Welcome Back Heidi, We missed you.

Just wanted to update you and ask one question. It has been 4.5 months since my husband and I started the diet. I am still 15 lbs. lighter. I had to increase my cardio a bit but I am still doing the yoga and feeling great.

Husband is doing better as well, he is still taking blood pressure meds and still needs to lose more weight and work out (Type O) but I see improvement.

Here is my question...I did research on vaginosis and noticed physicians acknowledge it can be triggered my imbalanced hormones. Now they say 1 in 4 women get it, 18% of those who are not sexually active. The only course of treatment that works are antibiotics, no natural remedies.

I checked this site and Dr. Bron recommended to a person asking about vaginosis have a doctor take care of it.

I know you all don't typically advocate the use of antibiotics but is this an exception?

Also about 10 years ago, I suffered with chronic reoccurences of vaginosis, my GYN became concerned bacteria would become resistant. Now I have unexplained infertility and another case of vaginosis. I just want to do the right thing. I appreciate any insight you can provide. Thanks, Dawn

Hi there, Dawn! It's nice to be back!!

Thanks for your update. I'm pleased to hear you and your husband are doing so well on the diet!

I reviewed Doc Bron's response to the woman who asked about her persistent "fishy smell." He recommended she have a gynecologist test for bacterial vaginosis, since the symptom she described is common in that condition.

What concerns me is the possibility that the infection may have has progressed to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID may be accompanied by significant pain... or none at all, and one of its results is infertility. Now, I'm NOT saying that's what has happened with you, since the measure of infertility is a very wide and sliding scale. However, I would definitely ask -- did your gynecologist give you antibiotics, and were they effective in any one of your episodes in eradicating the infection?

The cause of vaginosis is a bacterial imbalance. Often, the stage is set by douching or other pH-changing events in the vagina. By the way, nonsecretors are more likely to experience problems of this kind, given their lack of "first defense" blood-type antibodies in body secretions.

My recommendation is to get your secretor status right away, begin using the diet according to the therapeutic guidelines contained in Live Right 4 Your Type, and then use the antibacterial protocol for type A. The diet for an A nonsecretor is markedly different from the secretor's, both in item ratings and food group portions & frequency. Don't underestimate its ability to re-establish balance in all systems... it's a very powerful program, and MOST important, it's the basis for resolution of the problem. :-) Vaginosis is not caused by a deficiency of antibiotics. You know where I'm going with that one. ;-)

Here is a resource for solid information on this subject, which includes some complementary medical treatments as well: PID Page. Note especially the subtitles "Causes and Symptoms," "Treatment," "Alternative Treatment," and "Prognosis." Also note that your husband should be checked for possible infection as well.

From what I know of your situation right now, I'm going to surprise you and say I'd go with whatever antibiotics are necessary to blow this thing out of the water, then pick up the pieces by following your diet according to secretor status, taking plenty of PolyFlora-O, and making good use of the Encyclopedia. There will be a recovery process, but you'll have all the right tools at hand -- and I'll help in any way I can.

You're right, I usually curse antibiotics to high heaven -- they are overprescribed, misused, unnecessary in almost every situation, and notorious for doing more harm than good. However! there are times when there is a greater risk in NOT taking them, and I feel this is one of those times. I'm just going to re-re-repeat myself and reiterate ;-> that this is an emergency situation: we want to ensure that the infection is stopped before doing damage to the upper reproductive organs. During and after that process, the secretor-keyed diet and supps will get the healing in high gear.

Dawn, my best wishes are with you, and I'm looking forward to hearing how you do! write early and often!

and ... anyone who has some tried & true tips for Dawn ~~ the lines are open!

thanks!! :-D