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What is an alternative treatment for trichomoniasis when metronidazole doesn't work?

A little over a year ago I had severe symptoms of trichomoniasis: burning, discharge, and odor. I went to the doctor and was given a single dose of metronidazole. When that didn’t work, I was given the same medicine to take over a week. I followed all the doctor’s directions and took all of the pills and stopped having sex. I felt better for a few days, and then my symptoms returned, although a lot milder. Since that first visit, I have been to the doctor several times throughout the year for the same infection and I have taken the same medication each time for it that doesn’t work. Just a few weeks ago, I went back to the doctor because for some reason I thought this time would be different. Well, it was different because the doctor didn’t see any trich from the wet mount, but I had an elevated wbc count and a high pH, which has been consistent with every wet mount. There were also clue cells and I was told I have BV. I was prescribed the same medication, even though it didn’t work the first several times I took it and I'm still having the same symptoms. Tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia were also negative.
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973741 tn?1342342773
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi there.  Ugh, sorry. This sounds like quite the ordeal.  So often, trich doesn't cause any symptoms and people have it with no idea that they do.  Ignorance is bliss?  But if you get an odor and the frothy discharge, that will get old fast!  I think it IS often confused with bacterial vaginosis.  And you very well may have THAT right now and not trich because you've taken so many courses of antibiotics it sounds like.  It's important during your treatment that you also take a good probiotic to hep balance out your good and bad bacteria levels.  There is a different medication you can ask your doctor about called Tindamax. If you had a regular sex partner and plan to have sex with them again, sadly, they should also get treated.  Here is a guide to Trich.  https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/trichomoniasis#1  I know you are probably an expert on it at this point!  

There are home remedies that people have mentioned such as apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, garlic, etc.  Here's an article on home remedies and some info.  https://www.healthline.com/health/home-treatments-for-trichomoniasis#popular-treatments  None are none to be particularly effective, unfortunately.  Garlic looked most promising. Be careful about anything strong or acidic on your genitals!  

When do you go back to the doctor?  
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Thank you for your response. I went back to the doctor about a month ago, which is when I was told that I have BV for the first time. Its just weird because my symptoms still feel like trich. Also, how accurate are wet mounts? Is a false negative possible in this case? Because I still have a high wbc count and tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia were negative. I'm nervous to go back to the doctor because I keep getting the same lab results and they keep giving me the same medicine. At this point, I'm ready to to just accept it and maybe try home remedies.
I really don't want to go back to the doctor because I know what my lab results will be and I'll just be given the same medication again. I've dealt with this for so long I've lost all hope of feeling better. Nevertheless, I'm scheduling an appointment for this afternoon because its becoming unbearable again.
The wet mount is as accurate as the person reading it.

Trich, BV and yeast all give really similar symptoms.

You have clue cells. That's BV. Did they give you the level of them? They are usually reported in a %, like 35% clue cells, or something similar.

There are several types of vaginitis - you can read about some here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4437757/

If you can get your lab results, you can use the charts on that to make sure you were given the correct diagnosis.

You said, "I'm nervous to go back to the doctor because I keep getting the same lab results ..."

If they've diagnosed you with trich and then BV, you shouldn't have the same lab results for each of those. Those should have two different clinical findings on the wet mount.

It's also not uncommon to get yeast after taking so many antibiotics.

There are home treatments you can try for BV and yeast, but I wouldn't try those unless you are sure the trich is gone. Have you slept with anyone you slept with before the diagnosis? You could be reinfected.

Lots of women think using probiotics helps. Make sure to do your research on this - there are lots of different brands, and different strains of them, and some are better than others. I like Jarrow Fem-Dophilous, but it's expensive.

Probiotics will not cure trich, which is a parasite, so be sure that's gone. If it's an allergic reaction, it won't help that, either.

https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/qa/what-are-the-different-types-of-vaginitis



Oh and good luck - vaginitis, no matter the cause, is miserable!
Thanks for your answer. I just looked at my lab results. From my last visit, directly reading from it, there were no yeast or trich. Clue cells were more than or equal to 20%, moderate wbc count, positive whiff test, and my pH was 6.0. This is why I'm confused. If the wet mount doesn't indicate trich, why is my wbc count still elevated?  I've been given metronidazole for the millionth time this year for both trich and this last time for BV,  but it still didn't help. So I'm still at square one.
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