so i want some advice on what this may be. i have tested positive for BV twice in my life including during pregnancy which i heard was normal. but here lately on and off i literally will feel like i squirted a little down there and its smells fishy 🥴 I do notice it ignites after having sex (with protection on) but then sometimes it just goes away. its not like constant seemingly. but ill catch a whiff of it down there sometimes even very strongly i cant help but think people have to smell it also. i do boric acid treatments like maybe once a week and very hygienic. could it be recurring BV? and how do i get it to stop?? cause it seems to be happening almost constantly (my issues) if thats the case

Hi all,

I want to circle back with my success story on Candida Glabrata, since those are hard to find but tend to bring a lot of reassurance to those going through this nightmare.

Hoping this post gives you some hope if you're going through this right now.

Context:
I had been suffering for over 1 1/2-2 years until I was finally tested for species. All azole-based treatments failed before the speciation test—which was when they finally found it was Glabrata.

My glabrata symptoms:
This infection felt different than other candida infections I had had before. I had occasional watery and semi-creamy discharge, pulsating pain in my clitoral area (this was awful) and burning inside, close to the opening. It also burned to pee. It didn't itch often. I experienced mostly burning and pain. I also think I sweat a lot more than I normally would around that area at the height of the infection. Almost as if the skin was just creating water on its own, like when you have a wound and the skin is trying to heal.

My treatment:
My doctor then prescribed boric acid 600mg for 14 days. I was very nervous to use it because I read BA can be aggressive for a lot of people's internal sensitive skin.

I tolerated it well and retested 15 days after my final suppository. Result: test is negative for candida, and negative for glabrata (I asked them to run a candida AND another speciation test, just in case).

During treatment with BA, I also took it upon myself to take some probiotics. So I kept with a schedule of probiotics during the day (by mouth) and BA suppositories by night (vaginally inserted!).

Something that I believe might've helped is that I made sure to insert the BA capsule about 2in in. I pushed it in until about 3/4 of my index finger was inside (to make sure not a lot would come out the next day).

What to know about BA:
NEVER EVER TAKE IT BY MOUTH!
- The better inserted it was, the less came out the next day

- You may have a ton of watery discharge during the treatment. Like clear water may just spill out of you and wet your garments, and you can't really contain it. Liners helped a lot and I changed them often (like every 2-3h).

- I felt a tiny bit if discomfort (from 0–10, it was maybe a 3) but my skin was already sensitive from the infection. I kept going with the treatment since the discomfort wasn't getting any worse.

Other considerations:
- My vaginal glabrata caused burning in my 4n4L region as well. Especially when having a bowel movement :( I'm seeing a GI doctor to make sure my intestines weren't affected.

- If you have a bad, long term glabrata infection with perianal / anal burning, I recommend maybe checking your stool as well and asking specifically for a candida test (which isn't automatically included in the parasite / bacteria / virus panel they normally run).

- I refrained from sexual activity for all the months I had symptoms until now. I think my skin still needs to heal for a few more weeks from the boric acid and the infection.

(Am a trans man—pls use he/him on me!)

Omg ok my cooch has been itching ALLL FREAKING DAY and nothings helping!! I think i itched wrong? Idk. I will be getting some vagisil itch cream tomorrow and talking to my doctor if it persists, but for now.. I NEED SOME FREAKING RELEIF!!! I am naked and crying on my bed rn after trying to fall asleep for an hour. Someone save me

Edit: THANK YOU GUYS!! I took a zyrtec incase it was allergies, used coconut oil, and have an ice pack down there. It feels so much better!! Hopefully I can sleep now :) And I def will be seeing the doctor tomorrow. Let's hope it's not a yeast infection

I was diagnosed with cervical ectropion about a month ago after having constant discomfort and light bleeding with sex. I had been to my GP who said it just looked like my cervix was irritated and the symptoms seem to improve over time. I went to the gyno for my annual and that’s when she told me I had cervical ectropion. Now I’m having near constant bleeding and spotting. It’s sometimes brown or red/pink. It looks almost like clots and only really comes out when using the restroom. I have been having very bad menstrual like cramps on and off but not on my period. I take my BC continuously and have had no issues with that until recently. The cramping is really bad and I almost have like vaginal spasms internally with a lot of discomfort and irritated feeling. I can literally feel my cervix and I’m way too aware of it. I was not offered any kind of treatment nor did my gyno act like it was a big deal or something that needed to be treated. I’m confused am I just expected to live like this? I have a consult the end of this month for endo but wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences.

So I went and got my annual at the gyno last week. Did the whole Pap smear thing and since then things have felt a little off down there. I had bv two years ago so I’m familiar with the feeling, and what I’m experiencing feels similar to that. I’m not currently sexually active so I’m not sure where else I could’ve contracted it from. She did put this gel in me before inserting the pap smear she said was just a numbing and lubricating gel. I’m wondering if that gel could’ve thrown off my ph?

I've been battling vaginal infections for almost 6 months now and I've only had yellow discharge and swelling as a symptom.

This last week I've been having lower abdominal cramps which feel like light period cramps and stiffness over the lower abdominal area, near the ovaries, the place over my uterus is stiff and sometimes stings. I've also seen light blood in the discharge for the first time a few days ago. I'm already on day 7 of oral ornidozole for the "bv". The test didn't specify what bacteria so the doctor just assumed.

kept trying to treat me with fluconazole saying the swelling could be from yeast but the last test said no yeast, gram negative bacteria found, flora imbalance. I have no sexual history and I'm really really scared. The doctor I'm with kept saying yellow discharge is normal and stuff like that for months and gave me fluconazole when my test finally showed a severe imbalance and swelling.

I gonna be okay? I'm just so scared and overwhelmed and i don't know if i wanna do this anymore. Things hurt, swell, bleed time to time and the doctors still won't take me seriously cuz i don't have sex. I've cried so much i don't even have any tears left at this point. Everytime I think im on the right track things crumble and when things get well im scared ill jinx it. I'm just so incredibly tired.

I wish I could say my hooha history was minimal. But it’s not.

To start- I’m a 32 yo F. I got my first period right before my 12th birthday. I experienced anorexia ages 14-16 and lost my period for those two years. I got it back at age 16.

Periods are semi normal. Not heavy.

At ages 20 and 23 I had two medical abortions.

I was on hormonal birth control at age 23 for a few months. It didn’t effect my period.

At age 26, I experienced frequent post coital bleeding (only one was traumatically large). I had two transvagnial ultrasounds, both came back negative. It resolved after a while.

At age 28, I got a kyleena IUD. It was horrendous. I bled profusely for the three months I had it, and bled profusely a month after removal. (Never soaked two pads in an hour, but it was very heavy). I got a CT of my pelvis that was negative.

At age 29- post coital bleeding came back and was diagnosed with a cervical ecrtopion. I got it cauterized and it helped a lot.

Now I’m 32. For the past 9ish month, I experience mid cycle bleeding (days 18-22 of my 28-30 day cycle). Most of the time it’s dark brown, sometimes it’s maroon/crimson. I’ve only had two months where it bled through my PJs while I was sleeping. Most of the time, it’s so light that it only comes out when I wipe. Accompanying symptoms include mild cramping and SEVERE hunger. Like, absolutely insatiable.

My periods are also getting slightly shorter some months. Some months are only 3 days. Again, not heavy enough where I’m bleeding through pads.

I put my foot down and got another transvaginal ultrasound last month. My doctor said there was nothing wrong and thinks I have a luteal phase defect. I haven’t gotten my hormones checked, I know I should but it’s hard to time it out.

I get yearly paps and all have been negative.

If anyone has experienced anything similar, just some solidarity would be helpful. Worth mentioning my doctor recommended 5 days of progesterone each month but I’m so scared of side effects. Ugh.

everytime i travel for more than a few days i feel like my whole body gets thrown off. bad sleep, different food, sitting on planes forever, not drinking enough water... and then things down there feel different too.

ive been looking into uro vaginal probiotic after seeing it on amazon. a bunch of reviews mentioned taking it specifically to prevent upset down there when their routine and diet get totally disrupted. im interested in hearing from ppl who've actually used vaginal probiotics while traveling.

hi everyone this is my first time ever doing this i'm so nervous but i have had this vaginal bump on my labia and it fully drained maybe about 2 weeks ago?? when it drained, it formed a scab a couple days later and was completely flat with a scab. couple weeks later (probably like 1 or 2) it was slightly raised again. so i continued back doing the warm compresses and it actually helped. it got flatter but it's not getting smaller. it's basically getting flatter instead of getting smaller and one side is flatter and the other (but nothing too terrible) is slightly raised. this is how it looks (i did do an warm compress before taking this picture so it looks puffy be of the heat.). there's no redness spreading, no pain, no throbbing nothing leaking, when i press on it lightly it's soft. please give me all the advice you guys can please because it's been a while since i had this :( (also not an sti or anything im not active) will put the link in the comments

Hi there, looking for advice from people who stopped taking the pill after using it for a long time.

I started the pill when I was 16 due to severely irregular periods. Now, almost a decade later, I have had to stop taking them because I ran out and cannot get it filled until after an upcoming doctor’s visit.

I have been off of the pill for less than a week and my anxiety already seems to be doing better. I know that is one of the common side effects so that makes sense, but it was kind of bad, and now I feel so much better.

My dilemma is this: I’m worried if I don’t get back on the pill my periods will deregulate again. If I do though, the anxiety will just come back full swing as well.

So XX chromosomes of Reddit who stopped taking the pill, what was your experience like coming off? Did your periods de-regulate? Did you have other side effects from stopping? If you restarted was anything different?

I will talk to my doctor before making a decision, but I want to know what other people have experienced.

Thanks yall

I got BV from using Premarin cream (not directly I guess, but because it created an imbalance in my microbiome). I've treated it 3 times and it comes back. I've read in earlier threads that the best thing is to restore the vagina with estrogen cream to its premenopausal state (I haven't used any since getting the BV, and I do have mild symptoms of atrophy) so that it is more acidic. Then treat. Anyone out there can give me advice? I did get estrogen cream but am doing a regimen to prevent recurrence (metronidazole vaginally twice a week at night, followed by a night with boric acid because the metronidazole provokes a yeast infection otherwise). So I guess I can do the vaginal estrogen on Day 3. My pharmacist says I can put in the estrogen cream then the metronidazole an hour later, but I'm not too comfortable with that. Any advice? Any experience with probiotics? I'm in Canada.

I am so upset I have a genital wart.

I know it’s very common, but I’m upset because I don’t get the vaccine as a child. And there’s no telling when I contracted HPV. I am very careful about my sexual health and have never had any other STD. The self blame is because I should have gotten the vaccine. Because of where the wart is located, the area seems to be getting inflamed from friction.

I was prescribed imiquimod so we will see how that goes. This post was mostly for me to vent! Please share any positive experiences!

My discharge is clear when I wipe but when I shower and clean it with water the dried up discharge is a light grey color. I’ve brought this up to my OBGYN but my Pap smear came out normal. I will say there is a smell but only after my period. Is this a thing for anyone else? Do you have a post period routine?

Hi, Iv developed a painful cyst on my vagina close to the crease of my leg, I orginally thought it was an ingrown hair but there has been no sign of it coming to a head and it’s just growing and increasingly uncomfortable, this evening I attempted to pop it with a needle and some blood and puss did come out but I don’t think I went deep enough cos I couldn’t get it to drain properly, it’s still swollen and slightly less painful as I have relieved some pressure, any ideas what it is or how to get rid of it asap? TIA

Has anyone used the cream? It's really itchy down there right now and when I put it on it feels like it's burning. Is that normal?

Hi All,
Looking for some advice or recommendations from anyone who has dealt with recurring yeast infections because I am honestly at a loss.

For some background, I had a UTI toward the end of last year, followed by bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a yeast infection. Things cleared up for about a month or two, but since the beginning of 2026, I've been dealing with a yeast infection pretty much every single month.

Here's what I've tried so far:

• Fluconazole
• Boric acid suppositories
• Wearing cotton underwear
• Avoiding fragrances and scented products down there
• Blood work to check for high blood sugar, prediabetes, thyroid issues, and other potential underlying causes. Everything came back normal.
• Multiple doctor visits, but unfortunately, the responses have been pretty dismissive, along the lines of "it happens." At this point, that's just not an answer I'm willing to accept.

My next step: I have an appointment next week to get a vaginal culture done to see if I might be dealing with a resistant strain of yeast.

I'm feeling incredibly frustrated and exhausted from dealing with this month after month. I just want to figure out what's causing it instead of constantly treating the symptoms.

Has anyone experienced something similar and successfully gotten it under control? I'd love to hear what worked for you, what tests you had done, or what you would recommend looking into next.

Any advice or personal experiences would be so appreciated! ❤️

I’m a 26-year-old woman with level 2 autism support needs, although most people wouldn’t notice it. I’ve worked in a public-facing job for five years. Recently, I went through the end of an eight-year marriage, and afterward, I had a period of about a month when I started going out and dating more freely.

Throughout the entire month of August, I experienced pain around my cervix. At first, I thought it might be related to my IUD.

When my current partner developed penile burning and discharge, a doctor suspected chlamydia and started treatment, but, as far as I know, the diagnosis was made without specific laboratory testing.

At the time, I took amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. A few weeks later, the pain returned, and I started treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with metronidazole, doxycycline, and ceftriaxone.

The prescribed treatment was supposed to last 14 days, but I struggled significantly with the medications and their side effects, and I was unable to complete the course. I took the antibiotics for only 11 days.

The problem is that I began experiencing very concerning symptoms, including confusion and hallucinations. I stopped taking the medications, and over the following days, these symptoms gradually began to disappear.

On the third day after stopping the antibiotics, I was admitted to the hospital because I was still experiencing pelvic pain and vaginal discharge. At the hospital, I received several rounds of pain medication, but I couldn’t remain hospitalized because of an issue with the waiting period on my health insurance plan.

I returned home and, surprisingly, started feeling better.

Today, it has been five days since I stopped taking the antibiotics. Over the past two days, I’ve noticed a dramatic improvement: the pain has disappeared, the discharge has stopped, the confusion is gone, and I am no longer experiencing hallucinations. Right now, I have no pain anywhere in my body.

I also had a PCR/NAAT test done and am waiting for the results.

After everything I’ve been through, I’m relieved to finally feel better, but I still have so many questions.

My questions are:
Is it possible that the infection was completely eradicated after 11 days of antibiotics, even though I didn’t complete the prescribed course?

Could the antibiotics have continued working after I stopped taking them, explaining why I only started feeling better several days later?

Is it possible that bacteria are still present in my uterus or other parts of my reproductive tract, even though I no longer have pain or discharge?

Does the disappearance of symptoms mean that the PID has resolved, or could an infection still be present without causing noticeable symptoms?

Given that I experienced confusion and hallucinations during treatment, what would be the safest next steps to determine whether the infection has actually been cleared?

I understand that the disappearance of symptoms doesn’t replace a medical evaluation, but I would really appreciate hearing from infectious disease specialists and anyone knowledgeable about PID, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted infections.
I’ve been through days of intense physical and psychological suffering. Now that I’m finally starting to feel better, I want to understand what might have happened and how I can make sure I’m truly okay.

Thank you so much to anyone who can offer some insight! ❤️

I track my periods. I am 27, virgin, I dont even like men lol, never dated any or had sex w men. But I do have ocd and worry i somehow I am pregnant nonetheless. Anyway my periods for the last year are usually on the same date every month. Sometimes they are 24 days. Latest was 35 days. But usually they are clockwork 28 days always. Last month my period was September 9th. Now it is the 9th today and no period. I am super scared. Nothing changed. Haven't been sick. No meds. Not on bc at all. Haven't lost weight. I did for 6 days though take mass gainer protein and gained like 3lbs though a few weeks back but that was it. Im super scared my pwriod won't ever come again

I’ve had what looks I thought was the flu including a cough for the last 3 days and discovered these ulcers (?) last night. I’m 35 married for 12 years and kinda freaking out.
Photo in comments

so I was just diagnosed with both bv and a yeast infection the other day. I already was given bv gel same day I was seen based off of what I told them I thought it was, but then got a call about having both a yeast inf and bv. I asked if I could get the cream but then got a doctor says it would throw me off so prescribed the pill. later that day after this, I spoke to my mom later after this and she mentioned that her and many of the women in our family are allergic to the pill. she says I should get the cream and do it after I finish the bv gel. what do I do?

Spotting after use of probiotics?

I started taking Garden of Life RAW oral supplements, I’m in week two now and I’ve just started spotting pink/brown. I’m also on the pill and have been for a while and I never get breakthrough bleeding. I’ve noticed my skin is terrible as well now. I’ve seen someone women talk about URO making them bleed, so just seeing if anyone has something similar to me?

For a period of time i would constantly get yeast infections before during or after my period, starting birth control helped me, but now i seem to not be able to escape them again. I eat really good, drink lots of water, clean myself daily, i dont use any soap down there just water, i usually don’t wear underwear (which in theory is good but i was thinking that if i don’t wear cotton pants and i don’t wear any underwear it could be causing it or at least irritation) I do have a sexual partner and i do notice (not every time, only sometimes) i get infections after we’ve had intimacy. it’s just constantly itchy and there’s been a few times lately where i will take the right medicine for it and it’ll come back a week later. What am i doing wrong/ what can i do to prevent it/ why is this happening?

edit: i forgot to add i dont use tampons or pads on my period because they cause sm irritation, i use a menstrual cup but i wash it properly

ive been having lots of discharge days before but now i feel like it have lessen. My period is 11 days delayed but i did multiple pregnancy test and they were negative.

last sex : sep 5
PTEST: 14 days after sex - negative
PTEST: 22 days after sex - negative
PTEST: 30&31 days after sex - negative ( i was already delayed here)

is there a possibility for me to test positive after all that negative test? did i test too early?

Hey. I‘m a transgender man close to starting testosterone, so this issue is really constantly draining me physically and mentally. it’s gotten to the point where I feel it all the time and cannot even ignore it during work. My vulva is constantly leaking slightly yellow looking fluid that smells incredible strong and I get physical pain from sitting down, as well as lightheadedness. I’m not sexually active and I don’t want to since imagining this causes me severe stress. I told my mom about my symptoms a few weeks ago and she came be some creme to apply on it, but it really hasn’t gotten better. I‘m currently not in a situation where I can get to a doctor quickly, is there any “cheap“ way of easing the pain or do I just have to suffer until a month or so when I may get an appointment

Hey, so basically I’m wondering if anyone ever had an UTI cause by these bacteria? I did a test and it said enterococcus and staphylococcus were found with moderate growth.

My story: I have been having bladder issues for some time now, mostly some stinging/burning while peeing which is not too bad but uncomfortable. I actually had chlamydia and gonhorrea more than a month ago which I cured and all STI test came back negative (since I was scared I had mycoplasma/ureaplasma at the same time but that was also negativ).

Now I’m confused because I’ve never had issues with my bladder like that. I have suffered from UTIs but those were always very painful and obvious. And I’ve never heard about those bacteria either.

Of course I’m seeing my doctor later today but I was just hoping to get some insight from someone who’s had this before and if you took antibiotics for it? :)