Cytolytic vaginosis vs. Lactobacillus overgrowth: What's the difference?

Hi everyone!

For the last six months, I have been going through a literal living hell. I’ve cycled through a mountain of specialists—gynecologists (so many of them), urologists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, and even proctologists. I think that covers the whole medical directory, doesn't it? 🤔 😢
The pattern is always the same: I walk out of a gynecologist's office with a massive stack of prescriptions because the diagnosis is invariably vulvovaginal candidiasis. In the beginning, I didn't mind using all those vaginal suppositories, but I soon realized that whatever I'm dealing with isn't a fungus, or perhaps my body just isn't responding to antifungal therapy. I’ve visited countless clinics. It’s always the same routine: they just pile on more anti-candidiasis treatments.
By all accounts, I have every classic symptom of yeast: redness in the anogenital area, increased discharge (though it isn't thick or clumpy), itching, and burning.
The most recent treatment I started a week ago involves alternating Medazol suppositories with Betadine ones (one day Medazol, the next Betadine, and so on), along with 400 mg Medazol tablets twice a day. Even this isn't working. I feel like I've tried everything: they’ve hit me with Dalacin vaginal cream, Polygynax, Gynodaktarina, Canesten, and Plimycol. Not a single one of those has touched my symptoms. My labia (especially the minora) are bright red, and in some spots, it looks like raw sores are about to break out. Everyone keeps telling me, "Oh, it's just yeast." But if it really is yeast, why aren't the symptoms going away? I've taken Diflucan and Orungal; I've swallowed enough pills to fill a pharmacy.
Then, quite by chance, I stumbled upon the terms "cytolytic vaginosis" and "lactobacillosis."
You can read more about it here:
http://www.femigel.info/citoliticka-vaginoza/
http://www.femigel.info/laktobaciloza/

It explains how doctors frequently mistake these two conditions for candidiasis because the symptoms are so similar. Honestly, it’s hardly surprising they get mixed up when many doctors at public health clinics don't bother using a microscope or a wet mount slide to immediately distinguish whether a fungus is actually present.
Why have I spent so much time visiting all these doctors and wasting so much money begging them for help? Not a single one has provided any relief. 😢 What's worse is that eventually, they start shutting you out because you're becoming a nuisance. You'll hear things like, "Well, nobody ever died from a yeast infection."
I have had every cervical swab imaginable performed, and every single test comes back negative.

I am reaching out to anyone—whether there are doctors on this forum or women who are going through this exact same nightmare—please reach out. If you know a specialist who actually understands this specific issue, please share their name with me and the rest of the community. 🙂 Also, if anyone has actually managed to overcome this condition... I would be so grateful if you could reach out and share your story.
That's all from me for now. Talk soon!

restlessbadger2, I didn't have that exact diagnosis, but because my swabs came back bad, they just cycled me through antibiotics and all sorts of vaginal treatments like Dalacin cream, Plimycol, Betadine, and Canesten.
The meds basically wiped out my natural flora. I had to try to restore it using Acidosalus vaginal probiotics with applicators.

I'm pretty sure I had Candida, too. I kept getting those burning symptoms, redness, and little open sores right around my period.

For local relief, Octanisept spray actually helped a lot. I used it every day after showering. You should give it a shot; it costs less than $6.75

Elizabeth Sanders24, thank you so much for reaching out! 🙂

Every single swab I’ve had come back normal. Every doctor I’ve seen insists that everything is perfectly fine and they can't understand why I'm still struggling when the tests say there's nothing wrong. But how on earth do you explain this constant burning sensation, both inside and out, that just won't quit? It's been going on for six months now. How do you describe this persistent redness and the sheer irritation of the mucous membranes to someone who hasn't felt it?

They suggested Octenisept to me as well, but it didn't do a thing. I even tried baths with KMnO4—nothing worked there either.
I'm actually planning to switch to baking soda baths soon. Honestly, I feel like I'm running out of options.
I find myself wondering: which specialist, whether it's a gynecologist or a dermatologist, would actually recognize what I'm dealing with? Is this some kind of vaginitis paired with dermatitis? I have a thousand questions, yet nobody seems able to answer a single one. It’s truly baffling to me that so few people seem to know about this, and especially frustrating that even among medical professionals, there's such a lack of awareness that a condition like this even exists.
Well, it does exist. Just as we've become more cautious about overprescribing antibiotics, and how probiotics have largely taken their place to help maintain healthy flora, no one ever talks about the potential negative side effects of taking probiotics. That is exactly what happened to me. Cytolytic vaginosis is often misdiagnosed as Candida because the symptoms are nearly identical. It feels like very few doctors, especially those working in large public hospitals, bother to perform a proper discharge smear and look at it under a microscope.
I would love to hear from anyone else... has anyone else gone through this, or perhaps is currently living through it too? If so, could you offer any advice on where to turn or how to move forward?
I’ve also spent quite a bit of time reading up on vulvodynia... and I can't help but think that many girls might be self-diagnosing with vulvodynia when they are actually suffering from this exact same issue I suspect I have.

Here’s an update: I went to see my gynecologist yesterday, and she basically used her "gut feeling" to claim that I still have a yeast infection. I actually asked her to perform a simple smear on a slide just to be sure, but she flat-out refused! Honestly, part of me wants to file a formal complaint with the medical board, though I don't even know which number to call. Why is it such a struggle for them to perform the most basic diagnostic tests? This has been a constant battle for me for over six months now, yet she won't use the simplest method available to either confirm or rule out the Candida.
I am beyond frustrated with this whole situation! It is incredibly disappointing to deal with this kind of healthcare in America, where we have $667 taken out of our paychecks every single month, only to be met with this level of service. What exactly am I paying for???

I’m finding myself thinking more and more that I’m dealing with either an allergic reaction—some kind of dermatitis—or perhaps an autoimmune issue. It feels like running to doctors is becoming a bit of a futile exercise; when a case doesn't follow that simple "2+2=4" logic, they seem completely at a loss. If a symptom falls outside the standard textbook definitions they were taught, their first instinct is to try and force it back into a familiar box, treating me with methods that clearly aren't working. It really feels like I've been left to navigate this whole mess entirely on my own.

Hey there.

God, finally someone else gets it.
I’ve been fighting both my doctors and these symptoms for years now. I’ve cycled through every single vaginal suppository, pill, and treatment out there. But the symptoms just won't budge—sometimes they actually feel worse because of the medication itself. I’ve told my gynecologist a hundred times that something isn't right, but he just dismisses me, claiming I spend too much time reading things online and that he "knows best." It’s the exact same story as yours. At this point, I'm down to trying baking soda; it feels like my absolute last resort. This whole situation is becoming unbearable. I don't know how much longer I can deal with this.😢

Hi there, and welcome to the club—though I wish it were under better circumstances. I’m actually writing about vulvodynia myself, so please do make sure to read through the entire thread... honestly, I’m still in the dark about what’s actually going on with me. It all kicked off with a Candida issue; I’ve been undergoing treatment for six months now, but nothing seems to be helping. In hindsight, I suspect the treatment would probably work if I could just pinpoint the actual root cause of my symptoms. First, it was a yeast infection, then the burning started, which led me to believe I had vulvodynia, but now the yeast is back and it feels like I'm just running in circles.
Feel free to join the conversation over at 🙂

restlessbadger2, any updates?
I’ve been struggling for years with what I thought were "yeast infections," even though my swabs never actually showed anything on paper (I had them done back when I was in my early 20s).
Usually, my doctor would just prescribe something somewhat randomly or call in a prescription for vaginal suppositories over the phone... and now that my yeast swab came back negative, I'm starting to wonder if it's actually vaginitis.
I’m thinking about getting one more yeast swab; if that comes back clear, I might just try going the natural route.
The only thing that really gets to me is this maddening itch. It’s driving me crazy. My skin has also felt a bit dry lately because I’ve been on a continuous "yeast" treatment for three weeks... I even tried some Lactogyn suppositories after a recommendation from my doctor, but three days after using those, the itching flared up again.

Ugh, something weird is going on with me... First, my OB-GYN told me I had chronic yeast infections (which they linked to some thyroid issues), so I went all in on probiotics. For a while, everything was totally fine. But lately, this thick white discharge is back, my lower abdomen is aching, and I’m constantly running to the bathroom (though it doesn't feel like a typical UTI, and I know what those feel like, so this feels different)... A couple of days ago, I went back to the doctor because I thought it was fungus again, and she just shoved that gross speculum in there, told me the discharge wasn't fungus, and didn't even bother looking under a microscope!!! Seriously, give me a break... What are the symptoms of having too many lactobacilli, and what could this be if nothing is itching or burning, but I have all these other pains??? I'm so lost. Is it actually possible for them to cause abdominal pain? Aren't lactobacilli supposed to be the good guys? Okay, yeah, I am super confused... and I really can't stand doctors who are just superficial and lazy when it comes to fungal stuff...

How do you actually treat this? Is there even a medical solution out there?

I stumbled upon this term by accident and now I’m wondering if this has been the root cause of my issues for years. 🤔
Every single symptom matches perfectly. It always felt weird that I didn't have the typical yeast infection discharge, but this explains it—firstly, because of that sour, yogurt-like scent (which makes sense given how much lactobacillus is involved), and secondly, because none of the standard yeast treatments ever worked for me.🤷

It looks like this thread has gone quiet, but if anyone comes across any new info, please post it here. Thanks! 🙂