Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bv

identify this discharge

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:06:28 -0800

Okay, what is this? Bacterial vaginosis? yeast? Details, icky stuff, etc etc.. inside and, yes, I'm going to the doc... I have never had BV (bacterial vaginosis) that I'm aware of and this just doesn't match the yeast infections I've gotten when taking antibiotics...

I'm a nursing mother of a 1 yr old- not sure if hormonal changes could be part of the explanation.

Symptoms:

no pain
no itching
large amount of bright white, sticky, gooey discharge. does not have the particulate-ness of yeast infections I've had
faint odor (possibly unpleasant but possibly not abnormal? Let's just say different from what I'm used to- slightly sweet/ musky-ish) Not fishy or rotten smelling.

so, what is this?

one more thing: if you have ever used hydrogen peroxide, which is now being recognized by researchers as an effective remedy for bv, HOW did you use it? How much? Did you douche with it?

HomeRemedyFilter

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:08:27 -0800

Can one use Lactobacillus acidophilus to treat bacterial vaginosis and, if so, how? I have a doctor's appointment in three days for what I believe is BV. Meanwhile, I also have a pack of Acidophilus Pearls. The MayoClinic website implies that I can somehow use Lactobacillus acidophilus to treat BV. It would be awesome if I could do that instead of getting some sort of heavy duty antibiotic from the doctor.

Has this actually worked for anybody? If so, how do I do it...would I use the pills orally or vaginally? (and, if vaginally, how exactly does that work?) Throwaway email address of mefianonhomeremedyfilter AT gmail DOT com for followups and replies.

How do I deal with the depression stemming from a really bad year?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:56:17 -0800

I have been beset by crappy luck and chronic health problems in the past year. It's been extremely stressful, worsened by the fact these very health problems prevent me from employing my normal methods of dealing with stress. I'm spiraling quickly downward into mood-swings and depression and I don't know what to do. How did you deal with your stressful periods? In the past year, I've contracted HPV, had surgery to deal with the subsequent cervical dysplasia, developed bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections on multiple occasions, and due to the necessary multiple antibiotic regimens I'm now into the eighth month of a yeast infection that is not even responding to strong anti-fungals. In the past six months I've also managed to pick up ovarian cysts and chronic kidney stones. I have two sports injuries that prevent me from doing any exercise besides slow walking and just found out I have a repetitive stress injury in my forearms. I've had multiple emergency-room trips for some of these conditions, as well as one a few months ago for an absolutely vicious bout of food poisoning. To make matters worse, in the past year I've also been sexually assaulted and a victim of check fraud, both which were a multiple-month legal headache to deal with, not to mention the psychological toll.

My schoolwork is suffering. I'm completely stressed out--I have never had health problems and they're now all piling on at once. I could deal with any one just by itself, but the sheer mass of them is driving me crazy. I get a lot of relief from hard exercise, but the sports injuries prevent any form--really, any form, I've tried. I get relief from sex, but that's only been possible twice in the past three months due to the yeast infections. Can't drink because of the anti-fungals. Can't even bake, cook, pet my cats, or escape to the internet due to the RSI. I've tried coping with ice cream, but that provides short-term relief, long-term stress due the expanding waistline, and I gotta cut that out again in another effort to treat the yeast infection (I was on a meat-eggs-vegetables diet, the infection died down, I included the sugar again and it's come back with a vengeance).

I'm incredibly depressed. I'm getting inexplicable mood swings. I hate my sick, deteriorating body and want to escape it. I want to lie down somewhere and cry. I have had deep depression before, beat it, and have remained pretty optimistic and upbeat--but after a year of this shit I can't anymore. I've joked with my boyfriend that I hope I get cancer, as that would be a sure sign from the universe that it didn't want me in it and I could take it as a cue to just kill myself.

What did you do with your bad luck year? Do you have any suggestions for dealing with the stress (besides meditation--that hasn't worked)? I'm living my life waiting for the next thing to come around the corner and punch me in the face, while attempting to nurse the bruises I've already received. It's no life at all.

How to stop reoccuring yeast infections

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:45:04 -0800

I've had a yeast infection/yeast infection + bacterial vaginosis one to two weeks before my period for every month since December. I've read all the old AskMe threads and tried the home remedies on this page. I'm about ready to start scheduling a monthly appointment with the doctor to get my dose of antibiotics and buying Gynelotrimin wholesale (I'm allergic to Monistat). Help! I:
- go commando more often than is probably decent
- often wear skirts in combination with the above
- wipe with hydrogen peroxide when the itching starts
- have tried sticking yogurt, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, acidophilis, and garlic in my cooter (not all at once)
- dry off with paper towels
- wash with Cetaphil
- don't take baths
- maintain a trimmed exterior
- pee/wash after sex
- take acidophilis
- cut down on sugar
- exercise regularly/sleep well
- use cotton underwear (when I wear underwear)

Given that I rarely got yeast infections before I started hormonal birth control, I'm almost positive it's due to the BC. I've tried Ortho TriCyclin Lo and now I'm on NuvaRing, and the yeast infections still come. But for convenience reasons, I would prefer to not abandon hormonal BC for condoms and don't feel ready to invest in an IUD (I'm worried about the spotting side effects).

So--short from that, is there anything, anything else I can try? I got myself waxed once and that seemed to help a little. I'm not a fan of the look, but I'm willing to do it if it produces results--has it helped anyone else?