Why won't my BV go away with antibiotics?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thebody.com


Is it possible for BV to not go away?

Bacterial vaginosis often clears up on its own. But in some women it doesn't go away on its own. And for many women it comes back after it has cleared up. Antibiotic treatment works for some women but not others.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthlinkbc.ca


How long does BV take to clear 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhealth.alberta.ca


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).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on academic.oup.com


What can happen 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on publichealth.va.gov


How to prevent recurrent vaginal infections (BV + yeast) NATURALLY



Why would metronidazole not work?

Metronidazole belongs to the class of medicines known as antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


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

Pregnant women with symptoms of BV infection are usually treated. Oral treatment with seven days of metronidazole is preferred over vaginal treatments. The best way to prevent BV is not known.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on uptodate.com


How do I know if metronidazole is working?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drugs.com


What is better for BV clindamycin or metronidazole?

There was no statistically significant difference between the two results. Side effects for both regimens were comparable. We conclude that 2% clindamycin vaginal cream offers similar efficacy and safety to standard oral metronidazole therapy for bacterial vaginosis.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Is 5 days of metronidazole enough?

Most people are prescribed an antibiotic called metronidazole, which is very effective if taken correctly. You'll usually have to take metronidazole twice a day, for 5 to 7 days.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


What bacteria is resistant to metronidazole?

Anaerobic bacteria known to be resistant to metronidazole include occasional anaerobic cocci, some nonsporulating gram-positive bacilli and propionibacterium. Metronidazole is the most active antimicrobial agent against Bacteroides fragilis, the most resistant of anaerobic bacteria.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


What is the strongest antibiotic for bacterial infection?

Vancomycin, long considered a "drug of last resort," kills by preventing bacteria from building cell walls.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on science.org


What do you do if Flagyl doesn't work?

Alternative antibiotic treatments

Tinidazole tablets may be offered if you know you are intolerant of metronidazole. Tinidazole is a similar antibiotic and you need to take 2 g once a day for two days, or 1 g once a day for five days.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on patient.info


What happens if antibiotics don't work for infection?

When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. These germs can grow and spread. They can cause infections that are hard to treat. Sometimes they can even spread the resistance to other bacteria that they meet.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cedars-sinai.org


Is it OK to take 2 courses of antibiotics?

There's an increased risk of side effects if you take 2 doses closer together than recommended. Accidentally taking 1 extra dose of your antibiotic is unlikely to cause you any serious harm. But it will increase your chances of getting side effects, such as pain in your stomach, diarrhoea, and feeling or being sick.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


What are the top 3 antibiotics?

Top 10 List of Generic Antibiotics
  • amoxicillin.
  • doxycycline.
  • cephalexin.
  • ciprofloxacin.
  • clindamycin.
  • metronidazole.
  • azithromycin.
  • sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drugs.com


Is it normal to have discharge after taking metronidazole?

A common side effect from metronidazole (vaginal) is a thick, white vaginal discharge with or without an odor which usually goes away soon after completing a full course of treatment.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com


Is there an alternative to metronidazole?

In cases where metronidazole is unable to be used due to drug-drug interactions, tinidazole may be a safe alternative.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on amjmedsci.org


Is metronidazole better than amoxicillin?

Amoxicillin has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 344 ratings on Drugs.com. 52% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 32% reported a negative effect. Metronidazole has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 2320 ratings on Drugs.com.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drugs.com


Can BV turn into Trich?

Research has shown that untreated or improperly treated BV is associated with increased risk of: Research has shown that untreated or improperly treated BV is associated with increased risk of: Getting STIs like HPV, herpes, trichomoniasis (trich), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on solosec.com


What does trich smell like?

Trichomoniasis is the most common curable sexually transmitted infection and easily treatable with a course of antibiotics. It's known for its pungent fishy odor. “The trichomoniasis infection can be quite smelly,” says Minkin. “It's a more pronounced fishy odor than bacterial vaginosis.”
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What is trick STD?

Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common STD caused by infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (a protozoan parasite). Although symptoms vary, most people who have trich cannot tell they have it.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cdc.gov


What does trichomoniasis discharge look like?

Trichomoniasis in women can cause: abnormal vaginal discharge that may be thick, thin or frothy and yellow-green in colour. producing more discharge than normal, which may also have an unpleasant fishy smell. soreness, swelling and itching around the vagina – sometimes the inner thighs also become itchy.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


How long is a course of metronidazole?

Most courses of metronidazole last for around seven days, but some may be as short as three days and some as long as 14 days. For certain infections you may be given a single, larger dose of metronidazole, usually five 400 mg tablets (2 g) to take at once.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on patient.info


How quickly does metronidazole work?

This medication should take effect within one to two hours, and while effects may not be visibly noticed immediately, gradual improvements are usually noticeable after a few days. Exposure to this medication may lead to adverse effects in pregnant humans, so care must be taken to avoid accidental exposure.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on vcahospitals.com
Next question
Which primer is best for wood?