Think I have BV but all tests are negative
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Hi, this will be a long post with my story and my test results -
So I've had vaginal odor and discharge for as long as I can remember (at least since I was about 12 years old - I am 25 now). However, my sex education was minimal so I thought this was normal, although I did always wonder why other girls were so confident spreading their legs and not worrying about the odor escaping, but I didn't worry too much about it. Later, when I was about 17 years old, my aunt, who did my laundry at the time, mentioned to me that she thought my sister had a vaginal infection because of what she saw on her underwear, but my sister and I are the same size and I KNEW I had some stuff on my underwear so I'm pretty sure she was talking about mine. This was the first time I even had an inkling that maybe something was wrong with me, so about a month later, I asked my mom to go see a GYN, but her GYN told her it was unnecessary unless I was sexually active (first example of an incompetent GYN). I wasn't going to admit to my mom that I was sexually active at that age, so I just went on with life as usual.
When I was 22, I was about to get it on with this guy that I really liked, but suddenly got really self-conscious about the odor so I stopped it before things went further. Fed up with this, I finally scheduled an appointment to see a GYN and see what was up. So I go to the doctor and she says I look normal and does the test, but it comes back NEGATIVE.
At first I was relieved, because oh my god nothing is wrong with me! But then a couple of months passed and I got self-conscious again and thought, "No, this CANNOT be normal." So I schedule an appointment again at the same clinic but with a different doctor and she examines me again. She says it looks like I might have a yeast infection and tests me again. This time it comes back negative for yeast, but "intermediate" for BV. She did a PCR test (DNA test) which has a 95% senstivity so it's supposed to be pretty accurate and much better than a simple culture.
These were the results:
Lactobacillus LOG: 7.59 - normal
Gardnerella Vaginalis LOG: 4.64 - detected - normal
Atopobium Vaginae LOG: ❤️.00 - Not detected
Megasphaera LOG: 5.29 - increased
According to the results, everything was normal except for Megasphaera which is considered "increased" if over 4.40. But the diagnosis was: "Sample demonstrates quantitative profile of bacterial species which is not characteristic of bacterial vaginosis, but may represent a transitional state." So my interpretation of this is that I didn't have BV, but it could shift that way if something happened.
I was given oral metronidazole which did absolutely nothing. Literally didn't change my symptoms or anything. I had to leave the state for a year and wasn't able to go to the doctor again, so I learned to deal with it just by making sure not to open my legs near anyone so that they wouldn't smell me, but now suddenly the discharge was bleaching my underwear at the crotch. That had never happened before so now I was more worried.
I went to a different GYN in November of last year and she once again told me that I looked totally normal and tested me for cultures. Once again, NEGATIVE for everything.
I went to a different GYN in January of this year and she did a PCR test again and this time the test results were totally normal!
Lactobacillus: >7.50
Gardnerella: ❤️.00 - not detected
Atopobium: ❤️.00 - not detected
Megasphaera: ❤️.00 - not detected
All this told me was that I always have the necessary lactobacillus and none of the bad bacteria, at least not enough to overthrow the good bacteria which is supposedly what BV is all about!
All the doctors assumed since I had normal test results that my discharge and strong odor meant nothing apparently, so they didn't help me after everything said I was supposedly normal. I took to wearing panty liners everyday since at least that way I wouldn't have to worry about bleaching all my underwear or accidentally opening my legs and subjecting my coworkers to a such a strong odor.
In May, I went back to the third doctor I'd been to and I told her I was still having the same issues. She examines me again and notices that I do look "runny" so she prescribes me oral metronidazole again despite the fact that I told her it didn't do anything the last time. She does a test too and later emails me to tell me the results were once again NEGATIVE. I take the metronidazole anyway, except this time not only did it not do anything, but it made me extremely sick too. I had to take a day off work because it made me so nauseous.
I travel for my job so I constantly have to find new doctors wherever I go, but this was becoming such a problem because I decided to google what BV was, since I never had before, and suddenly I was reading about reduced fertility, miscarriages, PID, susceptibility to HIV/STDs, and it freaked me out. I requested a 2 month extended vacation so I could come back home and go to my mom's GYN because I freaked her out too when I called her, crying that I would never be able to have kids, and she told me to go to her doctor because he was great (this was the same doctor who said I didn't have to go until I was sexually active).
Anyway, he turned out to be a good doctor. I told him about the negative test results and he says to me, "Yeah, BV can sometimes test negative, but you still have all the symptoms of BV so we'll treat it. I won't even take a test since you've had so many and I'll give you the Metrogel since it's more effective." Honestly, I felt relieved. Finally! A doctor who believes what I say!
So I used the metrogel for the 5 days and my symptoms cleared by the 3rd day. I was ecstatic! I also started taking 150 billion CFU of probiotics every day and used boric acid suppositories for 21 days after treatment since I read that it can prevent recurrences. And it was working great except for the excessive watery discharge from the boric acid, but the smell was nearly gone and the light yellow discharge was minimal. But then...like 5 days after ending the boric acid method, all my symptoms came back.
Now here is where I need someone's help because I don't know if I really have BV or if it's something else, or if this is just how I am supposed to be normally. I'll be a bit TMI right here, but if you're reading this then you're probably used to it. I don't have a fishy smell. I can sometimes convince myself that it smells like tuna, but usually the smell I get is either vinegary, or overly sweet. My sister and I had been working out once and I accidentally opened my legs too wide and she remarked that something smelled like rotten bananas. My panties will either smell like that or like ammonia. I have discharge all day long. Like I can be clean for like 3 hours after showering, but then it's like I'm leaking nonstop and my panties will be damp by the end of the day and the smell will linger so bad on my jeans that I can only risk wearing them once before I have to wash them. I have rare itching, like maybe once a week for like 5 seconds.
And something super important: I have pH litmus strips. I tested myself while on metronidazole and on boric acid suppositories and it was around 6-7. Before I started those and now, after treatment and with my symptoms having returned, my pH is between 4.0-5.0. It's hard to tell exactly because of the slight differences between the strip and the color chart, but it's WAY lighter than while I was on boric acid and metronidazole.
So I don't get it. My test results are negative, my pH is technically close to, if not in the healthy vaginal range, and I don't have a fishy odor. What is wrong with me? I'll also mention that I've been tested for all STDs and I am pre-diabetic (though I'm not sure how much this factors into it considering I've had these issues since I was young and I for sure wasn't pre-diabetic then).
I'm getting so frustrated because I'm taking a ton of probiotics, including L. Rhamnosus and L. Reuteri, along with 140 billion CFU of women's probiotics that contain a ton more bacteria. I've inserted fem dophilius into my vagina and that didn't do anything except give me a sour yogurt smell and more watery discharge (from the capsules, I'm guessing). And probiotics are so darn expensive!
I've tried:
a balance complex* - didn't do a darn thing even after taking them for a month
essentials prebiotics* - these mildly helped, but symptoms returned right after finishing them
essentials probiotics* - didn't do anything
Folic acid w/vitamin d and vitamin B - again, nothing
Boric acid suppositories - helped while using them and a little afterward, but not a permanent cure
Salt baths - I saw this on youtube and tried it for like 2 days, but it was so inconvenient and didn't help the slightest
I did take 50 billion CFU probiotics along with a tablespoone mix of Apple cider vinegar, Garlic, and Honey for like 3 days and that reduced the discharge a lot, but I then had a pap smear (normal) and it all came back full force.
I don't know what else to try. Luckily, my doctor gave me 11 refills on the metrogel so I'm going to try that again along with double the amount of probiotics, a few inserted vaginally, and the ACV/Garlic supplement to see if it does anything. I've also read that Vitamin C inserted for 6 days after your period for 6 months can work. But I tried Vitamin C suppositories from the essentials brand and it had me spotting on the second day so I stopped.
Does anyone else have similar symptoms to me? Regular-ish pH, non-fishy odor, negative test results? I'm driving myself crazy constantly researching treatments, clinical studies, and checking how I smell every hour.
I'm sorry that this was so long, but I needed to be as detailed as possible 1)to document this, and 2) to see if anyone else has had this experience.
Any help is appreciated, thank you! And hopefully we can help each other.
2 likes, 75 replies
suzy27556 lily89380
Posted
I don't know if this will help but did you know that there is more sweat glands in and around the vulva area than there is under your arm pit? When you're stressed out or you're having overwhelming emotions, just like your arm pits, these sweat glands come into action and... surprise !!! Just like your arm pit, the sweat is not always a pleasant smell. You might be putting a lot of stuff in your vagina when the actual problem is OUTSIDE the vagina.
I've had the problems you mentioned so many times in my life, I've been tested for BV more times then I can count them... until I actually made the connection between emotionnal shock and foul odors in my genitals.
One time, I was working with this awful women and she was stressing me out like you have no idea. Right there and then, I had all the BV symptoms. I did all the test (and STD) but everything came back negative. I didn't know what to do ! My genitals felt like they were swimming in a pool of nasty fishy water. My vulva felt hot all the time, like it was irritated and swollen.
Until one day.... they fired that awful women. I felt so relieved she was gone and out of my life!!!! Within a matter of hours, my problem downstairs was gone, every symptoms went away like magic. And that is when I made the connection between stress and bad genital odors. It might not be your case but it's worth to look into it, if it helps.
Once in a while it comes back and I usually can link it to something that happened and shook me emotionnally. So I just test myself: I put a finger in my vagina and smell it. If it smells like vinegar, it's BV. If I see white discharge but no smell, it's a yeast infection. If I don't find anything with my finger and it still smell of rotten fish, then I know the culprit might be my vulva and my darling sweat glands.
I would not recommend using deodorant in your genitals since the skin there is so delicate but I found that using unscented diaper cream sometimes helps. I take probiotics orally and I also open one up, mix it with water to make a paste and I spread it onto my vulva and I leave it overnight, which also helps when I'm going thru a ruff time. Grapefruit seed extract is also a good option since it's a powerful natural antibiotic for the gut and the vagina. I also found that not rubbing the toilet paper on my vulva when I'm done peeing helps. I just bundle it up, gently press it on my vulva and wait for it to absord the pee completely.
I used to wash myself all the time, like a maniac, morning, noon and night. I was actually making the problem worst since the job of these wonderful glands is to keep the vulva moist. The more I would take away, the worst it got. Now I wash once a day and I make it quick.. zip-zip and that's it. I try not to leave the soap there for more than 5 seconds.
In any case, if the problem is emotional and you don't find what it is that's bothering you, no matter the amount of medication you'll use, it won't go away since you're not fixing what's really bothering you.
I hope this helps !!
kitkat72 lily89380
Posted
I know this post is from years ago but I came across it and couldnt help but mention things ive learned. I suffered from something similar although I did not experience odor it was the same exact type of discharge as bv. Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma are two bacteria's that can also if in abudnance can cause symptoms. I finally had a GYN that tested for it after constant discharge, and urinary frequency and bladder pressure on and off. I was negative for BV stds and yeast but came back positive for ureaplasma. The thing making me think its possible this could be your issue is cause it doesnt show up on a swab for bv its a specific swab that needs to be done. The treatment necessary is also different than that of bv. The mycoplasma and ureaplasma bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics and sometimes even require a few months of treatment with doxycycline or azithromycin. Requesting a test for these bacteria may be an option for you.
sisi89391 lily89380
Posted
I have been struggling with this for years, it was such a headache, and stressful.. so much anxiety around it all. But I FINALLY have found a way to fix it! at least this has worked for me. I made a radical diet shift and started taking a really good prebiotic. my diet is now a vegan plant based diet. I tried doing the vegan thing while still eating processed vegan foods, and that still didn't change it much. I had to cut out the processed foods. It was a huge mind game in re-training my dietary habits, but not only is scent (and taste) wonderful, but my entire body feels better. I didn't even really notice it was so "off" until now. I have lost weight, my skin and hair is incredible, incredible scent down there, and my mental health and happiness are at an all time high! it's not easy making the switch, but I HIGHLY recommend trying it!!!
sisi89391 lily89380
Posted
I have been struggling with this for years, it was such a headache, and stressful.. so much anxiety around it all. But I FINALLY have found a way to fix it! at least this has worked for me. I made a radical diet shift and started taking a really good prebiotic. my diet is now a vegan plant based diet. I tried doing the vegan thing while still eating processed vegan foods, and that still didn't change it much. I had to cut out the processed foods. It was a huge mind game in re-training my dietary habits, but not only is scent (and taste) wonderful, but my entire body feels better. I didn't even really notice it was so "off" until now. I have lost weight, my skin and hair is incredible, incredible scent down there, and my mental health and happiness are at an all time high! it's not easy making the switch, but I HIGHLY recommend trying it!!!
Sam08 lily89380
Posted
I have very similar issues and problems. Differences are that I didnt start my period until i was 16 and it was extremely irregular. I probably noticed my first sign of a yeast infection at 18, but it was more of a runny discharge and odor. I was not sexually active in any way until I was 26 and I havent for the last few years, 32 now. I feel like between ages 18-26 I would experience them a few times a year, sometimes less depending on my period. My cycle, up until I was 23, was every 3 or 4 months and then it would last about 3wks. No cramps and I wasnt sexually active so it was bearable, but it also meant no yeast infections until a week or two after my period. When my period became regular so did the infections but theres no smell(every once in a while itll smell like iron or eggy/gassy, but its rare) no itch, just mainly nasty gunk.
Recently I was feeling stressed out so i decided to take things into my own hands. I took a mirror and a few unscented baby wipes and went to work. I put the mirror over the toilet and perched over it so i could see inside myself. i placed the wipe over my finger and wiped out every little bit i felt and saw. It was so much that i refused to wait for it to clear itself up. once i did that it was clear so i folded some tissue just in case there was any liquid still, which there was. i got up to pee often to check and used the mirror and wipes again for the remainder of the evening. the next day it was gone. Also i think making sure im not moist helps, I have anxiety so i sweat or overheat easily.
Im here because my technically i should have had another yeast infection by now, but i havent. I wanted to see if there was something else I could do or a way to prevent it. At the first sign of it, I plan to use the wipes again, but i just wish i didnt need to be worried about it.
ashley15286 lily89380
Posted
i had this problem for a while! persistant symptoms of BV, i went for years of tests and some would come back possitive for gardnerella and some would come back negative, but I always had the symptoms and no doctors ever wanted to hear me out or plan a treatment other than what I had already taken but didnt work. I switched doctors and tested possitive for gardnerella. She treated me with tinidazole which treats gardnerella and fluconazole which treats yeast. together the medicine worked and after four years the problem is finally gone! ask your doctor to be treated for yeast.
alyssa88397 lily89380
Posted
same! ive been dealing with this for 6 years every single day with the same exact symptoms. All tests are always negative. Cant find an Obgyn who will write me refills or do anything. I dont wear underwear to "let it breathe", use only water to wash, use natural and unscented laundry detergent, take probiotic daily, use boric acid many times per week, eat yogurt everyday....the list goes on and on. Im so fed up with it and feel hopeless. Ive tried every antibiotic Dr prescribes and it comes back the first day the pills stop. Has anyone has any success to resolve this?
novael lily89380
Posted
oh gosh. I feel like im reading about my life right now.
can somebody please help! It is really impacting me mentally and messing with all relationships. I feel self conscious in work and cant be intimate as i am so embarrassed.
I feel like i have tried everything.
pinkgatito lily89380
Edited
hello, i've had these same symptoms of
i have had these for about a year now and ive went to the doctor multiple times and sometimes i come out positive for BV, get pills, goes away and comes back. sometimes i come out negative but have all BV symptoms.
i want to share my experience, ive recently went to the GYN and they found a abundant amount of bacteria in my Urine, im not sure if this is the cause of my reocurring BV but i am right now drinking my probiotics ive been given, i have a scheduled appointment to come back in January so they can check me if i need more treating. hopefully these pills for my bacteria in my urine will take this away, i feel every woman who is going thru this right now it's a awful experience when smelling yourself and feeling like a outcast thinking everyone else can smell you. I have taken Metro,Metro gel, Boric acid, ACV, and these things have calmed or taken my symptoms away but come back 3 days later. i will ask for extra examinations and swabs next time i go to the doctor and see what i have. i hope someone finds a cure for all of you ladies ❤
za15997 lily89380
Posted
This is my life story.. 16-19 years old except I was cured , it was BV I almost accepted the odor / discharge as my identity and just needed a better diet. I was having sex during bv and after healed. My first real bf gave me uti, bv, yeast we both just delt with it. Hes been with many ppl I was a virgin .Anyways, The Odor was gone for good with BV meds but not the discharge. Yeast was always coming up even bv later down but thats what antibotics do to you, swipe your gut of all good and bad and give u discharge but they wont tell you because they want you to come back then get treated for more. Now Going back, I was uneducated and didnt have a relationship with my mom to talk about these things shamelessly. I accepted it was just me the way it is. First time I finally spoke up cus I knew it wasnt right I went to a dr and some how my mom followed me around and dr was slow enough to ask questions if I was sexually active in front of her I lied of course... Drs and ERs or urgent cares dont know any better they treated me for yeast not BV so you have to see a OB in which is how I got cured and now days I feel they dont know anything either. It took a bestfriend of mine who wanted to go get tested near the planned parenthood and that is when I was first cured by the OB after suffering for years!!! I took note that my Partner would spit a lot during sex as lube and eventually be with other people throwing off my health long term after being cured. I blame sex, I blame the men, myself, and careless uneducated Drs/nurses. . Im convinced men have bv & yeast etc but arent requested to take the same medicine when its being given to us!? Years later as an adult 2022 is when worst began again with a new smell .. a rotten 1 as you described.. this was no fishy BV like previouly this was not yeast. I suffered to long as teen , I know the difference. What happen was I had sex one day with multiple condoms used and the next day body went into shock like allergic reaction symptoms swelling redness itching intense heat burning. Did I catch something from the chemicals in the condoms or the condom didnt prevent disease / infection ? It finally went down but a month or two later those issues turned into odor that just never went away ... they dnt see yeast or bv trich chlymida .. test were negative but they saw protien in urine sign of infection in urine ..why is that all they test for ? theres different strains for example one called AV rotten smell thats confused with BV fishy smell... list goes on. Pap smears u have to force them to give you rather its postitive or negatitve I dont believe thats linked to a rotten smell. .. I also showed signs of being pre diabetic and was told to make a long term diet change. Im on a hunt but I cant accept it like I did when I was a teen I was saved I know I can be saved again. Im turning to a herbalist, chinese medicine, holistic health. Theres zero hope with the pharamcy and health care systems. Drs and nurses like to wait till your near death , disease, cancer to save you. Alot of them wont research further to expand their expertise. Go else where like I am in meantime im done eating their bull cramp making symptoms worse.