Vaginal Strep in a Non Pregnant Woman

[PeachesGZ]

Hi,  I had been having lots of itching, burning and a brownish discharge for two weeks after a fun sex filled weekend with a boyfriend whom I only see every two months or so.  This happens often and I have always treated it as a possible yeast infeciton.  This time it didn't go away and so I saw my ob/gyn.  She took a culture and found strep B, which has nothing to do with Strep A that creates strep throat.  She said she could give me antibiotics to make it go away but then I would get a yeast infeciton from the antibiotics and then we'd have to use another cream etc.  She said just to let it ride it's course.  Now it's been three and ahalf weeks and it's better but not all healed.  Does anyone have any ideas about treating this or preventing this?  Every article on the internet has to do with Strep B in prenatal women (when it is very dangerous for the baby) and nothing about Strep B for regular women in their 40's like me :)  Thanks, I'd love to hear from anyone who has ever been treated for this disease or any doctors out there.

[Cleared]

I have found that a combination of Cipro and a cephalosporin for one week will clear up the problem.

[Normal33]

I had suffered for 5 years with GBS, and then I had to take a probiotic called VSL 3 for a different problem, and it cleared up the GBS. A recent magazine article had said that VSL 3 was one of the best probiotics on the market, because it will actually recolonize the body with good bacteria. I get it from a large pharmacy/drugstore chain here in the US. If you try to order online, I think it says you need a doctors prescription, but my pharmacy just orders it directly for me whenever I need it. I don't have any problem with GBS any longer, but it is nice to know that VSL 3 is available if I ever need it again.

[1111Laura1111]

Thanks for sharing! I've had GBS problems for almost 7 years. I have had some success using probiotics like fem dophilus but it doesnt have as high of a CFU value as VSL 3. I will try it.

[Papnad]

Hi everyone,

My first post here was a year ago. I just wanted to provide you with an update on my situation. (disclaimer: English is not my native language).

After almost 2 years of intense suffering from this vaginal condition and sore and raw vagina, I feel like I'm 'cured' now. I am so, so happy about this, I could cry. I can have intercourse normally again and I feel normal. I'm not aware of my sore vagina anymore and my discharge is normal again. Hurray! The only thing that is left to fix for me is having a UTI every few weeks, but that's a different story.

So I just wanted to let you know what I did to get normal again. Everytime I was in forums with women suffering from this, they would never return to update on their situation, so I promised myself I would.

First of all, for almost 2 years I took almost every supplement on earth. It cost me a lot of money (A LOT!) and it did not work at all. Allimax, propolis, garlic, probiotics, you name it. It did nothing. I understand that it's maybe hard to hear, because it would be so nice if we could fix this with just a supplement. But it's just not strong enough to make a major change in your vaginal health. So you could try it, but you could also save your money. I did extensive research and tried almost everything. However, I won't say that it won't work for you, you have to decide for yourself.

Another thing I did during the past 1,5 year, was douche a lot. Hibiclens, hydrogen peroxide, apple cider vinegar, you name it. I put it all up there, just to make me feel 'clean', without the sticky thick discharge I had. Well, it caused my vagina to never get normal again and I destroyed my whole vaginal flora.

So what I did: first of all, I quit all of the above. No supplements, no vaginal douches, etc. In my period of suffering, I did a lot of research and decided I would try to heal my vaginal walls and flora. Because Strep B is a normal vaginal pathogen, and only takes over when your vaginal flora isn't normal (because of antibiotics or hormones, for example). I myself have had a lot of antibiotics and yeast medication. Besides that, I have a hormone imbalance.

So I looked up remedies for vaginal atrophy and desquamative inflammatory vaginitis, and I found that a suppository with DHEA restored the vaginal walls and flora in menopausal women, because it converts to estrogen in the vaginal walls. You can use it as a suppository. I also found that probiotics are best used when they are inserted directly into the vagina. I also used a vaginal gel with the right ph, named Multigyn Acti-gel (available in my country). It is really good stuff with a lot of reviews, just look it up. It restores vaginal flora and allows good bacteria to grow. So my regimen everyday:

- I take a pill of probotics (the right kind, with vaginal bacteria: rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14)
- I take a pill of DHEA (pills are 50mg, I use only use 5mg)

I open the pills and mix a bit of them with the Multigyn Acti-gel (with resembles vaginal fluid, it is just a clear gel). I mix it in a vaginal cream inserter (don't know what it is called in English). I use this mixture in my vagina everyday. It use just a tiny bit, so it doesn't run out during the day.

So for the first few weeks I did this, I was still sore, because it takes a while to restore the vaginal epithelium and flora. Before I didn't have the patience to wait for it to heal, but I did now.

It's been a few months and I'm all better now, still use this every few days for maintenance (mostly after intercourse). I have a normal sex life again and now irritation. I couldn't be happier, because the solution was so easy and I don't have to use antibiotics anymore.  

My apologies for the long post, I just want to help all of you. I you have a question about my regimen, please ask. Please look up all the research on vaginal DHEA and vaginal probiotics. Also, look up research on desquamative inflammatory vaginitis. This strep B only takes over because something is destroying or vaginal flora (auto-immune, hormones, antibiotics). It is not the main cause of our infection. Also, if you could get your hands on Multigyn Acti-gel, please try it. It's not just restoring, it's also soothing and allows you to have normal vaginal fluid again.    

I hope I can help someone with this, please feel free to ask me anything.

[Itchywomanprobs]

Hi! I am currently taking probiotics, I had a yeast infection off and on for 6 months and finally trying to get it under control. Do you think the Renewlife brand of probiotics 50 billion vaginal type are good for mixing with the gel? I don't have the gel, I'm just taking the probiotics orally but I feel an itch again and wanted to try something different! Thanks!

[1111Laura1111]

Thanks so much for sharing your success with others! I live in the U.S. and have been suffering with GBS for 7 years. I managed to order some Multi-gyn Actigel and just started trying your regimen this week =)

[Claud12344]

Hi, we're you diagnosed with Group B Strep? I was and penecillin has not helped at all. Wondering if this remedy has still helped for you? Thanks.

[Normsie]

Can you tell me how you use the tea tree oil? It is a very strong ingredient, and I would think it could burn the delicate tissues in the vaginal area?
Thanks
Normsie

[Falloo]

I would not advise using tea tree oil internally as it is very strong stuff. Using bicarbonate of soda (known as baking soda if you're in the US) mixed with water is much more effective and soothing. When symptoms are getting too much for me I run a lukewarm bath about 4" deep and put roughly 1/4 cup bicarb in there. Sit in and sleuce the area for as long as you can manage. Pat dry gently with toilet tissue or something similarly absorbent and soft. It is very soothing, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and helps alleviate symptoms almost immediately. And you can repeat as often as you need with no side effects (unlike the hydrogen peroxide etc I've heard other people using).

[Japangirl]

I was keep having white vaginal discharge for 3 years and I am desperately finding for the cause of it for all these years including several std and blood test but they just come out normal. Until I can't torelate anymore I decided to have hysteroscopy. It come out normal but   strep b is diagnosed. I am relieved because at last I know why I am having so much white sticky discharge like yeast but not like yeast. And I found this site which I feel so many women out there is suffering.  I need to share this with you all. I am having clear discharge at the moment by doing this;

Eat doctor medicines which is augmentin
After that antibiotic all bacteria in your body is wiped off so you need good stuff
I have a blender which I mixed
-half lemon
-one apple
-half cucumber
-half carrot
-some milk (very little)
-most importantly I mixed in probiotic powder
-sometimes I add in more veg such as celery

And drink it instantly but not right after antibiotic.

I see result immediately after two days. Watery discharge and I feel I finally can see the light after living in hell for so many years

[disney18]

So I saw another doctor because I was still in a lot of pain and I wasn't giving up. I ended up having a exterior urethra polyp. My urine was burning my vulva skin that was causing my pain due to this polyp. The polyp has since been removed and I am back to normal. All these doctors thought it was group b strep that was causing my pain and my condition had actually nothing to do with GBS at all.