Positive for Gardnerella

I got a call from my gyn today. They said I tested positive for Gardnerella. I have no idea what this is and was told that it's bacterial vaginosis. I've tested for this in the past and it's come back positive and negative, always alternating. Can the culture be a false positive, I don't have any symptoms. I'm worrying now again, I feel good until stuff like this pops up. My exposure was unprotected sex on April 11 where I contracted chlamydia and was tested negative with rapid blood test on July 16.

Can this be associated with HIV? Recurrent BV?

[OrionQuest]

I think your OB-GYN would know the answers.

[scaredgrl85]

They said that recurrent bacterial vaginosis can be associated with a weakened immune system so that's why I have HIV in my head again. I feel like it could be the reason why my BV won't go away.

[scaredgrl85]

Please can I get a female and/or professional opinion. I'm really freaking out here. I feel like it's a never ending nightmare.

[OrionQuest]

If you have a weakened immune system, and I mean weakened enough so you have to worry about delayed seroconversion, then BV is the least of your worries.  

For an immune system to be that weak, you'd have to be on chemotherapy, which means you have cancer, or you'd be on immunosuppresive drugs, which means you've had a transplant, or you're shooting drugs up your blood vessels, which means you're killing yourself slowly anyway, or you have a genetic disease which screws the immune system, which means you'd be suffering from much more than just BV.

[OrionQuest]

Okay, after re-reading your post, I think what you also want is assurance that your rapid blood test on the 16th is valid?  If so yes, it's 3 months post exposure.

However, I am not an Ob-gyn so I know diddly-squat about bacterial vaginosis.  Except maybe that it can be caused by lubricant in condoms.

[scaredgrl85]

Just from curiosity, where do you get your information from?

[OrionQuest]

Partly from my own personal research, partly from the advice here and on aidsmeds and on thebody.com and partly from my own doctor.

[scaredgrl85]

Your doctor agrees that 3 months is sufficient time for HIV testing in the US. I see that your from the Philippines.

[OrionQuest]

Well this is what my doctor told me: the philippines still follows the old 6 months rules because this being a third world banana republic country, politicians and policy makers have more important things to do than keep the country up to date - namely they concentrate on staying in power and getting richer.  (well, he didn't exactly phrase it that way)

However, I'm one of the lucky few who has access to doctors who have actually trained in the US.  So as long as your test is at least a 3rd generation test, 3 months should be conclusive.  When I myself was tested here, my doctor told me to go to certain specific testing centers because he is"sure that the tests there are 3rd gen"  Only a few hospitals here have 4th gen.

[OrionQuest]

That is most definitely the latest generation.

[scaredgrl85]

I'm not sure what generation the test I had done on me was. It was the rapid finger ***** test that took 20mins to get the results at my county health department. Do you know what generation that is?

[scaredgrl85]

Do you know any sites that discuss the generation of these Rapid Tests?

[OrionQuest]

Teak would probably know more than I in regards to that.  Or you could call your county health department and ask them specifically.

[peekawho]

Relax.  Its totally common.  BV is the most common cause of vaginitis in a sexually active person.  It has NOTHING TO DO WITH A WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM or HIV.  

60% of women have had it.  For Gods sake.  Its controversial whether it is actually even an STD or not, except that it is commonly found in sexually active women, and uncommon in virgins.  

It seems to make no difference if a male partner is treated or not.  Some women get it more frequently than others, and no one really knows why.  

But it is EXTREMELY common.  If you have no symptoms, a lot of doctors wouldn't even treat you, unless you are pregnant.

(I used to work in an OBGYN office, and we saw women every single day with this.  Very, very common.  None of them had HIV, either).

[scaredgrl85]

Thanks peekawho, but is there a reason why I tested positive, RIGHT AFTER i finished flagyl and clindomyocin suppositories?

Is this type of bacteria resistant to those medications? Can it be a false positive culture? My cultures come back positive one time and negative another time. What could the deal be? Thanks.

[Teak]

Contact your doctor or his/her nurse with these questions. That is what they are there for.

[scaredgrl85]

I tried calling them today, they're closed. Since peekawho has experience in an ob/gyn office, I thought she may know.

Also Teak, a question for you please. Do you know what generation the Ora Rapid Quick Test is? They did a fingerprinck and the results were available in 20mins.

[scaredgrl85]

Thanks :)

[peekawho]

Some docs would retreat for a longer time, others may not retreat at all if you aren't pregnant and aren't having symptoms at all.  
I have no idea what your doctor would do.  Teak is right, its not an emergency, and you should ask them tomorrow.

[Teak]

Rapid tests are not usually looked at as generations. Each test when modified is given a new name. If you want to apply a generation to them all rapid tests for HIV 1 alone would be a 3rd. All rapid tests that test for HIV 1/2 are 4 and the same goes with the Duo tests that have an antigen test plus and antibody test. HIV 1O2 is a 4.

[scaredgrl85]

Thanks teak