Recurrent odour after sex ttc, test results show normal flora

[Gokwan99]

Long time lurker, first time poster!
I am getting BV-like fishy odour after unprotected sex and after my period. It started when we started ttc. I have been using lactic acid pessaries and trying to limit sex to my fertile window, but both go against advice not to use pessaries and nhs recommends sex every other day throughout cycle. However high vaginal swab showed normal flora (with some gardenella), screenme biome test at the beginning of the year showed picture perfect vaginal biome, and a gram stain from last week showed normal flora too. I therefore lose gynae and fertility doctors’ interest because the results are saying nothing to treat. I’m losing my mind! I’m wondering whether my flora is having a chance to recover and stabilise, as you can’t do the tests after your period or if you’ve recently had sex. It’s catch 22.
I spent 2023 on metronidazole every month, and it would just come back. One gynae has said his preference is Dalacin (clindamycin pessaries), which tbf I don’t think I’ve tried, but a) he now won’t prescribe because results were clear and b) you can buy online but it seems to be out of stock everywhere in UK at the moment.

ive had two losses in this time, one stillbirth (first anniversary was yesterday) so it’s been a really rough road and I feel like I’m just back where I started. If anyone has any ideas or has suffered from a similar conundrum I’d be so grateful! I’m based in London if you have any specific specialist recommendations but happy to travel to get this sorted. I’m thinking I could try a Daye test and make sure I have sex a few days before I do the test and don’t use pessaries, in the hope that’ll pick something up. But even if it does have BV, none of the specialists seem to have a protocol for recurrent BV. I’ve read treating my husband simultaneously could help, and he’s open to it, but the Australian protocol also involves clindamycin, which I can’t get hold of.
I also tested positive twice for staph last year, so I thought maybe this was what it had been all along and BV was a red herring. However that’s not being picked up this year either so who knows what it is or how to treat it and stop it coming back 😫

P.s. forgot to say, I wash externally with dermoll 500, and have done for years as directed by a dermatologist as I used to get vulval dermatitis. No one has told me to stop using it, but as it’s antibacterial, I’m wondering if I should just try washing with water in case it’s affecting biome. What does everyone else was with ‘down there’😅?

Anyone?😀

@Gokwan99 I was going through something very similar! Also when TTC and doing it more during ovulation. I’d be fine and then we’d have sex and the smell is there. I had no other symptoms whatsoever. The only difference though is mine were coming back as BV from the drs. Apart from one actually it said all clear but I had the smell. I done a Daye test and it confirmed my Lactobacilli was severely low. I like that the Daye tests also check for ureaplasma as I also wanted to check that. From that test I implemented some changes such as straight after sex I’ll have a shower and clean down below, I also
the cetaphil gentle wash for down there. I’ve also started using non fragranced laundry items for when I wash mine and my partners underwear as I’ll wash them separately to my usual washing. I’ve started taking probiotics every day. The dr also prescribed myself and my partner the same antibiotics. That seemed to completely sort it. I have recently done a Daye test as I thought I had thrush (allergic reaction to a latex condom) and it shown my Lactobacilli was above the optimum amount so something worked. I don’t know what resolved it but something in amongst what I did helped x