Birth control/BV ruining my life

[Unravellingfronds]

Hello,

I am unsure where to post this/what im really asking for but I guess this is a bit of a cry for help/advice.

I am in my early 20s and have gone from having no issues with my general vaginal health to suddenly in the last 2 years, 5 UTIs, very very reccurrent BV, pain etc. (I have been to the sexual health clinic numerous times, all clear in that regard but they did say I have cervical ectropion, which is harmless, but can be a sign of hormomes being too high?)

So the BV stuff first, I have probably spent hundreds of pounds at this point on products to try and help (canesbalance, balanceactiv, multigyn) which just masked the symtoms, I finally sucked up the embarrassment and got checked properly, I have now had 4 sets of antibiotics for this in 6 months, but it comes back every time. I'm sick of antibiotics and know they're ruining my gut microbiome, so after lots of research found Canesflor which worked super well, but its been discontinued and now the BV is back. (any canesflor replacement reccomendations?) I only wear cotton underwear, no douching, no scented washes, no baths. But yes, this is slowly ruining my sex life with my partner as its made me so paranoid and embarrassed.

Which moves me on to birth control. I have been on the Progesterone only pill since I was 16, so for 7 years. I have always struggled with my mental health as a teen and now, but I just feel so numb and exhausted all the time. I have happy days, but its like a cloud is over me and I don't even know who I am or what I like. I strongly suspect the pill is having an effect, especially the more womens stories i hear around this. This could also be whats effecting my low sex drive, another thing harming my relationship. I am fearful of coming off the pill though too for the side effects and risk of unwanted pregnancy. I don't know if im just a depressed person due to genetics/unresolved trauma or if this could be the pill.

Last thing and trigger warning (I was SA a couple years ago, around 6 months before all these symtoms of bv/uti started occuring. It could be completely unrelated, but I know trauma can store itself in the body/make things hard to heal, so I have wondered if theres a link)

I don't really know what Im asking, but I feel so trapped and lonely in this and I guess it would just be useful to hear other womens experiences/opinions on either of these two topics. I would really appreciate your advice. Thanks all x

I’ve been through the whole bv thing, and I truly sympathise. It is an awful thing to experience, especially when it comes back after every course of antibiotic. The thing that got it under control, and eventually got rid of it for me, was boric acid. I got food grade boric acid and put it into empty vegetarian capsules, 2/3 boric acid powder and 1/3 coconut oil (to keep things moist and prevent bleeding, which can happen if you use only boric acid in the capsules). Insert twice a day initially, for a week or two, then start to use less often. Then you’ll find out what your triggers are (usually inprotected sex and menstrual blood) so for a while you might only need to insert after a trigger. I don’t even need to insert after menstruation now. I eventually stopped needing the boric acid, dnd I had struggled with bv for about a decade chronically, before discovering boric acid.

It's a nightmare isn't it- seems to be very little GP reccomended options for women suffering with this other than antibiotics. Thanks for the reply and the boric acid suggestion, I've only recently heard about this. So this method has completely cleared the BV for you rather than just masking symptoms for a while?

I am confused by my triggers as I dont get bleeding on the pill im on and I dont have unprotected sex. I am a little concerned about the bleeding part but did the coconut oil alleviate this completely? And did you ever experiment with probiotics?

Im happy to hear the bv is gone for you, that must be such a relief after such a long time

@Unravellingfronds

Yes, the GPS just kept prescribing the metronidazole and the metrogel, but my symptoms would come back within three days of stopping, so I gave up on that after about 6/7 courses (maybe more). I was given all sorts of advice. Washing with aqueous cream instead of soap, changing washing powder, cotton underwear only, using condoms (pointless advice for me, as I wasn’t sexually active any more. I couldn’t be with my symptoms). I was advised to use sanitary towels instead of tampons. No baths - showers only.

I did try probiotics, feminine probiotics, both taken orally and inserted into the vagina. I tried live yogurt, making my own kefir, taking goldenseal. Some of these things helped a bit, but I didn’t get true relief until the boric acid. Oh, that reminds me, I used to also douche with hydrogen peroxide. I did that out of desperation as I knew douching was bad in itself. It did relieve the symptoms slightly, temporarily, but not enough.

Yes, the boric acid has pretty much been a cure. I probably used the capsules for a year or so, but only occasionally. Then after a while I stopped needing them. I probably used one six months ago, and I keep them on standby if I ever need them, but if I notice a discharge starting I will only need one. It has changed my life. Also, I am back to having baths, wearing whatever underwear I like, using tampons, using whatever laundry detergent I want.