Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Flagyl for bacterial Vaginosis following pregnancy with cramping and discharge

Resolved Question:

I am 20 weeks pregnant. I had bacterial vaginosis at 16 and 18 weeks. Each time, my OB prescribed 500 mg flagyl twice a day for 7 days. I was in the child birth unit at the hospital last night for unusual cramping and discharge My OB was on call and again, I had clue cells and bv. I am again prescribed the flagyl for 7 days; if this course does not work, then OB will prescribe something else in two weeks. I know I need to take the flagyl as I am already at risk for pre-term labor. I have a high-risk pregnancy because of my age and pre-term labor with my last child. I am concerned, however, that taking flagyl for a third time in less than two months will hurt my baby. I know flagyl crosses the placenta and just want to be reassured that other pregnancy women who have had recurrent (persistent) bv in pregnancy have taken flagyl ongoing without complications. I do not have any lifestyle factors that cause me to get bv (I have no sexual contact, changed diet, etc). Will my baby be okay if I take this course of flagyl? Do some women have recurrent bv throughout their pregnancies and continue on to have successful pregnancies? Thank you for your help.

Category: OBGYN

Ask Your Own Question

Dr. Aarti Vazirani
Category: Infertility Specialist
View Profile
 29 Doctors Online

Expert:  Dr. Aarti Vazirani
View Profile

Thanks for choosing doctorspring.com

Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.

Let me elaborate a few points which will reassure you, backing up my statements with studies attached, which maybe in medical terminology, but the gist of which will be grasped by a perceptive patient like you.

1. BV ( bacterial vaginosis ) is known for recurrence. Almost 30 % women relapse in the first month of therapy. Apart from sexual partners, other factors are being incriminated - stress, lack of sleep, vaginal douching or over cleaning with various agents etc.

2. During pregnancy too, recurrence is common, and recurrent BV has an association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but by far, the number of successful pregnancies outnumbers the adverse outcomes. IN your case, with a prior history of preterm labour and your age ( not specified by you in the query ), there is more room for caution.

3. Metronidazole ( flagyl ) is completely safe in pregnancy, yes, even a third course. Rest assured.

4. It is better to combine topical therapy ( clindamycin cream ) with oral Flagyl, please discuss this with your OB.

Am attaching a few links, please go through them in detail -
http://epirev.oxfordjournals.org/content/24/2/102.full
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/44/6/854.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7856680
Take care, and please feel free to discuss further.
Regards

Dr. Aarti Vazirani
Category: Infertility Specialist
Experience: 
Residency: Obstetrics & Gynecolog, BJMC,Civil hospital, Ahmedabad, 2008
Post Graduate: MS (Obstetrics & Gynecology), B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, 2008
Medical School: MBBS, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, 2004
Dr. Aarti Vazirani and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Get me answers from Doctors now
29 Online Doctor

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news