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Is your husband being treated as well? That could be the reason...you keep passing it back and forth.
I actually went through about a year where I got them every single month before my period. It was AWFUL. I totally feel your pain. Red, burning, itchy vajayjay is never a good thing.
My doctor could never figure out what was causing them and they just stopped after a while. Sorry I can't be of more help than that.
Yes, I use to have a very vad yeast infection & it lasted forever went away for a few days & came right back! I was to nervous to use monistat because I have diabetes & on the back it says not to use it if you do. But I found out that I was getting them because of my diabetes. My sugar was going high alot & it was causing me to get them because yeast feeds off of sugar. Now that my sugar is under control I don't get them at all. I read online to use a non sugar yogurt. I never used it but you can google it & read up on it & maybe give it a try.
I know I am not much help. But I just wanted to say I KNOW how bad a yeast infection can be. How aggravating & frustrating too. Good luck!
@oracle: A clove of garlic?? If yours are anything like mine, that would mean I would have to be entirely anti-social... I don't think those two smells should be combined...
I've had a few, and I know they're NO fun. I wish I had more advice to give you, but I have either used the Vagisil capsules or let it go away on it's own (week before period...) My mom has chronic infections, but I honestly think it's because she douches a LOT (TMI to know about your mom...) and I really think that's why she gets them, so I don't think she would have any helpful advice to give you.
If your OBGYN can't get to the bottom of it, maybe seek a second opinion? There has to be a reason, and I would suspect it's something to do with how your body is reacting to the BC.
@smyley: up until recently, we use condoms 100% of the time - and he's never had any signs of one.... so I don't think that's the case for us, unfortunately (or fortunately). :)
OMG. This could be me. Except mine don't really go away, they recur throughout my cycle. I haven't found anything that works yet but did start taking a probiotic called FemDophilus - it supposedly works wonders - I'm on week 3, so I'm giving it 30 days before I make any decisions about it.
My doctor also says cranberry juice/cranberry pills. I know it's a recommendation for UTIs but apparently it helps keep the urine acidic which helps balance the ph down there?
I"m worried about taking Diflucan too often. I spoke to my doc today actually and she told me I should get used to a "new normal". Which made me start crying. Ok, a new normal where I don't have sex and I just feel off nearly every day?
I'm hoping something starts to work soon! And hoping someone posts on this thread with something that worked wonders for them!
omg yes!!! ive had chronic yeast since i was 13 - every period like clockwork. A couple of things FINALLY worked, a very high potency probiotic, and my acupunturist. Sounds weird, but she puts needles in my lower tummy (does not hurt), and i have had maybe 3 yeast infections in the 3 years ive been treating with her. No more diflucan - besides it stops working after a while.
Make sure to use a nonfragrant soap made for sensitive skin since that means it'll be fragrant/dye free - my gyno recommended dove sensitive (not the bar). I get the generic brand, and it works great.
She also recommended doing a douche right before your period - the one that's just water mixed with some providine-iodine. Sounds counter-intuitive. but it worked. I did that for about a year or so. Don't do it anymore.
Sometimes, you just need something to calm that area down, and i was recommended by my gyno a mixture of hydrocortison cream + diaper rash cream. Works wonderfully. Nowadays, i just use that if i have some kind of flareup.
For me, diet definately helped. I did a food intelorence test and turns out i'm HORRIBLY intollerant to yeast. So cutting out yeast and sugar made a difference for me. Maybe you should also consider a food intolerance test (diff than allergies, and via blood, not scratch test).
good luck!
Any time I take amoxicillin I get one, so I started taking Azo Yeast pills anytime I have to take antibiotics, and I don't get them anymore. Maybe you could try those?
@piglet_625: I KNOW - the clove of garlic thing is CRAZY sounding to me!!!!
I'm not on any sort of hormonal BC - I was thinking it was my normal BC cycle.
The sad thing is I've talked to multiple docs about it and they all don't have any advice for me.
I feel like I'm a yeast expert :( no sugar, no tight clothes, cotton underwear.... I've played around with so many different things and I'm sick of taking meds every month.
The only thing that brings relief is my period (when the pH changes and kills the overgrowth). UGH.
I never had a recurrent problem, but I heard (plain) yogurt .. up there... would help! If you're willing to stick some garlic, yogurt shouldn't be so bad, right? :) Apparently the bacteria in yogurt helps restore pH balance. Oh, and LOOSE COTTON PANTIES helped me so much. No thongs!
@Ms. Dove: thank you - I actually have some of that in my fridge, but never started taking it (stupid, but true). I never knew when I should start taking it (to see when it would make a difference) and then just never started (hoping each month I'd be free!) :( Hope it works for you!!!
I have chronic yeast skin infections and I found diet hasn't made a difference whatsoever. Since yours are cycle related, it could be a pH change that's allowing them to flareup. I would try yogurt and cranberry juice (start a few days before you would expect the infection) - ingesting them!
If you want to start to get a little more out there, I would try inserting yogurt way before inserting garlic. To me, garlic sounds too irritating!
Obviously, avoid anything that can make them worse - scent pads & tampons (why the heck do they even make those), nylon underwear, too tight clothing, etc.
@Margaritachka: I cut out all sugar and wheat. The only thing I consume that are potential red flags is red wine, coffee, and mushrooms. I'm not willing to give up those - that's all I have since there's no more sugar!!!! Thanks for the soap recommendation- I will be buying some. I use a Dove bar (cucumber/green tea) right now - but I'll switch it up. Did your gyno say why no bar? Is it because the yeast can stay on the soap?? I've also thought about going to a accupunturist... but haven't taken the leap. Also - what probiotic did you use?
The red wine might do ittoo - it's very yeasty. Maybe cut down the sugar, and cut out the yeast. I learned i can still get away with sugar, but the minute i have a bagel - oy. its bad. It's an experiment to try one month :)
I don't know what probiotic i use..i get it from my acupunture. But in the past, i use whatever the the highest does available at whole foods or trader joes.
Try an acupunturist - it's worth a shot! And I would guess that it beats sticking yogrut or garlic up places where it probably doesn't belong :)
I had this problem for almost a year, tried the prescription pill & cream, OTC stuff and changing diet. Nothing worked.
I went the homepathic route myself. I tried the garlic (the smell is ridiculous!). Tried the boric acid suppositories (made me feel sticky and smelled weird)...and finally what worked for me was tea tree oil. At first I was dunking a tampon in tea tree oil (not the straight tea tree oil, but a tea tree oil that is mixed with other oils like olive). Then I found out they have tea tree oil suppositories at Whole Foods. You pop them in the fridge (very soothing when they are cold) and put them in before bed--grant it, you do smell like tea tree oil, but at least it's not garlic and it's a more bearable and socially acceptable smell!
We also changed lubes (one without glycerin) and I washed the goods right after sex and dabbed a little tea tree oil on.
Hope you get some relief soon.
Oh, and I second the probiotics--preferably one that has to be refrigerated.
I have been where you are at. While I can't tell you which thing played the biggest part of the cure I will tell you what helped me (I changed everything at once). * denotes the things I still do.
you know flour,sugar,dairy,alcohol
I was cured. Haven't had one since I was pregnant. (Pregnancy can cause major yeast infections.) 4.5 years yeast free yay!
My doctor recommended RepHresh Pro B capsules, and they work wonders for me. Here's a link: http://www.rephreshprob.com/Main/Default.aspx
Just wanted to second the AZO yeast pills.
Also, have you heard the flavor-free yogurt idea? I tried it...but that stuff is just so gross.
Oh, and this is also *TMI* but apparently using flavored lubes (the edible stuff) was making mine come back. I learned that very quickly though and I imagine if you used those you would have stopped as well.
@Margaritachka: Thanks for your suggestions!
I get one every month, too, and like you, I've tried everything and follow "the rules". Ugh!
A recent gyno told me to bathe in a low tub of warm water and mix baking soda in....can't say that does $h!t for me, haha.
I'm going to wait a few days and re-read this whole thread. I can't tell you the negative effect this problem has had on our sex life. I feel for you. :(
Warm bath with apple cider vinegar in it! I have yeast infections that always try to come back and this always works wonders! Also, just using apple cider vinegar applied topically (if you get my drift) has an amazing way of stopping a yeast infection dead. Try Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother)...it is a lifesaver!
It could be where you live (I used to get them when I lived in FL - warm moist climate did nothing to help the situation!)
Also, as a PP said - loose cotton panties (no thongs, no satin-y panties). Also, sleep in the buff - let everything "air out" while you sleep!
I've had issues with recurrent YIs mostly because of birth control (damnit yaz!). I found that boric acid suppositories work (I make my own) and I only need one every so often. I also avoid beer.
I tried lots of other stuff: yogurt, garlic etc those didn't work so well for me.
The hive rocks! Ok - I'm going to NOT go the garlic route (thankfully!)
@mrsjazz: thanks for the info on the tea tree oil and where to find it. I don't know what that smells like... but it's worth a shot. How often did you use them? Or was it just when one started?
@fancypants: I've heard good things about the make-your-own boric acid stuff... but haven't tried it yet.
@Juliepants: yep -it totally sucks for our sex life. Mine YI's are so scheduled that I actually tell DH - well, we have until 'x' date to have sex... then it's pretty much nothing til after my period. It additionally sucks because we are not trying to conceive and my non-fertile window is when the YI pops up. :( boo.
@AmeliaBedelia: I'm pretty sensitive to lubes - we use the natural version of Astroglide and that's wonderful. We also changed up condoms to using one without spermicide and I thought that worked (it did for 1 month) but then they came back.
PROBIOTICS USERS:
1. When do you start taking them? (in your cycle)
2. How long did you take them before you noticed a differece?
3. Do you continue to take them - or did you stop after a month or two of no YI?
The pork used to make condoms and the glycerin may be making you sensitive!
Also try drinking a glass of fresh squeezed lemon water a day. ( just 2-3 ounces of lemon in a glass of water-purified or distilled water is optimal) It cleanses and stimulates your kidneys & liver ,which are typically the route of all causes of malice in the body. Don't over do the lemon water or chug it, just sip it throughout your morning if you can. Too much too fast will overload your liver.
Lemon is also anionic and will help alkalize too.
I'm not a yeast infection sufferer but I do know they tend to be systematic. Sounds like a lot of great advice from the hive! Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are some awesome homeopathic products!
This may be really weird and possibly not helpful at all. But what kind of soap do you use in the shower?
I switched randomly to some lotiony Dove Body wash (i have dry skin!) and started getting yeast infections (for the first time in my life). I couldn't figure it out and they'd usually come before my period. I decided out of curiosity to stop using the dove (because nothing else was working) and the infections stopped. I haven't had one since. Now i just use what I used before Soft Soap.
Maybe?
Oh, I feel you...I've been having a re-occuring problem with BV, not yeast infections. I'm taking probiotics now to try to get rid of it again. The probiotics I have have helped in the past. Just wanted to point out that I read in a few places online that often women have BV and not yeast infections. I'm not saying you don't have yeast infections, but just be sure it isn't BV. I read that many women treat yeast infections thinking that is what they have, but it is actually BV. Also, I think BV and yeast infections can go hand in hand sometimes, too. What we women have to go through! I hope you can get rid of it, once and for all! Good luck.
I get one every month after my period.... its been every month for a few months! I cant stand it!! Maybe it is the BC pills or maybe the condoms since DH is adament about using them! :( I may need to go to Gyno and see if it could be the problem!!! I know AZO helps and I use Diaper Rash cream my daughter has!
@oracle: Ok. . .Promise not to think I'm a psycho here. . .but I've tried the garlic clove! I wrapped it in a piece of gauze and tied dental floss around it (forming a gauze sack for the garlic). I left it in over night when I felt a yeast infection beginning to start, and it did prevent a full-blown infection. My doctor thought I was nuts, but it worked!
I am also a HUGE fan of probiotics both in the natural and supplement forms, and would definitely give it a try. I tend to load up on yogurt when I feel an infection coming on as well. I don't think it always works alone, but it helps when combined with other measures.
Also, you may want to your OB-GYN about a topical Nystatin-Triamcinolone cream. It may be a bit old fashioned, but it helps! My mom is a nurse and swears by it! It's not meant to be put inside of the vagina, but it can be used on the vulva area (between the lips; where we wipe after going to the bathroom). It may be messy, but if you slather yourself with this around day 19 and continue to apply it for a few days (~2 times/day), maybe it will help prevent a "yeasty".
I haven't had much of an issue with yeast infections lately, and I think it's because I'm on Yaz. I have hormonal issues that the pill seems to regulate. Still, I won't go on a trip without Monostat, just in case!!!
Are you sure it's yeast? This sounds like a dumb question, but I've literally been to two doctors for the same condition, a day apart, and one said "yeast" and the other said "BV".
Headdesk.
My problem has actually been chronic cervicitis of no known cause - no STDs for either of us, nothing grows in culture, etc. I had a nurse try to teach me how I should be maintaining personal hygeine - like after using the toilet. That really pissed me off. I get it's her job and it's logical, but I maintain good hygeine. The conversation made me feel like it was all my fault (when really recurrent BV is a common problem for a startling number of women).
I've tried almost every antibiotic recommended in the literature. I finally realized that it wasn't "recurring", it wasn't getting cured, so I insisted on followup after each "attempt" to treat it. There have been no "classic" bv symptoms - no odor, just a heavy yellow/white discharge. The doc finally tried cauterizing my cervix with silver nitrate, which was pretty awful, but I'm hoping it's done the trick.
Right now I take FemDophilus once a day, twice at the start and end of my period (keep it in the fridge). I also sometimes take an acidophilus probiotic, eat tons of yogurt, take a daily vitamin, and a cranberry extract pill once a day. And I try to drink a lot of water. I haven't made any other changes, and I still socially drink. I did switch to unscented soap and unscented detergent.
If I notice discharge or FI & I are intimate, I've started using a product called Luvena. So far it's seemed to work great - I don't use it as often as recommended, just when I think it's needed. I had tried the Rephresh gel and I didn't like it as much, it felt like it was irritating me.
Actually heading to the Doc in a few hours for a followup, hoping my routine in combo with the silver nitrate has worked.
@atalante: That's what I mentioned in my post above yesterday, too. (Could be BV) Actually, I did more research on it last night and read that 3/4 of women treating yeast infections actually have BV instead. And 1/3 of all women have BV at any given time, though some have no symptoms. I take an acidophilus probiotic, too. I'm going to continue taking it and not stop it as I have in the past year. (The BV returned) Good luck at your next appt.!
I used to have such chronic yeast infections that I never even knew I had one until I had a pap smear done. I then started taking "Acidolophlous" (sp?) vitamins and have never had a problem ever since! I took them daily and then stopped taking them and they must have helped the pH level down there because I have never had a problem since!
Just wanted to update and say I made two changes this past month, and it TOTALLY helped. The first: changing my soap. I didn't go to body wash, but I changed my scented Dove soap to the Dove sensative soap. The second: I started taking Renew Life Probiotics:
http://www.amazon.com/Renew-Life-Ultimate-Vaginal-30-Count/dp/B000VM5A20
I started taking them on the first day of my cycle, and by day 21 (when I get a yeast infection like clockwork) I was FINE. I'm on day 24 of my cycle - so, I'm still holding my breath - but I think so far so good!! I'm AMAZED!!!!!!
I think it was the probiotics more than the soap - but I'm not going back to the old soap (just in case!).
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TMI alert! TMI alert! TMI alert!
Has anyone dealt with chronic yeast infections? I have a very regular cycle and can predict - to the DAY - when I'll get one (day 21 of my 32 day cycle).
I've talked to my OBGYN and have not had any luck getting rid of it (maybe for 1 month, sporadically).
I'm currently on a 3-day cycle of fluconazole (the oral pill) - but I'm not hopeful it will work (since last month, it didn't help). I've gone the monistat routes and I hate those because even with the 1-day dose, the goop lasts for days and I hate the discharge (bleck!)....
I was looking up homeopathic remedies and a lot point to puting a clove of garlic up there (say WHAT??!!!) and I was curious if anyone has tried this with any sucess (does this tell you how desparate I'm getting).
I haven't tried the probiotic route and would love to hear from anyone who has had any luck getting rid of chronic yeast infections.
My doc wants me to try a 30-day dose of the oral pill and I'd really rather not go there - but that's pretty much where I'm at.
I'll also note that it's not diet related - I did a no sugar, no wheat, no dairy diet and that didn't help.