Why won't my BV go away with antibiotics?

Within a month, antibiotics clear up to 85% of bacterial vaginosis cases, yet for over half of these patients, BV will return within 6 months. This is thought to be in part because the antibiotics don't fully eradicate the pathogenic microbes, leaving BV-associated bacteria to regrow in the vagina following treatment.

What to do if BV doesn't go away with antibiotics?

If you have persistent BV (ie it does not settle down with the first treatment you try) then your doctor may want to take further vaginal swabs to check whether there is another cause of the discharge. They will usually suggest that you use the seven-day course of metronidazole if you have not had this before.

What if BV doesn't go away with metronidazole?

BV that does not resolve after one course of treatment may be cured by a second course with the same agent. Another option is to switch to another agent (ie, metronidazole to clindamycin, or clindamycin to metronidazole) as other concomitant organisms may respond better to an alternate medication.

What causes BV to not go away?

Recurrent BV might happen when the infection isn't fully treated, something messes up the balance of your bacteria again, or a layer of microorganisms known as a biofilm forms to protect BV-causing bacteria.

How long does it take for BV to respond to antibiotics?

While the infection may go away on its own, most doctors use antibiotics to treat it. You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.

How Do I Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis? | This Morning

Can BV still be there after antibiotics?

For people who initially improve after initial BV treatment, approximately 1 in 3 will have a recurrence of BV symptoms within three months, and more than half will have a recurrence of symptoms within 12 months. Symptoms may return because of a new infection or relapse (return) of the prior infection.

Can BV last for months?

It's common for bacterial vaginosis to come back, usually within a few months. If it comes back, you'll usually be given more antibiotics to treat it. If you keep getting it (you get it more than 4 times in a year), you may be given an antibiotic gel that you put in your vagina.

How do you get rid of prolonged BV?

Can BV stay forever?

Some women suffer from chronic (recurring) bacterial vaginosis. Medicine can clear up the infection, but it returns again after a few weeks. Some women report that bacterial vaginosis returns after their period each month. Or it can return after they have sex.

How do I get rid of BV permanently?

Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection, and there's no way to completely stop all infections. Still, you may be able to lower your risk of developing BV with good hygiene and taking care of your overall health. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider if you're experiencing any of the symptoms of BV.

What do you do if metronidazole doesn't work?

Metronidazole doesn't work for everyone. Tinidazole, Solosec, Cleocin, Vancocin, and Alinia are some metronidazole alternatives. Get the full list here. Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl) is an antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of bacterial and parasitic infections.

Does metronidazole sometimes not work?

Metronidazole belongs to the class of medicines known as antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Why would an infection not respond to antibiotics?

Antimicrobial resistance happens when germs like bacteria or fungi no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them. That means these germs are not killed and continue to grow. It does not mean our body is resistant to antibiotics or antifungals. Antimicrobial resistance is a naturally occurring process.

What triggers chronic BV?

BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV.

What are the symptoms of chronic BV?

Bacterial vaginosis signs and symptoms may include: Thin, gray, white or green vaginal discharge. Foul-smelling "fishy" vaginal odor. Vaginal itching.

When should I worry about antibiotics not working?

Antibiotics DO NOT work on viruses, such as those that cause: Colds and runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green. Most sore throats (except strep throat) Flu.

What happens when antibiotics no longer work due to antibiotic resistance?

A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. Antibiotic resistance leads to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality.

Why would it be difficult to treat a bacterial infection with antibiotics?

Bacteria can develop resistance to certain medicines: Medicine resistance happens when bacteria develop ways to survive the use of medicines meant to kill or weaken them. If a germ becomes resistant to many medicines, treating the infections can become difficult or even impossible.

How long is too long for metronidazole?

If you need to take metronidazole for longer than ten days, your doctor may want you to have some tests. Make sure you keep any appointments that your doctor gives to you.

Why does metronidazole take so long to work?

by Drugs.com

Metronidazole starts to work 1 to 2 hours after you take it, because it is quickly absorbed, and it reaches its maximum concentration after 20 minutes to 3 hours. But it may take a couple of days before you start to feel better or notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Can you become immune to metronidazole?

Metronidazole resistance can occur by a number of different mechanisms that involve reduced uptake of the drug, increased removal from the bacterial cell or by reducing the rate of metronidazole activation inside anaerobes.

Does metronidazole always cure BV?

BV is treated with antibiotics, of which oral and vaginal formulations of metronidazole or clindamycin are most commonly used. Although short-term BV cure rates of multiday oral and vaginal metronidazole regimens are 65%–90%,^{11, 12} recurrence rates are high. Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole-class drug.

What STD does metronidazole treat?

Trichomoniasis is usually treated quickly and easily with antibiotics. Most people are prescribed an antibiotic called metronidazole, which is very effective if taken correctly. You'll usually have to take metronidazole twice a day, for 5 to 7 days. Sometimes this antibiotic can be prescribed in a single, larger dose.

How many metronidazole does it take to cure BV?

Metronidazole is available as an oral pill or vaginal gel; the choice of pill or gel is based on the person's preferences. The oral pill is taken twice daily for seven days. The gel is inserted into the vagina at bedtime for five days. Both treatments work equally well.

What kills the bacteria in BV?

Bacterial vaginosis can cause symptoms such as discharge with an unpleasant smell. The antibiotics clindamycin and metronidazole are both effective treatments for bacterial vaginosis.