Hoping to find someone here who has experienced what is now "my latest" peri issue - for the first time in 20+years I have a vaginal infection - not yeast - but bacterial. From what I've read and what my doctor says, it's an imbalance in the vaginal PH and is likely due to diminishing estrogen. Who knew? I am on vaginal antibiotic gel for it and then my doctor is recommending estrogen suppositories for 2 weeks to help get/keep the PH in balance. Has anyone else had this?

I had no symptoms to even indicate to myself that I had an infection until I experienced some discomfort during and following intercourse. I assumed that was due to decreased lubrication - even though we do use added lubrication. The discomfort continued for a few days - pretty mild overall - a sense of pressure mostly, so I went in for a check. A wet slide showed baceterial imbalance. I was stunned!

If anyone has had this - what helped you? I understand it can recurr with some good frequency (groan!) as it's all due to a change in PH that often accompanies the hormonal changes.

I am using bioidentical progesterone cream - nothing else. I've not had a period for 4 months now. I am 50. Sounds like I need to add the estrogen suppositories to my regime as well. I am so resistant to taking "anything" but know I can't continue like this. Help or ideas or wisdom from anyone? thanks! kathleen

Yes I have had something very similar to this. The doc didnt say it was a bacterial infection. I know mine is hormonal I am 53 and have had this for a few years. Now in the past what I did seem to suffer from was UTI infections. I got that under control after battling with antibiotics etc. Got tired of that, now thats another story.
So what I found were several things that helped. One is a salve I found on the web, another is Replens you can buy it OTC. Now it works great for me but you will find some women it didnt work for, its trial and error. I also use the K-y gels to moisturize that area and that helps too. I dont wash with any perfumed soaps only Ivory. I take probiotics to help replenish the good bacteria in that area too.
I was also told I needed estrogen creams but because of the strong ovarinan cancer history in my family I declined to use it.
I have also tried vagi-gard suppositories, and Vita E suppositories.
So its not an easy thing to treat but for now I am under control, thank God, I sure hope you find relief it is very painful and disrupts your life even to sit is painful.
If you have any questions that I can help you with please feel free to PM me anytime, Tinkybug

PS Almost forgot seemed for me anyway it would get worse before my period and then changed to after so it seems to morph

In Australia I use a product called Ural - effervescent granuals. consisting of sodium bicarbonate/tartaric acid/citric acid and sodium citrate. works every time and can be bought OTC here.
Wouldn't be without it just in case.
Ural is a pleasantly flavoured effervescent drink which provides relief from painful burning symptoms of urinary Tract Infections. Ural helps to neutralize the acid in the urinary tract while assisting in eliminating organisms that cause infection.
Adult Dose: Dissolve contents of 1-2 sachets in a glass of cold water. May be taken 4 times daily for 5 days.
Ask your chemist.