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Gardnerella aka Bacterial vaginosis, or bacterial vaginitis
I have two regular sex partners. When I have sex with partner A I do not contract Bacterial Vaginosis. When I have sex with partner B I get Bacterial Vaginosis (it really stinks). Partner B has gone to his doctor and his doctor said he was fine. Partner B has also stated time and time again that he is not getting symptoms, yet I continue to contract Bacterial Vaginosis. I know it is coming from sex with partner B because we stopped having sex for 2 months and I did not have any problems. I would like to start having sex again with partner B but I'm worried that I will get sick again.
Partner B has offered to rub hand sanitizer on his penis and hands prior to sex. I think this might not help and will stinging. Will doing this even help? Is this in his semen or is it topical on his penis?
How can we deal with this situation?
Partner B has offered to rub hand sanitizer on his penis and hands prior to sex. I think this might not help and will stinging. Will doing this even help? Is this in his semen or is it topical on his penis?
How can we deal with this situation?
Partner B should have been tested. Men DO carry and pass BV, the med establishment does not want to admit this but there have been studies since 30 or so years ago that show Gardnerella (BV) bacteria infections in men, it lodges in the epitheial cells in the urethra and IS passed in semen, also the bacteria can be present in pre ejaculate fluid and under foreskin. This means a condom may not protect you IF he has touched his penis and gotten the bacteria on his hands it will transfer to the condom when he puts it on and then into you where the AMINES produced by the bacteria will raise your pH allowing the bacteria to thrive and proliferate, knocking out all your healthy protective flora.
You are correct that partner B was your source, assuming you do not have a hygiene or pH balance issue. This happened to me also, get this:
I did not have or have ever had BV, regard less of who or how many partners, very healthy, vaginal pH normal acidic. I get with new boyfriend. The first time we have sex his genitals smell fishy, kinda gross but it was hot summer weather and I thought "sweaty" and I did not want to ruin the moment by saying "dude you reek" so... Next time, same thing so I said "it's so hot and sweaty, lets take a shower". Next time it wasn't hot out and he was clean. Next time he was clean and when I went "down there" his pre cum came out and reeked of fish and I did tell him nicely as I could, he thought it was from sushi and he does eat a lot of it so I thought, yeah food can influence body fluids and I didn't know it was contagious bacteria at the time so... Four days later I turn up with a fish scented discharge, NEVER, EVER HAD THIS! and I'm vegan. I remember from years ago sex ed books in my mother's library: "trich"-smells like fish, do some research find Trichomoniasis and Gardnerella (now called BV because they found some additional bacterias are involved with the Gardnerella)
I tell the BF "Honey, you know that sorta sweaty fishy smell you have, that could be an infection, did you smell this with your EX?", he says "yes and when I pee, is it an infection?" I say "yeah could be, we should get tested". He says: "Really, how do you know?" My mother taught sex ed, I remembered something about fishy smelling STD so..
Both of us test positive (the swab up his P hurt like hell) and take antibiotics smell goes away. Then smell comes back, take nauseating antibiotics again, goes away, comes back again, more antibiotics. This time I decide to go for recheck to see if the antibiotics are actually working, I test CLEAN. BF tests clean but NO SWAB only urine test but he has yeast from the antibiotics, takes yeast pill. BF's EX starts showing up at his job and social events, following him, trying to get back with him, telling me he's cheating on her with me. He denies sleeping with the EX but he still smells and of course I get the BV back again even with a condom. I clear it again (without antibiotic but "natural home remedy* *see below), retest clean and refuse to sleep with BF until he tests clean again. He refuses to test again so nothing but oral for 6 months and I do not get any BV at all. Finally he goes back to clinic and they don't bother with the test they just give him the antibiotics. I smell check him and seems fine. EX shows up at party we are at and demands to know if I am sleeping with her BF, I tell her he says you broke up last year, she says no were together, I was with him yesterday. Four days later (that's about how long it takes for the bac to grow enough to stink) It's back, and I clear it again. BF cops to sleeping with the EX and others but denies the EX has it and tells me he told her to get checked and she did but she didn't have it but the doctor gave her antibiotics anyway- ?!!. I didn't see him for 6 months, then he was insistent to see me and the EX had gotten married, so I saw him but he still smells like fish and has a new girlfriend, who I really feel sorry for!!! BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE BV FROM SKANKY, LYING PLAYER - very happy and smell really good now.
Also the best way I found to cure this with out antibiotics is get a little pop top plastic travel size bottle, fill it with 2 oz of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, lay down on a towel with your hips tilted up and squirt the HP all the way in there. Bring your knees to your chest and hold that for 3-5 minutes. Doesn't hurt, kills the bacteria. Get up go to the toilet and squeeze it out. ONE TIME SHOULD KILL ALL THE BV BUT IF IT IS REALLY HEAVY AND WAY STINKY, DO IT ONCE A DAY FOR 3-7 DAYS--- Then, and this is absolutely necessary TO REPLENISH THE HEALTHY FLORA AND pH BALANCE:
get: 6 0Z PLAIN YOGURT, ORGANIC OR NATURAL NO ADDITIVES, NO FRUIT, NO FLAVORS AND NO SUGAR! AND GET A HIGH QUALITY LIVE BILLION COUNT MULTI STRAIN PROBIOTIC POWDER IN CAPSULES WITH RHAMNOSUS AND REUTERI IN IT OR GET THE MULTI AND A SEPARATE BOTTLE OF CAPS WITH THE RHAMNOSUS AND REUTERI AT LEAST. OPEN 8 CAPS OF PROBIOTICS (HALF AND HALF OF EACH IF YOU HAVE BOTH KINDS) POUR THE POWDER INTO THE YOGURT AND MIX IT IN, THEN GET A CLEAN PLUNGER APPLICATOR, LIKE THE ONE THATS COMES WITH YEAST MEDS, TAKE OUT THE STICK (PLUNGER) DIP THE TOP OF THE TUBE INTO THE YOGURT MIX AND SUCK IT UP LIKE A STRAW NOT QUITE TO YOUR MOUTH, USE A MIRROR TO SEE IT FILL, THEN PUT HE PLUNGER BACK IN THE TUBE ABOUT A HALF INCH UP, INSERT AND PLUNGE THAT YOGURT AS FAR UP THERE AS YOU CAN , PREFERABLY LYING DOWN. DO IT IN THE AM AFTER YOU USE THE TOILET AND BEFORE BED, TWICE A DAY FOR 10 DAYS AT LEAST. DURING THE DAY IT MAY OR MAY NOT LEAK OUT, TRY NOT TO LAUGH OR RUN OR PUSH WHEN YOU PEE OR YOU HAVE TO REDO IT YOU CAN USE A TAMPON BUT PROBABLY BETTER NOT TO HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE. CAP THE YOGURT AND KEEP IN THE FRIDGE. CLEAN OUT THE PLUNGER WITH SOAP AND HOT WATER RINSE, WRAP IT LOOSLY IN A PAPER TOWEL TO DRY FOR NEXT TIME OR BUY A 20 PACK. DO NOT HAVE SEX DURING THIS TREATMENT PERIOD. Also take the probiotic caps twice a day by mouth before meals for at least 2 weeks especially if you have used antibiotics because they kill off the necessary healthy bacterias that we need in our system along with the bad BV bacteria, and it is best not to eat sugar in any form as this fuels bacteria growth.
AND DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH ANYONE WHO SMELLS FISHY!!! And by all means repost this for all the ladies who need to know that it may not be their undies or soap!!!
You are correct that partner B was your source, assuming you do not have a hygiene or pH balance issue. This happened to me also, get this:
I did not have or have ever had BV, regard less of who or how many partners, very healthy, vaginal pH normal acidic. I get with new boyfriend. The first time we have sex his genitals smell fishy, kinda gross but it was hot summer weather and I thought "sweaty" and I did not want to ruin the moment by saying "dude you reek" so... Next time, same thing so I said "it's so hot and sweaty, lets take a shower". Next time it wasn't hot out and he was clean. Next time he was clean and when I went "down there" his pre cum came out and reeked of fish and I did tell him nicely as I could, he thought it was from sushi and he does eat a lot of it so I thought, yeah food can influence body fluids and I didn't know it was contagious bacteria at the time so... Four days later I turn up with a fish scented discharge, NEVER, EVER HAD THIS! and I'm vegan. I remember from years ago sex ed books in my mother's library: "trich"-smells like fish, do some research find Trichomoniasis and Gardnerella (now called BV because they found some additional bacterias are involved with the Gardnerella)
I tell the BF "Honey, you know that sorta sweaty fishy smell you have, that could be an infection, did you smell this with your EX?", he says "yes and when I pee, is it an infection?" I say "yeah could be, we should get tested". He says: "Really, how do you know?" My mother taught sex ed, I remembered something about fishy smelling STD so..
Both of us test positive (the swab up his P hurt like hell) and take antibiotics smell goes away. Then smell comes back, take nauseating antibiotics again, goes away, comes back again, more antibiotics. This time I decide to go for recheck to see if the antibiotics are actually working, I test CLEAN. BF tests clean but NO SWAB only urine test but he has yeast from the antibiotics, takes yeast pill. BF's EX starts showing up at his job and social events, following him, trying to get back with him, telling me he's cheating on her with me. He denies sleeping with the EX but he still smells and of course I get the BV back again even with a condom. I clear it again (without antibiotic but "natural home remedy* *see below), retest clean and refuse to sleep with BF until he tests clean again. He refuses to test again so nothing but oral for 6 months and I do not get any BV at all. Finally he goes back to clinic and they don't bother with the test they just give him the antibiotics. I smell check him and seems fine. EX shows up at party we are at and demands to know if I am sleeping with her BF, I tell her he says you broke up last year, she says no were together, I was with him yesterday. Four days later (that's about how long it takes for the bac to grow enough to stink) It's back, and I clear it again. BF cops to sleeping with the EX and others but denies the EX has it and tells me he told her to get checked and she did but she didn't have it but the doctor gave her antibiotics anyway- ?!!. I didn't see him for 6 months, then he was insistent to see me and the EX had gotten married, so I saw him but he still smells like fish and has a new girlfriend, who I really feel sorry for!!! BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE BV FROM SKANKY, LYING PLAYER - very happy and smell really good now.
Also the best way I found to cure this with out antibiotics is get a little pop top plastic travel size bottle, fill it with 2 oz of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, lay down on a towel with your hips tilted up and squirt the HP all the way in there. Bring your knees to your chest and hold that for 3-5 minutes. Doesn't hurt, kills the bacteria. Get up go to the toilet and squeeze it out. ONE TIME SHOULD KILL ALL THE BV BUT IF IT IS REALLY HEAVY AND WAY STINKY, DO IT ONCE A DAY FOR 3-7 DAYS--- Then, and this is absolutely necessary TO REPLENISH THE HEALTHY FLORA AND pH BALANCE:
get: 6 0Z PLAIN YOGURT, ORGANIC OR NATURAL NO ADDITIVES, NO FRUIT, NO FLAVORS AND NO SUGAR! AND GET A HIGH QUALITY LIVE BILLION COUNT MULTI STRAIN PROBIOTIC POWDER IN CAPSULES WITH RHAMNOSUS AND REUTERI IN IT OR GET THE MULTI AND A SEPARATE BOTTLE OF CAPS WITH THE RHAMNOSUS AND REUTERI AT LEAST. OPEN 8 CAPS OF PROBIOTICS (HALF AND HALF OF EACH IF YOU HAVE BOTH KINDS) POUR THE POWDER INTO THE YOGURT AND MIX IT IN, THEN GET A CLEAN PLUNGER APPLICATOR, LIKE THE ONE THATS COMES WITH YEAST MEDS, TAKE OUT THE STICK (PLUNGER) DIP THE TOP OF THE TUBE INTO THE YOGURT MIX AND SUCK IT UP LIKE A STRAW NOT QUITE TO YOUR MOUTH, USE A MIRROR TO SEE IT FILL, THEN PUT HE PLUNGER BACK IN THE TUBE ABOUT A HALF INCH UP, INSERT AND PLUNGE THAT YOGURT AS FAR UP THERE AS YOU CAN , PREFERABLY LYING DOWN. DO IT IN THE AM AFTER YOU USE THE TOILET AND BEFORE BED, TWICE A DAY FOR 10 DAYS AT LEAST. DURING THE DAY IT MAY OR MAY NOT LEAK OUT, TRY NOT TO LAUGH OR RUN OR PUSH WHEN YOU PEE OR YOU HAVE TO REDO IT YOU CAN USE A TAMPON BUT PROBABLY BETTER NOT TO HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN THERE. CAP THE YOGURT AND KEEP IN THE FRIDGE. CLEAN OUT THE PLUNGER WITH SOAP AND HOT WATER RINSE, WRAP IT LOOSLY IN A PAPER TOWEL TO DRY FOR NEXT TIME OR BUY A 20 PACK. DO NOT HAVE SEX DURING THIS TREATMENT PERIOD. Also take the probiotic caps twice a day by mouth before meals for at least 2 weeks especially if you have used antibiotics because they kill off the necessary healthy bacterias that we need in our system along with the bad BV bacteria, and it is best not to eat sugar in any form as this fuels bacteria growth.
AND DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH ANYONE WHO SMELLS FISHY!!! And by all means repost this for all the ladies who need to know that it may not be their undies or soap!!!
Thanks for the info. I have been diagnosed by a doctor. As of now I'm going to stick with one partner and use condoms. Oddly enough I just terminated the realationship with the guy in question today.
Bacterial Vaginosis is not an std. Men don't get it. So, he wouldn't be having symptoms. They may somehow introduce a bacteria that upsets the natural balance in the vagina, causing BV. But they do not transmit it. You can get it without having sex.
Also, Gardnerella is yeast. Two different things. Both exist in the vagina together. You get a yeast infection when it overgrows. You get BV when bacteria overgrows.
Are you being diagnosed by a doctor? Is there any possibility that you have trichomonas? Men often do not get symptoms. But it is very possible to have it for years without knowing.
Oh, and it is not unheard of to get BV from having unprotected sex with multiple partners. Honestly, if that is what you are doing, you are putting yourself at risk for all std's including HIV. You do not know how many other partners these men may have. And the thought of them having unprotected sex with other women or men...you get the point. Please protect yourself if you are going to continue having multiple partners.
So, to answer your question...try using condoms at all times.
Also, Gardnerella is yeast. Two different things. Both exist in the vagina together. You get a yeast infection when it overgrows. You get BV when bacteria overgrows.
Are you being diagnosed by a doctor? Is there any possibility that you have trichomonas? Men often do not get symptoms. But it is very possible to have it for years without knowing.
Oh, and it is not unheard of to get BV from having unprotected sex with multiple partners. Honestly, if that is what you are doing, you are putting yourself at risk for all std's including HIV. You do not know how many other partners these men may have. And the thought of them having unprotected sex with other women or men...you get the point. Please protect yourself if you are going to continue having multiple partners.
So, to answer your question...try using condoms at all times.
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