Bacterial vaginosis

[whatsallthisthe]

Went to gynae last week, they took a smear. got a phone call this morning from drs. nurse. I have BV! Is this an STI? I have noticed a discharge etc. not sure what it was. My husband and I had sex 3 weeks ago. our sex life is intermittent due to ongoing gynae issues for me. endometriosis and ovarian cyst.

I have also been noticing mentionitis of a colleague of his at work. How do I get BV if I have not had sex with anyone else? Do I get BV if he has had unprotected sex with someone else.....

calm me down folks. I am not really sure what to think

[gamerchick]

Fannys get quite stroppy easily really when you think about it. Don't wash, wash too much, take antibiotics, soap, laundry detergent and so on.

[lettertoherms]

Fannies can be right tits sometimes.

[wafflyversatile]

I had a phase of getting it many years ago over several years. I had a bit of an on-off relationship going at the time and it seemed to be triggered by sleeping with him again after a break. IIRC they said at the time that men don't get BV but sometimes if you are getting it repeatedly they recommend your partner get treated too.... I didn't pursue it because you can't drink on the ABs and the chances of him not drinking for 7 days were nil.

Maybe that is something worth asking about if you keep getting it, especially if it follows that pattern.

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Thank you so much for the Balance Activ tip - I've been on the BV >> antibiotics >> thrush merry-go-round for a while now. I've just ordered some of this, so here's hoping!

waffly, as I understand it, the problem is pH - fanjos are acidic when healthy while sperm is alkaline and so can mess that up (and some people believe in Intelligent Design ).

[LoisPuddingLane]

I've had it once or twice, and only after sleeping with women. I do not understand this, as that was (mainly) less invasive than sleeping with men.

[MysweetAudrina]

I am a chronic sufferer of this. I hate it but very little I can do. Have been on ABs loads of times but they only work for a while. Have tried the gels but they didnt work at all.

[YellowStripe]

Herdy, maybe you only get it mildly? Thank your lucky stars! Apart from feeling odourous and uncomfortable, I get an awful stomach ache and nausea with a flare up of Bv.

I think mine can be triggered by sugary foods; also read somewhere that taking acidophilus tablets can help keep it at bay.

Also, I always have a stock of balance activ to use at the first sign of it ( available in chemists, Asda, and on prescription). I think there may also be tablets available.

Considering it's more prevalent than thrush, an awful lot of people don't know much about it!

[fifi669]

It reminds me of a Harry potter spell, 'bacterial vaginosis'

I've had it a few times. Each time the antibiotics cause thrush. Treating the thrush makes it easier to get BV.... Then thrush.... I tend to take the pills and pop some medicine up my hooha at the same time so they can battle it out

[whatsallthisthe]

I recognize the stomach ache. will get the gel. is there no end to fanny troubles. it just goes on and on. half a hysterectomy. now they want to take the bits left....cervix and ovaries because of endometriosis. now my fanny is all out of whack. some peoples fanny's behave themselves, why is mine so uncooperative?
we have sex infrequently because of pain and now it would seem sperm upsets the balance below and brings with it complications.

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

I've used Balance Activ and I believe you can use it all the time as a preventative measure. It says "use to maintain the balance".

Might be one less thing to worry about, you're sure going through a lot at the moment OP!

[YellowStripe]

Could you use condoms to stop the sperm reaction? I think mine used to get triggered more by vigorous sex, although not exclusively. It can make you feel really miserable - you have my sympathy!

[OnIlkelyMoorBahtat]

Arf at the Harry potter spell, "bacterial vaginosis!"

I had this a few years ago - was given a course of antibiotics & recommended to wash my bits with aqueous cream instead of soap; works a treat and hasn't come back since. Worth a try?

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Yes I have heard that condoms can help.

The trouble with BV is it doesn't have a nice name like thrush - that's why lots of people don't know much about it, it's a horrible name that makes it very clear that it's nasty germs in the fanjo, so nobody talks about it much. Maybe it should be called 'wren' or 'penguin' or 'great crested grebe' or something.

[MyChildDoesntNeedSleep]

OP, have you used the gel? It works almost instantly. Come back and update!

[Pinklaydee1302]

'Fishy fanny' is it's other name

I've just got rid of it, had it for months. had all the swabs n tests for sti's as I'm single at mo. All came back negative..I then told the GP it was BV cos I'd had it before

[gotagoldtoof]

I used to take a herbal thing called enzara which I bought from the internet in absolute desperation. It actually stopped the awful cycle of recurrent BV. I am not sure they make it any more, it was amazing though, and I only took it for about a week before the bv fecked off all together.

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

Poor you OP, I have had this and it's not nice. I remember it being quite smelly

[Blobby10]

I find that if my diet becomes too heavy on sugar/sweeteners/nice stuff then I get thrushlike symptoms.

Also had ongoing thrush symptoms a few years ago and like the OP was being too vigorous washing myself! It cleared up almost overnight once I stopped scrubbing so hard

[WhoKnewBeefStew]

It’s not an sti, I’ve had it when I wasn’t sleeping with anyone (and I’d got myself checked out beforehand so I know categorically it’s not sexually transmitted). My friend also has it on a regular basis and takes antibiotics for it

[PookieDo]

I’ve used the gel and I do like it
I think I didn’t have it full blown BV as it went quite easily with gel, but it was not a happy balanced garden.

At certain times of my cycle I become convinced I have BV but then it goes again

[BumbleBeee69]

Balance Activ is great, convenient and fast. I get it on prescription and it's fantastic, my lady garden is Zen again

[PookieDo]

I Wish I did it’s £10 a box!

[BumbleBeee69]

I Wish I did it’s £10 a box!

Gosh I know, check with your GP, I didn't realise I could get it either, until my Doctor volunteered the info