Marina (Grants Pass, Oregon) on 01/28/2012:

I am 43 years old and only just found out about this BV - I feel terribly about all the mean thoughts I've ever had in a public restroom over the years. CLEARLY, you do know when you smell that badly. It is horrible to be stinky from your V. One thing that surprised me is, I have had a terrible phobia of having odor 'down there' because of a girl I knew in college. When BV took over my life and sex life, my WORST fear came true, only worse because my stench was far nastier then I ever imagined was possible. It made me gag one night after sex and I had to wonder, how in the world does my bf even want to get near that foul grossness ? ? ? ? He never complained once and it honestly does not bother him like it does me.

One thing I have noticed in the posts is that I think too many people, like with antibiotics, stop too soon when then notice results. It is bacteria you are trying to manipulate so it is very much like antibiotic treatment and needs to be followed for 7-10 consecutive days. The study people reference is a peroxide solution douche 1 time per day for 7-10 days. This is the treatment time I am going to follow.

After you do the peroxide wash, wait a few minutes and then insert a high quality probiotic. Do not use flavored wafers or anything that contains sugar, read the ingredients. The first time I used a pro-b I had on hand. The capsule is thick and it basically stuck to the side of my who-ha, I did not like this. I found the refrigerated kind have thinner gel caps that break down more readily and don't stick or cause grittiness. I like to sterilize a needle and poke several pinholes into the capsule so that I know it is releasing faster through the capsule. I insert it as far as I can. I do a 50/50 peroxide solution wash at night only and insert 1 probiotic 5 minutes later. I insert another pro-B in the morning. I'm all about organic cotton panty liners at the moment.

I also started taking a high quality, easily digestible pre-natal once-a-day multi-vitamin that can be taken without food. It does not make me sick like others. It has 800 mg of Folic Acid, probiotics & other goodies. It is a great multi-vitamin in general for women no matter what your fertility interests are. It will not hurt you in anyway if you are not pregnant or post menopause. For the 10 days treatment I am taking 1 vitamin in the am & pm and I am also taking 1 capsule of a refrigerated 10 billion, 6 strain probiotic orally twice a day. I intend to drop down to 1 a day for the vitamin & probiotic after the 10 remedy phase. I have actually been wanting to add both of these daily but I just didn't stick with it. NOW, I especially have reason to stick with it.

My diet is very healthy and I still got BV. I believe somehow when my bits mix with my man's bits (DNA, sweat, skin cells) it somehow creates some kind imbalance inside me or an acid???? I say acid because of the burning/itching feeling after sex. Neither of us has an STD.

I started the process only 4 days ago. So far so good. I'm posting now because I wanted to add my tips and observations. I feel grateful because the man is gone for one month so I have time to rebalance and not get my new environment distrubed. I think you must abstain from sex during your treatment. You have to get the upper hand on the bacteria and sex just keeps encouraging replenishing the bad environment.

I plan to use the syringe with a weaker solution after sex in the future when I go pee. It's probably a good idea to toss a pro b up there once in awhile for maintenance as well if this is a reoccurring problem. If you ever use a syringe type thing, (needle without a needle) be sure to go S-L-O-W-L-Y & don't force the plunger. You will create too much pressure & can possibly push the infection up higher by blasting in the solution with force. You want to slowly flood the V-canal with the solution and let it do its thing for a few minutes then release it. I put a towel in the bathtub and lay back with my legs up.