To ask you about bacterial vaginosis?

[EmbarrassedVagina]

Posting for traffic, have namechanged too. I had a GP phone appointment (just returned from hospital, major surgery) as last week I discovered a thin, watery, grey vaginal discharge accompanied by the most dreadful smell. GP left a prescription at chemist. I have been taking antibiotics for 5 days, still no change. Of course I will take all the tablets but surely I should be better by now? Also feel crap. Why have I suddenly got this condition at 49yrs old? Could it be due to reaction to surgery, oncoming of menopause? Would value any help/advice to avoid this in the future.

It’s supper common and can be so frustrating, it’s just a bacterial imbalance in the vagina. I’m guessing you got metronidazole for a week? If so You’ve still got three days to go so hopefully will improve, if not you could visit sexual health and they could take some samples and look under the microscope, sometimes depending on what can seen another antibiotic can be used. It may well be due to the menopause and just changes in your normal discharge, avoid using soaps ( although tempting when there is a smell) just water will help. I suffered with it hugely and would scrub and scrub with all kinds of soaps, I was advised at the time to just use water, I’ve not had it since

Thanks, Lymphy, yes on Metronidazole, just thought I would see an improvement. BV is evil!

metronidazole is a horror, make sure to take it with food and no booze with them, it’s not nice x

This must be awful, so sorry.

I will say, if you use tampons, check that this isn't due to a rogue one which is lost up there. Especially if it isn't clearing up with treatment. I have learnt this the hard way myself

Hope you feel better very soon.

You can get metronidazole gel which you apply internally. It might work better for you, but unfortunately metronidazole does cause you to feel rubbish ime.

Optibac for women.

Take the max dose and it will clear up in hours.

It is amazing!

www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/shop/for-women

You can buy the gel from a supermarket. One a night for 7 nights it's that common. Wear a pad though or it's uncomfortable.

I've suffered this for years. I was prescribed metronidazole too, made me feel like death especially as I was pregnant. The only thing I've found that ever clears it up is Balance Activ gel. You use them for 7 days and then once a week or so after that. I never need a full 7 days though and if I notice it starting up again I use one and it goes away.

Metronidazole did nothing for me when I had it. Will second Optibac...... a miracle cure!!

I echo what misterburns said, I thought I had BV until I went to put in a pessary and discovered my mooncup still up there, two weeks after my last period. ‘‘Twas grim beyond belief, but the smell cleared up as soon as it was out

Thanks all, pretty sure no tampon still in, DH says he noticed smell before my last period 3 weeks ago, so hopefully I have been diagnosed ok. Will finish antibiotics, then try optibac/get swabbed. I have been told not to drink alcohol with tablets, I cannot wait to have a g & t at end of the werk!

week, even.

Two tips -
Leave it 48 hours after the last Metronidazole before you drink alcohol. Learned the hard way.

If you use the internal gel hold it in your hand for a few minutes or leave it somewhere it can get up to room temperature before you use it. Learned the hard way with that one too!