I've had some further testing after suffering repeated chemical pregnancies.
I have just found out that I have BV and ureplasma. I am concerned that BV has caused pelvic inflammatory disease as I had moderate levels found in my uterus and the fact that BV can keep coming back...I don't know how long I have had this as I haven't had any symptoms so I feel a bit worried.
Has anyone had treatment for BV and had a successful pregnancy afterwards? I would love to hear success stories right now.
I tested positive for BV on the fertilysis uterine microbiome test. Treated it with one week of metronidazole. I also took NAC and lots of vaginal and oral probiotics.
Thanks for your reply. I also did the fertyliss microbiome test. I also have ureaplasma which also needs treating but I am more concerned about the BV at the moment. Can I ask if your test results said that it was in your uterus? My result says uterus: moderate level. Vaginal: low. Has your BV permanently gone now after treatment?
What is NAC? Can I ask what vaginal and oral probiotics you used? Xx
Yes my BV was in my uterus ( not vagina).
NAC is a supplement that helps the antibiotic work (this is what I’ve read on the forums).
I’ve read a few women who had ureaplasma and found the antibiotics didn’t work until they added in NAC.
I take BioFemme V probiotics both orally and vaginally
I also take the optibac women’s orally.
I did the Fertilysis retest and it came back clear.
OK thanks for this. I've checked the supplement I am using and that has NAC already in it. Have you continued to take probiotics even after infection has cleared? I think I might go on probioitics long term to try and prevent it's recurrence. There are a lot of optibac probotics, which one did you use? How much is the fertyliss retest? Xx
How did you get the antibiotics you required? I have phoned my GP and the receptionist said the GP can't prescribe the antibiotics because I got the test done privately and I would need to go back to the place where I got the tests done for treatment! I didn't think it would be an issue getting the antibiotics providing I had test results showing I need them and the fact that it is such a routine common infection to treat. I just want this infection treated as soon as possible now I know I have it. My fertility clinic are asking their pharmacy but they think I'll need to go through my GP too... xx
My fertility clinic was happy to provide a prescription.
I take 600mg of NAC daily.
The optibac probiotics are ‘for women’.
Can’t remember exactly how much the restest is. It is cheaper than the original.
Best of luck x
Hey! I had BV and my partner had ureaplasma so it was definitely all linked - it came about once we started TTC. So I think he gave it to me from all the unprotected sex - the irony!
We saw a private doctor who put both of us on an antibiotic (I cannot remember now what they were but mine was possibly a single dose of Azithromycin?) And she also recommended both of us taking Symprove, my partner to take Inessa Wellness (advanced biotic complex), and for me to take Femex Forte (Biomedica) and Bio Femme V (Invivo). She also recommended I took Canesbalance BV gel but I couldn't find it as I think it is out of production, and Canesflor vaginal pessaries (after the antibiotics), which I did.
I had had one miscarriage beforehand after a natural conception, but we were generally struggling to concieve. At this point we were on the path for IVF already (due to male factor) but I wanted to make my environment (? ha) as healthy as possible and kick BV beforehand.
I am now 36 weeks pregnant and not a hint of BV in sight!
It can take a bit of work to get rid of BV when you have it, but it can be done. The above all worked for me and is only a suggestion but it could be worth seeing a specialist too, for your own sanity, and especially if it's in your uterus. We went private because the NHS is long and probably wouldn't give as much care as this. Not sure where in the country you are but we saw Dr Lynne Chapman in London and she was fantastic.
Thanks so much for your reply, really helpful information there. Fertilysis have already advised me on what antibiotics to use and take probiotics whilst on antibiotics - did you take both at same time? I suppose the probiotics will help prevent the good bacteria being wiped out from antibiotic? I am concerned that the test result showed that BV is in my uterus, do you know if your BV was in your urterus too? I'm worried that it will have a long term impact on my fertility as I don't know how long I've had it.
Did you take all those probiotics that were advised at once or was it a trial and error? I've looked up symprove - looks like this is a GI probiotic which is handy as I've been recommended to take that as well as probiotic for the vagina flora in form of oral and pessaries.
Is there a reason you took bio femme V as well as Femex forte? Just wondering as they look like they do the same thing when reading about them online, was wondering what the difference was?
Do you know of any vaginal pessary probiotics I could take? I can only find oral ones online, canesflor has been discounted for a while. How long did it take to clear your BV? I've read it can come back so I'm paranoid that it will and maybe I won't know as I don't really show any symptoms. Maybe there is a cheap retest I could use sporadically? Sorry for the long reply, I've just got so many questions! Congratulations on your pregnancy, I'm glad you got there in the end 💗 xx
Did you take the test on your own accord or have symptoms which then your dr advised to test? I’ve had 3 miscarriages back to back over the past year and getting blood tests, but the drs are a bit useless with next steps and any further suggestions (have asked to be referred to recurrent miscarriage unit but nhs so they’re taking their sweet time)
Sorry about your losses, it is so heartbreaking isn't it. I have found the NHS not every good with fertility issues. I got the bare minimum basic bloods done despite my history. Nearly all my tests I've had done, I've had to pay privately for. You should be able to get a karyotype test for both you and your partner through NHS via Tommys now you've had 3 losses. We are currently waiting on those blood test results.
I had heard about EMMA and ALICE testing through my fertility clinic which is really expensive and requires a biopsy. Through researching I decided to have this microbiome test through fertilysis instead which seemed more cost effective, less invasive and they tested for a good range of strains.
I wasn't advised to have an EMMA/ALICE test as such, the clinic just reeled off a list of extra investigations that we could have. I have done a lot of testing over the last year and I decided to get my microbiome checked to essentially get another thing ticked off my list. I have recently read that you can have BV and not have any symptoms, the only thing I've had is on off pelvic pain xx
I’m waiting on karyotype results as the baby’s tissue was tested after my d&c and came back with abnormal chromosomes. (5 weeks post op) and only then have nhs been willing to test me and partner! It’s exhausting because I wish they’d just take all blood tests earlier instead of having ti wait around for each result to pursue the next.
I’d like further testing though as I’ve heard of NK cells etc and just wanted to get tested for as much as I can to rule things out. Microbiome was on that list that I’ve researched on my own accord, it’s just exhausting though, esp with juggling post miscarriage emotions and the emotions of just wanting to have a baby!
You need antibiotics but also vaginal probiotics like Vagibiom as well as balance activ twice a day for several months. They say use it for 7 days but I suffered with repeated bv and gardnerella after lots of antibiotics for ivf. I still now in pregnancy use balance activ with vaginal probiotics twice a day. Flora femme is good but with balance activ at the same time morning and evening for 3 months at least. Then for maintenance once a day indefinitely.
Hi, I also did the Fertilysis microbiome testing and the results showed I had ureaplasma and BV, and moderate levels of lactobacillus.I took a two courses of antibiotics one after another and canesflor vaginal suppositories (I think they have discontinued them since) and also optibac oral probiotics. This was on the advice of my IVF consultant.
I then came across gardenlady543 posts on mumsnet/reddit and followed her advice, taking balance activ and continuing with vaginal probiotics. I ended up buying really expensive ones from the US and used them sparingly. I continued with oral probiotics, alternating between Invivo biofemme ones and optibac.
I retested with Fertilysis and everything came back clear. I think candida was a bit elevated which is apparently common after antibiotics (I think) so used topical cream for a few days.
I had a FET and continued with the balance activ and probiotics as I was trying to keep my lactobacillus levels up. My transfer was successful and I have a 10 month old boy.
Of xiurse there were other factors which contributed such as I PGTA tested the embryo but I definitely feel having a uterus which was infection free and high in lactobacillus helped it stick!
Thanks for your reply, that information is really helpful. It sounds like my results have come back with the exactly the same as yours as I also have moderate levels of lactobacillus too but also BV and ureplasma. I have just bought optibac intimate flora one (purple one) and a vaginal pessary probiotic called vagibiom. Maybe I should alternate between another oral probotic too... did you take just an oral probiotic leading up to and after FET? Or did you continue to take a vaginal pessary probiotic and oral probotic?
How did you go about getting the required antibiotics? Just phoned my GP and because I got the test done privately, the receptionist said the GP can't prescribe the antibiotics? Even though I explained it was for BV which is a very common infection and I have the paperwork. The receptionist said I have to go through fetilysis to get the antibiotics? Nothing is ever straightforward forward is it?!
I'm glad you got there in the end, I'm hoping I get success, it does say BV increases risk of chemical pregnancy and can hinder implantation and I've had recurrent chemicals - its good finally find a piece of the puzzle of what could be going wrong each time xx
Hi, are you doing IVF? Then your consultant should be able to prescribe. That's what mine did, I just emailed them the results. She suggested optibac oral probiotics, they can be taken throughout pregnancy too. I alternated between optibac, pretty sure it was the purple one too, and invivo biofemme in order to get a wide variety of lacto strains. After my fertilysis retest I decreased the oral probiotics as I had high levels of lacto and I had read you can overdo it, so I just took one 2-3 times a week.I took the vaginal probiotic pessary during the end of the antibiotics course as advised by the IVF consultant. I had to stop for a few days before the fertilysis retest too. Once the retest results came back good, I had my FET. I don't think I was using the vaginal probiotics at that stage but was testing the ph levels. Once I was pregnant I did use them every few weeks, just to use up the leftover ones..you only get 6 flora femme ones so I didn't want to waste them! I have heard of vagibiom too, so I think that's a fairly recommended one.
Good luck and message me if you have anymore questions and I'll try to remember and help!
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