Yeah, that fishy smell and white glumpy goo. My wife has had recurring bouts of this for years. Her quacky general practitioner finally convinced her to stop douching. She asked him if semen could cause this and he said it was possible. Now I've got to either wear a stinkin' raincoat or pull out.
On her last trip to the OB/GYN I brought this up. He said that there are no particular bugs in semen that could contribute to this. A healthy vagina is acidic with a PH of about 3. Semen is more basic with a PH of about 7. A PH imbalance can cause the good bacteria not to grow and leave an environment for bad bacteria to flourish, but he would never tell anyone to abstain from having fun as a prescription.
So, has anyone out there noticed a connection between vaginosis and semen, or seen any research on this?
I used to get vaginitis a lot between 1980 and 1985. Then one time I couldn't get an appointment to see my gyn for over a week, and I thought I'd pretty much be dead by then. So instead of the $$$ doctor visit and prescription (they all required a prescription at that time), I sent my husband to the grocery store for some live culture plain yogurt, put myself in a piledriver position, and had him spoon a bit in and work it around. The live lactobacilli (bacteria culture) in yogurt competes with yeast as well as the bacteria responsible for bacterial vaginosis - Garnerella, Mycoplasma, and Bacteriodes. The lactobacilli produce hydrogen peroxide, which keeps the pH in the vagina low (semen raises it to alkaline, producing conditions in which the unhealthy bacteria flourish). (Also, semen can introduce amines which smell like fish).
My suggestion - 'never' douche - it washes away natural lactobacilli which protect the healthy vaginal flora. At first sign of itching and burning, either insert an acidophilus (lactobacillus) tablet, or put a tablespoon or so of live yogurt or an acidophilus liquid into a half cup or so of warm water, and use a douche bag to implant (not douche) a bit of it. Don't use it all, and don't wash out whatever is in the vagina. Just squeeze enough in so it barely drips a bit out. Repeat if necessary.
I used to carry acidophilus tabs when travelling overseas. I haven't had a problem with this in years and years. The acidophilus worked better for me than the prescription drugs, and without creating antibacterial resistance.
I agree with everything said so far, another home remedy for an early (mild) case is a "soak" with hydrogen peroxide. Lay on the floor, feet on the wall, and put about a turkey baster or so's worth of peroxide in there and just let it fizz for about 10 minutes.
If she's finding that she's more prone to infections after insemination she might like to rinse out with JUST WATER after sex. Plain old water isn't likely to upset all the natural buggies and pH and will rinse away the pH disturbing semen.
Patience is a virtue, but who wants to be virtuous? 4283 Posts 4/00
Posted - May 17 2003 : 1:22AM
Definitely stop the douching.
I had to start taking an antibiotic today because I just had a root canal (yuck!). Anyway, antibiotics always give me a yeast infection, so the pharmacist recommended acidophilus tablets.
Lindi already mentioned this. However, if your wife is wary of genital application of yogurt or tablets meant to be swallowed, she could at least try eating lots of yogurt containing the bacteria or get some acidophilus supplements.
On a negative side, I was slightly allergic to my ex-husband's semen. Something about the chemistry of it caused me to dry out and get infections all the time. And no, it wasn't STDs. Just mismatched chemistry, which pretty much described our entire marriage...
So I'm just saying that MAYBE there is something to what the first doctor said, but most likely, some preventive medicine will solve the problem.
i have the same thing it sucks i have had i off and on for 3 years i have to keep going back and get more medication before i got the right dr who finally expained it to me..... I thought when i first got it that is was a vd i was about to kill my bf b/c he i the only guy i have ever had sex with............
