r/BacterialVaginosis_

I had recurring BV from October 2025-February 2026 and felt hopeless that it was never going away. Medications alone would not work for me. This isn’t super high maintenance either… not a lot I needed to buy for this to go away for good. I’ve been BV free for about 3 months now so I think it’s safe to post this lol.

First, you need antibiotics. I thought the metro gel was more effective (and less side effects) but everyone is different. Took a 7 day course as prescribed.

During my antibiotic course, I started a lactobacillus probiotic (I use uro, found them at target) And continue to take them after treatment daily.

I switched to an unscented soap (dove) and I don’t shave there as often as I used to but when I do, I use a separate razor just for that area and use the unscented soap as a “shaving cream”

Increased my water intake significantly.

This was a last resort but boric acid. I will use them the day after my period ends (my ph is still slightly elevated after so this helps it not elevate further). I only take them for 1-2 nights but I don’t have any problems after.

I’m just glad I figured it out because I was getting BV every 2 weeks post treatment. One time it came back 3 days after treatment and I wanted to cry. This is what is helping me thus far.

Like the title says, I am suffering once again from BV. My first was back in February and I literally thought it was a UTI, but I ended up going to the ER because my NP(nurse practitioner) and clinic wasn't available at 5am. Got swabbed and tested positive for BV and was prescribed oral metronidazole. I took the whole thing for 7 days and felt fine. I am also diagnosed with atrophy as well but am on vaginal estradiol cream and oral estradiol since last summer. Long story short, I had a total hysterectomy with everything removed and I have the cuff a year ago. I do not have sex which is odd as I would think BV would be caused by bacterial from having sex but that's the whole thing! I'm not sexually active and haven't planned on it in the future. This recent infection was either brought on by stress from where I live or I'm overdoing the prebiotic/probiotics. I did have lab work done back in March when I was 100 percent better but my NP seems to think that I might have diabetes which I heard is also the culprit. My lab results were positive except for my TSH was low and I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the recurrent BV I'm having at the moment. NP wants me to do another round of lab work but I'm confused as to why she would want that done again as I was contacted by phone from the service desk and not herself. So I refrained from going and I'm thinking about having a second opinion. I'm really hoping that my immune system hasn't changed as I have never experienced BV ever my whole life even when I was sexually active and with just one person, except I was diagnosed with trichomoniasis many years ago when I was 26(I'm now 49) I have gotten treated since then. I'm just trying to wrap my whole head around the situation with the second time I have BV.

I wanted to post here too because I feel like I'm going crazy 😭.

It's been an emotional rollercoaster. I had numerous UTI's over a few months & after hefty doses of Keflex -my UTI's went away but BV developed along with a yeast infection.

I cleared both of them with the medication my gyno gave me & then 2 weeks ago at a follow-up she swabbed me & my results came back clean for everything. My husband & I resumed having sex a week after following her timeline of when I can start again. Well on Friday I felt burny & went to urgent care...I have BV again!

I don't understand what happened, I'm already on strong probiotics -Wish health Vaginal probiotics along with Florastor. I'm taking D-Mannose, we're both showering before and after sex, I'm peeing immediately after, etc.

The only thing I can think of is, because I kept getting so many UTI's my gyno gave me a low dose of Macrobid to take after sex. I expressed concern over if this would disrupt my good bacteria again but she insisted it wouldn't. Its just emotionally draining. Now after I finish this treatment again ..I know I'll get a yeast infection.

So does this mean every time I have sex going further I'm either getting BV or a UTI? I just wish I knew what to do. We weren't using condoms because we were trying for a baby but I asked if it's possible we could pass the BV (I just thought maybe I had given it to him during the last outbreak) and everyone said no. I'm desperate for any advice at all, I can't keep affording urgent care and my specialist to check this stuff every other week 😭

I had reoccurring BV/Yeast infections on and off for a year and a half. I went to multiple Dr's that prescribed antibiotics, after I insisted they wouldnt help. I ended up finding a Dr that listened and told me to take boric acid for 30 days, and then lessen it from 7days to 5 day a week and reducing all the way down to once a week. I was also told to take probiotics and a special 15 day probiotic at the start of my period. I did all of that and the BV and Yeast infections have gone away.. I havent had any since I started this in the summer of 25. Now my issue is painful sex and its causing a strain on my relationship. We have tried many different types of lube, condoms, no condoms and ive tried using suppositories that are meant for dryness. But still everything hurts. I cant stand the idea of having sex becuase it feels like sandpaper. I love my partner but there has to be a fix.

Ive had vaginal irritation on and off for the last two years and painful sex on and off. My clitoris has recently been most affected especially when my period comes and the irritation lasts after my period until I am ovulating - only then it all feels better and I get relief. My clit is both red and itchy and burns throughout the day. When I did my Juno bio test the results came back with supposed high amounts of anaerobic bacteria and prevotella bivia being the highest. My discharge has never stopped being weird and is either white or yellow and dries very crusty. It hasn't been clear in forever! I recently also tested positive for yeast with my gyno and am being treated for that with diflucan and it's hell on earth.

Also want to add that I took a test with affinityDNA and it said I have Trichomoniasis?! But it now came negative on a recent swab? So false positive?

My husband and I are also trying for a baby and I'm struggling to get pregnant, and I have gotten pregnant in prior years very easily.

Someone please help!!!

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If you had CV, was it caused by too many vaginal probiotics? Or did you take oral probiotics that led to it?

Ive never taken vaginal probiotics. I take 1x optibac for women intimate flora, and 1x seluni every day orally.

However my symptoms (soreness, irritation, watery and white discharge) fit the description of cv.

I am now really scared I've caused CV. I haven't taken a microbiome test cos I'm in the uk and I'm scared of spending all this money only for a GP to tell me they aren't interested in my result.

I’very been on this viscous cycle for a while, almost a year. these are my option, but which should I do?? would love advice??

long story short started with reoccurring yeast infections(cyclical) negative now&on longterm itraconazole until all is truly sorted out.

then came along bv, no fishy smell&only test positive with juno so I go by symptom which are watery whitish discharge,itch and redness.

MY OPTIONS

1)gynos advice last cycle this happened. is to treat it in Luteal phase (pre period is when my symptoms now begin)with 2-3 x Clindamycin as a preventative and management. but I haven’t done this yet as I had zero protective bacteria so went in with vaginal and oral probiotics. felt symptoms improve but not totally ever go away.

2)naturopaths advice is to concentrate on building good bacteria by using vaginal probiotics and vaginal Estrogen(I’m on DHEA ) and try to avoid antibiotic where possible.

because i use DHEA intrarosa pessary nightly I was having to do vaginal probiotics in the morning but eventually the slightly grainy discharge from lifespace microflora probiotics started causing friction and flared dermatitis in the vestibule 🫠 so for the last week or so I stopped doing them vaginally and did 2x orally am&pm but yeh now my BV symptoms are creeping in. and I know when it’s getting worse because I get a dusty red vulva skin/labia and then the itch/burn becomes intense.

*I have vestibulodynia from yeast infection and dermatitis from topicals now. so it’s always a fun guessing game of what is my vagina doing today?? But everything is being treated from all aspects.

my issue at this moment is how to go in to tackle this bv?

Looking for advice on how to deal with what’s seeming to be never ending cycle. So to back track for the whole timeline… The first weekend of march I had what was my first ever yeast infection (I’m 26). I noticed a slight smell but it was not fishy and it was only once. I used the 3 day monistat and it cleared and everything was back to normal. Around March 23 (3 days after my period) I felt like something was off and I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a yeast infection and BV. I was prescribed oral flygal for 7 days and diflucan (2 pills 72 hours apart); it agin seemed to clear up. Then around April 21 I noticed strong yeast infection symptoms again (with some abnormal discharge the week before while on my period). I was given the same course of diflucan. However, this time I was still having white discharge and when having sex (I waited until I was done with treatment) the fish smell of BV was present. So, I went to the doctor and was tested for BV and yeast again. I tested positive for BV and C. Ganlata this time. I started the merto gel yesterday (every night for 5 nights), I took my first round of diflucan today (the next on Saturday), and then my doctor said to do 5-7 days of boric acid when treatment is done. Does anyone have advice? I started the Azo probiotics last week and have not been having sex with my bf. My doctor said she doesn’t think my IUD is causing it because I’ve had it for a year with no problems and I’ve been with my bf for the same amount of time. Really just at a loss and am feeling so defeated and gross.

Advice about lactoferrin please

- I read that apolactoferrin is preferred. Anyone got any suggestions of a UK brand please?

- can I take it alongside NAC on an empty stomach in the morning or should I spread out NAC and lactoferrin?

- should I take lactoferrin every day or just for a short time?

I am so frustrated right now because before I took antibiotics I had NAC to kill the biofilm, then boric acid and antibiotics. Soon after had virginal probiotics. Thought I was going to be BV free but I’m not . I live in Australia and the doctors keep saying there is nothing they can do for me . Can anyone please help me .. I also tried neuropathy that didn’t help either.. 😭

Yesterday afternoon I noticed that I had developed a yeast infection over the work weekend (i work in fast food for long hours) and used a boric acid suppository last night. I had recurring BV for 8 months and these helped cure me in 3 days. I decided to use it last night and this morning/today after wiping there was a lot of clumpy discharge. I wonder if this is normal? Like its just flushing out??

Soo idk why I’m just posting this now but go on my page and read my story regarding this. Basically I got BV randomly out of blue and I got rid of it in like two weeks without taking any antibiotic, acids or going to the doctors.

Btw not claiming this will work on everyone but as someone who only had it once and without a sexual reason (I think I got it from a long hike on my period, or from a moisturizing cream I put near my Vag) Anyway, I did ton of research and natural remedies etc cause I couldn’t go to a doctor since that means I’d have to tell my mom and here’s what I did:

The only symptom for me was the smell, Like I’d come straight out of shower and would still have the weird fish smell.

I ate Garlic cloves every day for around 7-10 days. I ate one normal clove without cutting Id just swallow it hole, and then the second one i would cut in tiny pieces (or chew on it) and so everyday two cloves.

Then I heard pickles apparently helped as well so I’d eat shit ton of pickles a day (again for 7-10 days)

And last but not least I drank KEFIR!! (The one which has probiotics labeled on it) I only did this for like 4-5 days or so (towards the end of my journey)

And then the smell was no longer there!!

This will sound a bit corny but I also listened to subliminals on YouTube against BV and just about good vaginal health. I only did that for like 4-5 days though but it did work eventually🤷‍♀️

I also washed down there with an antibacterial soap daily, if it helps.

Idk what was it that helped or if they all together did the work but here I am!!

So yeah first 4-5 days I still had the smell and then it gradually faded and became better. When I was taking garlic i lowkey smelled like it doen there lol but I promise it goes away eventually. After 2 weeks it was fully gone and she was fresh as hell and it hasn’t come back now after two month or so.

Not claiming this is the cure especially if u have chronic or from sleeping with a man but you guys should try it if u get it for the first time!!! :) if u know more tips like natural remedies share in comments. I also know some ppl put the garlic up there and that was my final solution but I’m glad I didn’t have to do that lol. Hope u all heal!!

I never have symptoms but in three routine gyno exams over the past 4 years I tested positive. I take pro biotics daily, eat fermented foods and have the same partner. Should I do microbiome testing and has anyone used Evvy or Wisp?

Day5 Metronidazole oral for BV

Have awful dryness as post meno (on HRT patch/progest & was using estradiol cream 2-3xweek but stopped it while on the antibiotics as thought it might create yeast.)

What to do now as feel like a yeast infection is coming?

Do i restart the estradiol cream while still on the metronidazole or will that just make things worse?

What can i use while on the metronidazole for the dryness?

Is there anything i can do to catch a YI early before it goes full blown & need the fluconazle?

Oral Probiotics for vag was creating excess discharge so i stopped

Any suggestions very very much appreciated!

Hello all,

I am currently in a situation where I am wondering if my diagnosis of bv is correct. Here’s what’s been going on.

About a month ago, i started with vulva itching. It was a prickly feeling and it was itchy and burning. I went in to get checked and the doctor said I was red and irritated. She did the usual swab and gave me some steroid cream to use. My swab test came back negative for everything the next day. I was still have the issue so I went to see my pvp who took a look and said I was very dry and irritated and gave me a script for estrogen cream, as I am the age for perimenopause (40) I used it as directed but wasn’t feeling much relief in the course of a couple weeks. A few days ago, my whole vaginal area became very swollen and beat red. It was like 2 times the size as it normally was and I was having trouble walking and sitting. I went back to my pcp and she thought I could have a yeast infection. She gave me the pills for that and told me to take them for several days, she also swabbed me again.

Later that afternoon my vaginal area became so swollen I could not longer walk. My husband told me I needed to call the doctors back and explain what what happening because it was clearly not normal. The nurse I spoke with told me I needed to go to the emergency room to be seen because she suspected PID. The pain and swelling was unbearable so off to the ER I went. They did a multitude of tests, several swabs, urinalysis and she did a vaginal exam with the speculum. She noted that my cervix was covered in yellow spots and she agreed that I was extremely swollen and red.

My tests came back and I was positive for BV. I was surprised because I have no discharge or bad smell. She said it happens sometimes and gave me the antibiotics.

The swelling has gone down significantly but I am still very itchy and irritated inside my vagina mostly. I am still waiting on the results from my pcp from that day as well which will be interesting. Does this sound like normal BV? While it is definitely not as bad as it was the day I went to the hospital, I’ve been on the antibiotics for two days and still have symptoms. Is there a long healing time for this? I’m just confused as this is the first time I have been diagnosed with BV.

i did 10 consecutive days of metrogel, then twice a week for 6 weeks and i was recommended to do two additional weeks of boric acid.

i'm (finally) done with the metro gel portion of treatment. i'm coming off my period and i am RAW, like some sort of dermatitis.

is this a side effect of metronidazole? perhaps a sign that the BV wasn't properly eradicated? im so done with this 😭

i still haven't started doing boric acid so i'm technically not done with treatment but im sooo worried i've spent so long treating this issue.

Went to er for horrible smell and when I say horrible I mean horrific. I have extreme burning like very intense (my major symptom along w the smell). I have yellow discharge and also Urgency and slight itch. This itch has been ongoing since I tested positive for chlymydia back in March (got cheated on) when doxy thru me off so I did a 3 week fluconazole treatment (1x/week, for 3 weeks)

I had sex last April 17 (new partner) and noticed this smell and horrible burning may 6th

Some key points form my labs:

1. ⁠leukocytes are HIGH/abnormal
2. ⁠- Urine dip was negative/normal for rest
3. ⁠Urine culture negative — no overnight growth
4. ⁠No yeast
5. ⁠Negative for urine STDs — trich, gon, chlym (test done 25 days after sex)
6. ⁠BV swab — “Microscopic findings consistent with bacterial vaginosis” (test done 24 days after sex) — started metronidazole today

also tested for mycoplasma and ureaplasma but won’t but getting that for a few weeks and unfortunately ill be away until July so I can’t treat it till then if it did come back positive.

As the title says is extreme burning and high leukocytes normal for BV?

I hope someone can help or share a positive experience similar to mine!

About a month ago I got BV (never had it before) and did a 7 day round of oral metronidazol. still had symptoms. went back and got tested and still had it. I then did. 10 day round of oral metro. still had when tested after. so now I’m on day 6 of clyndamy in and still having symptoms. she called on another 7 day supply but I read online clynda shouldn’t really be used for longer than a week except for weekly maintenance, which for that she prescribed metro gel to be inserted weekly.

should I do another week of clynda then switch to metro once a week? I am also taking a vaginal probiotic. I bought boric acid suppositories but haven’t used them yet. also haven’t had sex in over a month.

this is a nightmare I don’t understand it!