"What you're experiencing isn't just BV," Dr. Rodriguez said gently.
"It's Bacterial Dysbiosis - and 90% of doctors have never heard of it because they're taught to kill bacteria, not restore balance."
She pulled out her chair - that familiar squeak of medical office furniture - and leaned in close.
"Let me show you what's happening."
She drew three simple circles.
"First, your protective Lactobacillus army gets wiped out by antibiotics."
"Second, harmful bacteria (Gardnerella, Prevotella) flood in to fill the empty space."
"Third, your vaginal pH skyrockets from healthy 4.0 to dangerous 6.0+."
"And fourth - this is crucial - the chemical landscape becomes toxic, causing odor, discharge, and inflammation."
"Wait," I interrupted. "You're saying antibiotics actually make it worse?"