Need to talk about BV!!!!!!!

[Kate8989]

I’ve had this for years... some days I don’t and some I do. I’ve been swabbed so many bloody times each time it comes back negative for BV. My symptom is the slight fishy smell but I don’t have any other symptoms from it...
Antibiotics do sweet FA, I’ve tried all the herbal remedies, pessarries, gels etc you can imagine but nothing has any impact!!
Anyone else live with this? X

I don't think fem fresh is good! It wasn't for me anyway. I use Simple soap now, it's great!

I had it recurrently for 3 years. Balance Activ Gel worked a treat and touch wood I've had no repeats since.

Agree an sti check for trichomansis is advisable to rule it out

Have you tried changing your toilet roll.

I had no idea how many toilet rolls are bleached, dyed, perfumed, etc. etc. until i developed a massive allergy to a very well known brand.

Worst of all, apparently, are the moist tissues.

Thanks everyone for all your great advice, I really appreciate it and have been overwhelmed with your responses 😘. I think I’m just going to monitor triggers a bit more closely when I’m having a bad day. Thanks again everyone xx

Both my children love fish and if they've had a fish pie/ tuna baked potato/ mackerel etc I can smell it in the nappy the next day. Not even a pooey nappy, it's in their wee! I don't know if this is 'normal' but I can tell even if they were at MIL's and she gave it to them and I've asked after what they had for tea, I'm always right if I think they've had it!
Also for a day or two after my period I have a smelly discharge, it's been that way for years and I've had swabs and smears in that time. I just use a panty liner and change it as regularly as I would change a pad, I also wipe with baby wipes for those days and dispose with the liner. My friend had a fungal infection in her arsecrack that smelled, I don't know if it was fishy but it drove her mad for ages and the more she washed with soapy shower gels etc the worse it made it, she was driving herself mad saying she smelled (I couldn't smell it but obviously didn't get that intimate with her, because it was 'on' her she could smell it at intervals and thought it was noticeable). GP gave her some cream once they figured it out and it cleared up, she was soaping all over and it was making the infection worse.

I have given the 'just use warm water' a blooming good try over the years. Doesn't work- even soaking for quite a while does not clean the outside bits properly. If you can use gentle soap without it irritating you, then why not?

Fungal infections are generally very itchy by the way, I don't think that's the OP's problem

It won't be an arse crack infection, it's a different smell 😂 (a friend told me) 🤫

Little update for those of you who would like
to know .

I have tried to check where the smell
Is coming from and I’m pretty sure it’s not coming from the vagina. As the smell there seems to be normal and any discharge I have doesn’t smell of anything.

I’m wondering if it could be something to do with the food I eat and that having some effect on my urine???

I’m stumped on this one!!!! X

This might sound a bit weird but have you tried your belly button?

Do you eat a lot of fish? It could be making your wee smell fishy as it leaves your body

@gamerchick- no I haven’t, do you think it could be connected in some way?

@KitKatCHA- funnily enough I had fish on Saturday and Sunday . But I don’t eat LOADS. I’d say average amount per week x

I work in contraception and sexual health.

The number of women I see who are convinced they have some sort of infection and have a smelly discharge, when they really don't, is astonishing.

Vaginal discharge has an odour. It's usually mild, slightly musky and occasionally pungent but should not be offensive. Discharge is usually creamy white but can be tinged slightly pink or more yellowy. It shouldn't be any variation of green, brown, orange or black!

If you've been examined and swabbed and they are all negative (most swabs done by an HCP will check for BV, TV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and general bacterial and fungal infections) then you don't have an infection.

All women - PLEASE stop using things like Femfresh (Satan's Soap) and scented towels, liners, douches, washes and the like. Your vagina is quite good at looking after itself. Use mild soap and water around the anus and vulva and rinse well. Don't use toilet wipes, wet wipes, those godawful feminine hygiene wipes. Your fanny is not supposed to smell like a flower.

Well the easiest way is to stick a finger in there, have a rummage and sniff your finger.

I'm way too invested in this.

funnily enough I had fish on Saturday and Sunday grin. But I don’t eat LOADS. I’d say average amount per week

Keep a diary I have noticed the day after eating fish my wee has a definite fishy tinge. Just presumed it was from the waste products from the fish leaving my body

@Sidge- That’s really interesting. I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve had swans taken and urine samples and always negative.
It’s just a mystery that no one can offer me a reason as I’m not imagining it. There is definitely a slight fishy smell but cannot find the cause. I’m edging more towards my diet having some kind of effect than anything else?
@gamerchick- ha ha thanks, I’ll give it a try!
@KitKatCHA- yes I’m thinking of doing that as I’m convinced my diet is playing a part as opposed to anything else. X

What does your husband say about it?

@alifromtheforest- we haven’t discussed it. Some days I have it, some days I don’t that’s why I think it’s diet related. The things us women have to deal with hey 😂 x.

i am slightly horrified that nobody is giving their fannies a proper wash.

@exWifebeginsat40- well there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there on the best ways to wash. The joys of being a woman hey! X

@MadamePeony- I hope you don’t mind me messaging you. I’ve been trying to work out triggers the past few weeks for my “BV”. No foods, or after I’ve had a bath. Noticed it’s worse when my anxiety is heightened but that’s about it. So if I have a high anxiety day it’s bad but then the next day it could be gone and not return for a few days or week. It’s annoying yes but not effecting my life. Do I need to do anything or can I just leave it the way it is? X
Thanks in advance

@Kate8989 Actual BV is triggered by an imbalance in the vaginal flora- something knocks out all the healthy bacteria and allows room for bad bacteria to grow. This then causes the smell and discharge associated with BV. It is a purely physiological event so causes can be soaps, sperm, periods, douching, some women with coils also experience frequent occurrences of BV however the evidence as to why is limited.
You also have sweat glands around this area which release pheromones so often if you eat onions, fish or any other strong smelling food you may notice that the next day.
It is interesting that you say when you have a day of anxiety you notice it more- anxiety in itself is not a cause of BV BUT anxiety heightens ALL senses and if you are already worried or concerned about BV then your anxiety may be amplifying the symptoms you describe.
In sexual health we often see very anxious but otherwise well members of the public who attend with a long list of symptoms and when we examine them and run all the the tests we are still no closer to an answer for them- this is usually because from a clinical point of view there is nothing for us to find. What I would suggest for your peace of mind is to be tested for BV at a local sexual health clinic the next time you have symptoms. If the results are negative then you will absolutely not have BV and the next course of action would be to address the causes of your anxiety otherwise you will find yourself going around in circles searching for an answer that may not exist.
You are not alone- we see many women in a similar situation.

This.

I had the WORST vulval itch for months and months and the GP told me I had dry skin and would need to use an emollient cream forever more. She also said just to use water to wash with (I used to wash the outside areas with mild unscented soap) and within a couple of weeks the itch went away and I've been fine since!

I don't smell either, so I don't necessarily think that will be the cause!

Washing with lots of clean, clear water is fine for the inside. You can use soap or shower gel externally.

Feminine washes are good - just a little. Plus a ph balanced lubricant.