Why won't my BV go away after antibiotics?

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.

What happens if your BV doesn't go away with antibiotics?

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.

Why is my BV not healing?

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.

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.

How long does it take for BV to go away after antibiotics?

While the infection may go away on its own, most doctors use antibiotics to treat it. You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days.

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

What happens if you have BV for a long time?

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.

What to do if metronidazole doesn t work?

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

Can BV become resistant to antibiotics?

The widespread use of antibiotics to treat these infections has resulted in increasing rates of resistance. While this is far less common with the bacteria involved in BV, resistance can sometimes occur.

Why am I getting BV all the time?

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.

Which probiotic is best for BV?

Which probiotics are best for BV? Lactobacilli-based probiotics such as Lacticasebacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus reuteri are best for treating BV.

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.

How do you treat BV resistant?

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.

Can you get permanent 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 long can bacterial vaginosis last?

Once you start treatment with a simple course of antibiotics, the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV) usually go away within two to three days. While in some cases it can resolve on its own without treatment, it can take longer to clear up and it can come back.

When should I worry about BV?

Make an appointment to see your doctor if: You have vaginal discharge that's new and associated with an odor or fever. Your doctor can help determine the cause and identify signs and symptoms. You've had vaginal infections before, but the color and consistency of your discharge seems different this time.

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.

Does metronidazole always cure BV?

BV is treated with antibiotics, of which oral and vaginal formulations of metronidazole or clindamycin are most commonly used. Although short-term BV cure rates of multiday oral and vaginal metronidazole regimens are 65%–90%,^{11, 12} recurrence rates are high.

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.

Is it possible to have BV for months?

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. Or it can return after they have sex.

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.

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.

Can BV come back after metronidazole?

Using oral or vaginal preparations of metronidazole and clindamycin, 80–90% of women will have an initial response to treatment but 15–30% will get a recurrence within 3 months. In women with recurrent BV the initial response rate appears to be lower.

What are the best vitamins for BV?

To help with BV prevention, 250 mg vitamin C should be used once daily vaginally for six days after your period. While silicone-coated vitamin C is not available in the US, enteric-coated vitamin C is available in the US and can be used in the same way.

Can boric acid cure BV in one day?

To treat BV, the boric acid capsules can be inserted into the vagina at night for about 1-2 weeks. If you have a recurrent BV infection, your doctor may recommend you use it 1-2 times a week for about 3 months.

What kills the bacteria in BV?

The antibiotics clindamycin and metronidazole are both effective treatments for bacterial vaginosis.