What happens if you can't get rid of BV?

Recurrent BV might happen when the infection isn't fully treated, something messes up the balance of your bacteria again, or a layer of microorganisms known as a biofilm forms to protect BV-causing bacteria. Besides disrupting your work and sex life, recurrent BV can also lead to serious complications.

What happens if my BV won't go away?

If you have persistent BV (ie it does not settle down with the first treatment you try) then your doctor may want to take further vaginal swabs to check whether there is another cause of the discharge. They will usually suggest that you use the seven-day course of metronidazole if you have not had this before.

What happens if you have BV for too long?

Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.

Why wont my BV go away after treatment?

Around a third of women who take antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) find that the problem recurs within the next two to three months. Some strains of BV organisms may have resistance to some antibiotics. You should return to your healthcare provider and describe the problems you are having.

Can you permanently have BV?

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis is an imbalance of the vaginal bacteria normally present in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition and treatment is available; however, in some women the condition may recur or even become chronic, requiring multiple and sometimes long-term treatments.

How Do I Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis? | This Morning

Why do I constantly catch BV?

BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV. We also do not know how sex causes BV.

How do you treat long term BV?

Recommended treatment for recurrent BV consists of an extended course of metronidazole treatment (500 mg twice daily for 10-14 days); if ineffective, metronidazole vaginal gel 0.75% for 10 days, followed by two times per week for 3-6 months, is an alternate treatment regimen.

Why is metronidazole not working for BV?

Second, the bacteria that either cause BV or cause the anaerobic overgrowth may have become relatively more resistant to metronidazole (the most common treating agent) or to clindamycin (the other common treating agent). Third, this infection may be reintroduced back into the vagina as a result of reinfection.

Why does my BV keep coming back after antibiotics?

The first course of antibiotics isn't always enough to cure this infection. Talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms don't clear up. The answer may be a combination of additional medication, lifestyle changes, and new hygiene practices.

What to do if BV comes back after antibiotics?

It's common for bacterial vaginosis to come back, usually within a few months. If it comes back, you'll usually be given more antibiotics to treat it.

What to do if metronidazole doesn t work?

Metronidazole doesn't work for everyone. Tinidazole, Solosec, Cleocin, Vancocin, and Alinia are some metronidazole alternatives.

Does chronic BV ever go away?

Some women suffer from chronic (recurring) bacterial vaginosis. Medicine can clear up the infection, but it returns again after a few weeks. Some women report that bacterial vaginosis returns after their period each month.

Will my recurring BV ever go away?

Frequently Asked Questions. How long does it take for BV to go away on its own? In some cases, bacterial vaginosis may go away on its own within a few days. However, it often requires treatment to clear the infection, and untreated BV can lead to health complications.

How many times can you take metronidazole for BV?

Metronidazole is available as an oral pill or vaginal gel; the choice of pill or gel is based on the person's preferences. The oral pill is taken twice daily for seven days. The gel is inserted into the vagina at bedtime for five days. Both treatments work equally well.

How do you know if metronidazole is not working?

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that the infection is cleared up. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. If your symptoms do not improve within a few days after you start this medicine or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Why does metronidazole take so long to work?

by Drugs.com

Metronidazole starts to work 1 to 2 hours after you take it, because it is quickly absorbed, and it reaches its maximum concentration after 20 minutes to 3 hours. But it may take a couple of days before you start to feel better or notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Why does BV take so long to go away?

Within a month, antibiotics clear up to 85% of bacterial vaginosis cases, yet for over half of these patients, BV will return within 6 months. This is thought to be in part because the antibiotics don't fully eradicate the pathogenic microbes, leaving BV-associated bacteria to regrow in the vagina following treatment.

Why do I get BV every time I sleep with my boyfriend?

It may be that BV-associated bacteria from some men's microbiomes can directly impact the onset of BV in women when they're transmitted to the vagina during intercourse or that the penile bacteria may disrupt the natural balance of vaginal bacteria in ways that could induce BV over time.

How long is too long for metronidazole?

If you need to take metronidazole for longer than ten days, your doctor may want you to have some tests. Make sure you keep any appointments that your doctor gives to you.

Can metronidazole cause permanent damage?

Serious side effects of Flagyl and Flagyl ER include brain disease, fevers, mouth sores, painful urination, nerve damage resulting in prickling or tingling sensations that may become permanent, cystitis, pelvic pain or pressure, decreased sex drive, inflammation of the lining of the rectum, inflammation of the mouth ...

What is an alternative to metronidazole for BV?

Alternative regimens include secnidazole oral granules (1012–1014), multiple oral tinidazole regimens (1015), or clindamycin (oral or intravaginal) (1016).

Can BV linger after antibiotics?

Symptoms may linger even after you are done with your antibiotics—it may take 2 weeks for symptoms to completely go away. If the BV comes back, you will need to take another course of antibiotics. If you get a BV infection several times a year, you may need to take a long-term course of antibiotics.

What is the strongest treatment for BV?

Metronidazole — Metronidazole, taken over multiple days, is one of the most effective treatments for BV. Metronidazole is available as an oral pill or vaginal gel; the choice of pill or gel is based on the person's preferences. The oral pill is taken twice daily for seven days.

What is the strongest antibiotic for BV?

The three best treatments for Bacterial Vaginosis include: Metronidazole 0.75% vaginal gel once a day for 5 days. Metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg pills twice a day for 7 days. 2% clindamycin vaginal cream once a day for 5 days.

What antibiotic kills BV?