My Story

"As a Health Care Worker I often see women who are suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis, so I really know how common this condition is.

On a personal level I have been troubled by BV since I can remember, probably since I started my period. My symptoms have been relatively slight and consist of a continuous vaginal discharge. Over the years I have tried various treatment methods; I started by using the oral antibiotic metronidazole but this made me feel incredibly nauseous. I then tried the metronidazole pessary which was really complicated to use, plus it interfered with my sex life, so in the end I have to admit that I didn’t complete the course.

When balance activ came along I was really relieved, as not only is it a natural treatment, but all you have do is snap the top off, insert, and squeeze. As I have recurrent BV I use it every now and again to treat and prevent my symptoms, on each occasion after about 3 days my vaginal discharge is significantly reduced. I am really relieved to have found balance activ, now I no longer have to rely on antibiotics.

In clinic I often see women in a similar position to myself having suffered recurrent bouts of BV. If they don’t know much about the condition, they often feel dirty or perhaps think that they have an STI. I obviously reassure them that that is not the case, in fact hygiene practices such as douching or using perfumed products can actually be a cause of BV. Here balance activ is a real help, it means that I can actually suggest a way in which a woman can positively manage her own vaginal health by using balance activ to address the pH imbalance that causes BV and its symptoms."

"I have had BV diagnosed several times over 4 years, usually I have no symptoms so don’t even know I have it until I have my regular smear. My doctor has previously prescribed anti-biotics but I have found that this causes thrush too, making my problems worse. So recently when I had another bout of BV I asked if there was anything else available, my Doctor suggested I try balance activ. I used balance activ vaginal gel for 7 days in order to treat my condition, as I have recurrent BV I will try and use balance activ every month to protect myself from it happening again."

“I have had recurring BV for 4 years; to be frank they have been 4 years of hell. My main symptoms have been soreness and the fishy odour which makes me very self conscious. I have probably made things worse myself as I have used douches and intimate hygiene products. I am now trying to change my habits as I understand that over-cleaning your intimate area can mean you remove the good bacteria leaving you more susceptible to BV.

Previously I have been prescribed antibiotics and although they do work they have awful side effects, for instance the taste is vile and they make me feel sick. They do work but are short term and my BV comes back again not long after.

I have used balance activ as an alternative and I really like it. It feels really soothing and treats in the same time as the antibiotics. The first time I used it I went back to the clinic after using the course of 7 tubes and the tests showed it had successfully treated BV. I now use it to prevent recurrence.

It is really good news that balance activ is going to be made available in the shops. I travel a lot with work and when I have BV abroad it can cause me problems as getting treatment can be difficult, taking balance activ with me when I travel should help no end.”

"For the last couple of years I have suffered from BV.  It’s been a nightmare for me as it recurs all the time, usually around the time of my period or after sex. 

Although I do get a slight discharge, the main symptom for me is the fishy odour which can be so bad that my partner notices.  To get rid of it I have tried everything but hate using antibiotics especially as they have given me thrush before. 

balance activ is really, really good.  It is easy to use and within a couple of days the odour goes.  I am now using it around the time of my period to stop BV coming back. 

It is excellent news that balance activ is going to be available in Pharmacies; it will be so less daunting than buying it off the shelf rather than having to go the clinic.  It will really help sufferers like me.  To be honest, it has been a godsend."

“I have been a recurrent BV sufferer for several years.  At first my symptoms were only slight but gradually they have got worse and I now find it affects my relationship with my partner; it isn’t always easy to explain such an embarrassing problem.  Having the condition just makes me feel horrible.

I have been prescribed antibiotics for many years but they tend to make me feel really sick and I usually don’t finish the course.  Balance Activ is a blessing.  I feel privileged to be one of the first women in the UK to use it and to be involved in raising awareness of this condition.”

"I have worked as a registered nurse in GU medicine for 10 years. BV is a common reason for women to visit the clinic; in fact I see it in around half of the female patients I see a week.

Many of my patients suffer with BV recurrently; commonly after their periods or after sex, but lots of my patients don’t notice any particular trigger for it to return.

I’ve tried lots of ways to treat the condition; antibiotics are the most common treatment and work well, but many of my patients have returned within a couple of months as BV has returned yet again. Plus an antibiotic won’t prevent recurrence.

Balance activ offers everything I need to give a patient to manage her condition. It’s not an antibiotic but is just as effective in treating BV, and its’ safe for a woman to use as often as she likes. I’ve found in our chronic BV clinic that most women are using it just before their period or after sex to prevent recurrence. For the women who haven’t worked out their trigger, they can use it as soon as they notice their symptoms returning, some just for one day, and it keep’s it at bay.

It’s really easy to use, and it’s great that it’s available for women to buy rather than having to have a prescription. It means that they can take it away on holiday with them - we get requests for prescriptions prior to women taking a holiday ‘just in case’.

Most of my patients love it – in fact, one patient recently referred to it as her miracle cure!! It’s great for me too - now I don’t see the same faces in clinic month after month, I’ve finally been able to help them".

At first I used thrush treatments but they didn’t get rid of my symptoms. After doing some research and speaking to my GP I was tested for BV and the result was positive.

My symptoms are an unusual discharge and an odour.  It is the odour which causes me the most embarrassment as I am constantly worried that people can smell it, especially my boyfriend. 

The last time I saw my GP, she recommended I go to see a specialist at the clinic at St. George’s Hospital. The nurse I saw recommended I try Balance Activ™.  She gave me some swabs to do at home so we could tell whether it had worked or not.  After three days the symptoms had more or less all gone and after 6 days the swab showed that it had completely gone.

I would definitely recommend using Balance Activ™ to all my friends as I was very happy with the results and it was just so easy to use.  As I suffer from BV often, I know the symptoms myself and just want the treatment without having to be swabbed every time for diagnosis by my GP.  Balance Activ™ means that I can now manage BV at home rather than having to go to the Doctors or the clinic every time it flairs up."