A vaginal hygiene thread...

[Chlorinatedfrontbum]

I know how mn loves a vaginal hygiene thread, so here's one for today.

I have suffered with bv for many, many years. Nothing has ever helped, strong antibiotics have cleared it up once, but not for long.

Yesterday I went swimming for the first time for years, can't even remember when I last swam in a pool. Anyway, get home and haven't bothered to shower afterwards (took 2 young babies swimming too, that palaver is another story) and I've noticed there's no smell coming from my vagina. Nothing. It's amazing and I feel great and very confident!!

Was it the chlorine? How can I replicate this at home? I can't go swimming every day! What do people think of my theory?!

[VestalVirgin]

Well, chlorine is intended to kill bacteria in the water, so that is possible. However I find it weird that you noticed no smell. Chlorine smells very strongly, and I hate the smell, so would definitely shower after swimming in a pool.

I suppose the chlorine would have the same effect as strong antibiotics. Probably not last that long, either.

For a long-term solution, have you tried probiotics? A healthy vagina should have lactic acid bacteria in it, that create an environment that is unsuitable for other, harmful bacteria.


Or you could buy underpants made from silver-coated yarn. Silver kills bacteria, too.

[GirlWithTheLionHeart]

Are you on the pill or contraceptive?

I got recurring BV on the injection and pill.

[wobblywonderwoman]

What probiotics are good? So many types

[BrandNewAndImproved]

I get bv frequently as well. I use the tubes that balance out your foof and that sometimes gets rid of it and if that doesn't work I get antibiotics.

If the antibiotics don't work go back to your Dr's. They will sort another week of them, give you a stronger dosage or different antibiotics. Don't suffer with a smelly vagina for no reason.

[Jessicajayne93x]

Hi can anyone put my mind at ease I’m litterly thinking the worst I’m a worrier anyway!! For a good couple weeks I’ve been getting this really bad watery discharge it’s like a brown in colour and smells awful! I have pelvic and abdominal pain/ dull ache and my back aches too I went to my go he prescribed me with antibiotics for bv but since it’s still not gone it’s really getting me down and doing research on my own is not helping my anxiety!

Thanks in advance xxx

[Littleallovertheshop]

Don't research it. Go back to the doctor and tell him the antibiotics didn't work. Have you had a recent smear?

[Jessicajayne93x]

I'm terrible for it! not the best option i know and no I can't have a smear till I'm 25

[AnyFucker]

Jessica, go back to your doctor or to a sexual health clinic and ask for a full sexual health check including swabs for chlamydia. An untreated (or inappropriately treated) infection like this can cause pelvic inflammatory disease which may have long term effects on your fertility. Don't be scared, just do it.

[AnyFucker]

Sorry for hijack. OP, have you tried a full length course of metronidazole ?

[AnyFucker]

and I agree, I do feel really really extra minty fresh after swimming. I think most people do.

[Queenbean]

This thread is early contender to be in the Daily Mail in 2 days time

[Jessicajayne93x]

I've been with the same partner for 9 years before my gp prescribed me with the metronidazole (2 away for s week) when I went about 6wks before that I had swabs to be taken as I suffer really bad with normal discharge any way and they didn't find any std's whist swabbing

[SnowBodyforrrrm]

I'm glad this popped into active! I've been wanting to start a thread about this but thought I may get called a troll (I'm not)
It's only occurred to me recently that their may be a problem down there. Everytime I go to the toilet I notice I have discharge in my pants, it's thin but does smell (not fishy but not pleasant) so by the end of the day it's pretty unpleasant by sight and smell. My partner has mentioned it but I've always dismissed it by saying it's an open whole, it's going to produce discharge, but I'm questioning now whether this is right!?

Should I have discharge in my pants all day, everyday? I'm pretty sure it never used to be like this but as I had a brain tumour last year which required surgery, my memory isn't great so I can't be sure

[EveOnline2016]

How do you clean that area normally.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Jessica you can get a smear before you're 25, of course you can, if there's a problem they should do one to rule some things out. I had one at about 22. From whichever age you have your first smear, you then have to have one every 3 years or whatever the recommended is.

I definitely recommend Yes lunricant in applicators to keep PH balanced.
I take acidophilus daily as well.
Also lots of various supplements and dietary stuff for thrush (had it every month for 7 years before I worked out what works for me!).

[Iworrytoomuch]

Changed the name sorry (Jessica)
I've tried to ask for a smear once before as cervical cancer runs in my family (about a year ago) she said she couldn't do it as the lab would refuse it but look a look down their and said she didn't see any abnormalities plus my new gp hasn't mentioned anything do you think it's best i go ask for one and some more antibiotics what's lubricant applicators what do the do before this I suffered discharge anyway a lot which was normal for me

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

How long was your course of antibiotics? You can get the 1 dose or the week long dose I think. Have you been back more than once for BV? It took 2 goes to clear mine and dr said if I had to go for a 3rd time they would investigate

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

^^ forgot to add, I literally went, took the dose the. Went straight back (on the 1st day of reoccurrence) and got another dose

[jobrum]

Slight derail but this is the perfect opportunity to remind everyone that men can carry thrush and have no symptoms. So you have thrush, think dh can't have it, he's not itchy, then keep getting reinfected, swabs at drs, samples sent off looking for something else, properly bleeding-itchy. It was only reading (on the nhs website ffs, don't know hw I missed it before!) that I went to Boots, dh and I both took thrush medication and within a week I was symptom free! So always get yoyr sexual partner to tske the medication too!

[Iworrytoomuch]

Ive only had the 1 week course it never got rid of it I'm going to call the gp in the morning and ask for another course

[Agadooo]

Tmi alert - I have discharge every day and reckon it's been like that about 10 years-i have to wear a liner everyday or my pants are very damp very quickly -not itchy or sore or anything but would be nice not to have to wear a panty liner for even a day! Sigh......

[Iworrytoomuch]

Mines was like that before I got bv as the doc said but my doctor said its normal!

[AnyFucker]

some women do have lots of normal discharge

[debbriana]

What sort of underwear do you wear ? Cotton, or other types

I have stopped wearing other types unless it's special occasion. Sometime for a short period but change back to cotton nickers.

[Agadooo]

I went to doctors once and he was very dismissive and said he wouldn't imagine it would cause me any problems in life and to just accept it and basically that it wasn't even a thing IYKWIM -no examination or anything and made me feel daft for wasting his time-now I just accept it.