures on it. I can said that after 3 days the smell dissapear, no burn, no smell :) Now I made my own kefir with grains, you should tried. I also keep taking my 1800 mg of folic acid. Good luck

Question for treating both BV and Yeast Infection

Oh my God this is so frustrating...I have a Question concerning both BV and Yeast Infection combined! I am on my last day of the gel my gyn prescribed to me for BV now I have cottage cheese type discharge.. this would be a first for me unfortunately the BV isnt. Im assuming its a yeast infection so here goes the question DOES ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO TREAT BOTH?

I've read earth clinic on and off for several years and have really valued everyone's first hand accounts of what works and what doesn't. Figured I'd add my two cents here.

Since BV amd yeast infections are - for the most part - an issue in the balance of the vaginal flora, I think many of us can trace back the start of our issues with these infections to the kinds of birth control we've used.

For myself, I never had a yeast infection until my second or third year of using the pill back in college. Then 5 years ago I decided to swear off the hormones and go for the copper IUD. Probably a year into that I started noticing that tell tale fishy smell after sex and yellowish discharge. So aggravating! And unsexy to say the least!

Well, I'm happy to say that I had my copper IUD removed last week. My gyno did test for BV - which I had - and prescribed metro gel. I waited on using it to observe what happened and after 3 days of spotting, the discharge significantly decreased in amount and returned to the more normal whitish color.

I am now taking the prescribed 5 day course of the gel once per day in the evening and am also inserting home-made boric acid suppositories out of emptied out acidophilus capsules in the morning.

Since things have been so out of balance I'm hoping the gel will get rid of whats not supposed to be there and the 600mg of boric acid will keep the yeast in check when the bacteria- both good and bad - get wiped out with the gel. A few days of yogurt with acidophilus and I'm hoping I'll be as good as new.

On Day 2 now, will post an update later. Wish me luck!

I recently had symptoms of BV and especially a foul smell. I tried the tampon soaked in hydrogen peroxide and took a daily dose of acidophilus pill 1 billion c.f.u. and I took 800 mg folic acid. The peroxide helped to control the smell and the pills helped reduce the discharge. However like most of the posts on this sight the symptoms kept coming back. I finally gave in and went to my Gyno.

To my surprise the problem was lost tampon syndrome. Once the tampon was removed the smell went away and after a day the discharge stopped completely. My doctor recommended a new anti-biotic on the market to treat any BV symptoms. The good news is that all is fine now. The lesson here is that you should ask your doctor to check you for a lost tampon, especially if the symptoms keep coming back. Please make sure you have yourself checked for other serious conditions before you try a self cure that might mask the symptoms and aggravate the root of the problem.

I have been suffering from what i think is BV for about a year now. However, the only symptom i have is the foul fishy smell :( I have no discharge, itching, or pain but the smell is enough to make me desperate. I'm not sexually active. I have also tried folic acid and acidophilus, but there was no change. Do i have a mild case of BV because there is no discharge,etc. or does anyone know of something else it could be?

Hi Vcd from Chicago, Il.... You said you did a 13 day detox program and it cured you BV! Thats great do you think you could give us more information for how to do that detox program. I've have tried everything to get rid of BV and my reoccurent yeast infections and nothing has worked so I'll try anything now! Thanks!

Bacterial Vaginosis- or so I thought!

Hello ladies, I thought I would share my experience with you. I was convinced I had BV, foul odour, smelly brown discharge and stomach cramps so depressing and embarrassing. I think this website is brilliant and wanted to try a natural remedy. I tried folic acid/ acidophilus tablets and also hydrogen peroxide douche, but with no luck. Finally decided this morning I HAD to go to the doctors for antibiotics. Then I went to the toilet for a poo, I had a bad stomach cramp and suddenly felt something solid coming out of my vagina. I thought I was having a miscarriage or something, when I looked in the toilet it was an (very) old tampon! it must have been there 5 weeks or more. I had forgotten to take it out at the end of my period. I'm so pleased I now know the source of my problem and would encourage anyone who thinks they might have BV to check they do not have a tampon stuck inside them. I am 32 years old and this has never happened to me before. I went to the doctors and got some antibiotics but the smell/discharge has gone already and I feel so much better, so I probably won't need them. HOpe this helps somone else.

Check for candida. Sometimes this could be a symptom. In the meantime,reduce your refined sugar intake and everything refined that converts into sugar like white flour. Candida flourish and grow nicely in a sweet "media" Try to be in a good PH level. Acid PH makes us prone to inflammation and disease. Mucus membranes are very susceptible to these changes in PH. Search for information about food that makes us acid or make us alkaline.The equilibrium is HEALTH.

Boy, I know how embarrasing that is. I have always been very , very particular about vaginal odor. I started to smell something one day in a store and I thought it was the lady beside me. As I walked through the store, I continued to smell it and when I got in the car, it was overpowering in that small space. I wernt home and douched immediately with a medicated douche. The next day and the next I had to miss work because of a fever of 103 degrees. I was douching 2-3 times a day, but the smell remained. Finally I felt like there was something inside of me and when I went to the toilet and strained, a tampon fell out of me. It was so disgusting. I immediately douched with the medicated douche twice, took some antibiotics and aspirin and felt like new the next morning. i thought later I may have had TSS and didn't know it.