Chronic BV... Or Is It?

[BearHitch]

I was wondering if anyone has ever experienced chronic bacterial vaginosis?  I had it once when pregnant with DS (never prior to that) and it showed up when using a rubber toy... anyway, ever since having my son, we have been using condoms and I have had BV like, 6 times since that (that was in October).  There are only 2 symptoms that I have when this happens: lower abdominal pain and pain during sex.  I just don't understand it... I have asked my doctor a few times if it could be PID, but she said it isn't since I don't have a fever.  Any thoughts?

[Tanker Chic]

I never had any pain associated with it but I used to have recurrent BV.  Off and on for over a year. It finally just quit coming back.  I never had much luck with the met gel (flagyl), which is usually what all the dr want to prescribe.  What worked for me was Clindesse, single dose treatment.  Also the acidic base of your flora changes during and after your AF.  This can create an environment prone to BV, so my dr had me do a treatment every month after AF whether I had symptoms or not.  I think I did that like 4 or 5 months in a row.  That seemed to work for me.  

Best of luck to you..

[jenshim]

Yep, I had it chronic, always associated with AF. I have been lucky since giving birth not to have it yet but thought I did last month, then within a week didn't have that "smell" anymore, which is very distinct and disgusting. The metrogel did not work but the flagyl pill two pill treatment did, for 6 months. Good luck...it is very, very frustrating!!!

[babyscience]

Do you think you could be allergic to latex?  It you got it after using a rubber toy maybe it could be something associate with rubber?!?!  Whatever it is...that *****!  I hate having it, I always get it after a yeast infection.

[jenshim]

I had no symptoms. Just the lovely smell after intercourse and we knew it was back again, usually shortly after AF ended. I was so frustrated with it! I tried tons of different home remedies and nothing worked. I always thought it was linked to my iud also. Still haven't proven it's not but haven't proven it is, either. It does help to treat at AF time several months in a row in pill form, either flagyl or Clindesse. Anyhow, hope you have luck. It's a gross thing to keep getting. Not symptom wise, just that smell. Ick.

[BearHitch]

Well, I've used the Clindesse and the Flagyl... they both take care of it until it comes back.  I do seriously think I have a rubber allergy... when I told the doctor I thought I was allergic to condoms she laughed, but now they are beginning to believe me.  Perhaps now that my IUD is in and no more condoms this will be the last of it.  Just one more fight.  Just wondering if anyone else had it or if I should push it getting checked out further, but its good to know others struggle with it - I hadn't even heard of it I got it the first time  :S  Thanks!

[katherine1]

hi i also suffer with this.and like you id never heard of it before.i find that using live yogurt helps.put some on a tampon and keep it inserted for an hour.do this once everyday for a week and it should work.if its still there then the only thing you can do is keep seeing your gp for the antibiotics.hope this helps.

[CYW]

Everytime i go in for a pap I always test positive most of the time...Anywho, I was told that anything that imbalances the good bacteria within the vagina makes it come back.. it could be the runner OR even the lubricant...Your body is reacting to it... I have read somewhere that if it is that reoccurent...(seeming after contracting TWO for the price of ONE STD last month-i thought it could be BV..but i never had any symptoms...)anywho mentioning this to my dr because I read it somewhere were meds that help regulate the good bacteria within the vagina.. it's taken for X amount of time and after a certain time you stop and see...Good luck to you...It's annoying! I've been testing pos for it ever since before I ever began having sex..

[mami1323]

Does your dh take the medication as well?  I was told you could transfer it back and forth from you and your partner.  When I had BV, ages ago, me and my current bf were given the medication.  Once we both took it, we never go it again.  Before that I would take the medication and once we had sex it was back again.