"What you're experiencing isn't just recurring BV," my new gynecologist said softly.
"It's a bacterial dysbiosis – and 90% of GPs have never heard of it because they're taught to kill bacteria, not restore balance."
"First: your protective Lactobacillus army is completely destroyed by antibiotics."
"Second: harmful bacteria (Gardnerella, Prevotella) rush in to fill the empty space."
"Third: your vaginal pH shoots up from a healthy 4.0 to a dangerous 6.0+."
"And fourth - and this is where it really goes wrong - the chemical landscape becomes toxic, causing odor, discharge, and inflammation."
"Wait," I interrupted her. "Are you saying antibiotics actually make it worse?"