Garlic to treat BV?

[TrishWSU]

I *think* I have bacterial vaginosis...again (3rd time, bleh!) I had a m/c last month and a seemingly normal cycle but I noticed that my end of cycle discharge was more white and creamish than it normally should be and I kind of smell funky down there. AF has come and gone and still the funky odor (yep, worse after sex.)

Anyway, I read in a midwifery book that BV can be treated by inserting a peeled garlic clove into the vagina and changed 3x daily, followed by 5 days of acidophilus treatment (tampon soaked in acidophilus, changed every 3 hours.) Has anyone heard of this and if so, how long are you suppose use the garlic? The book doesn't say (I re-read it about 5 times thinking I was missing it.)

I'd really like to try a more natural route before turning to antibiotics.

TIA!!

[Ruthla]

I've heard of the garlic clove for vaginal infections, but never heard of the acidophilos-soaked tampon afterwards. Garlic kills bacteria, yeast, and viruses, so I don't see why you'd need to re-introduce good germs to the area when all classes of germs are killed off equally. It's not like you wipe out bacteria and then yeast overgrow.

If you are going to use acidopholus after the treatment, I'd just get it in capsule form and use as a vaginal suppository.

I guess use the garlic cloves until the symptoms are gone, and then for a couple of days longer (maybe changing less often?) to make sure the infection doesn't come right back.