Yeast infections…?
Okay.. so i have gotten yeast infections i would say about 4 times in the past 6 months..
Currently i have the itching and burning but no CLEAR signs of for sure yeast infection yet, so i dont want to start treating it.
I do take birth control, and when i asked my doctor about birth control potentially causing more yeast infections she said "yeah but what are you going to do, not take the pill?"
So i feel hopeless … and also want to know if its normal? and if having several yeast infections could make new issues in the future.
Also i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or tricks on how to take away the itching and possibly preventing them in the future.
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GOOD NEWS or BAD NEWS
First, THE GOOD NEWS: There might be an easy answer, that you’ve never even considered.
You might not even be suffering from reoccurant yeast infections. Only 8% of women suffer from that. I thought that I was one of the 8% for over a year. With much research on my part, I discovered a condition called Cytolitic Vaginosis. Aka, the exact opposite of a yeast infection, however, they share practically the same symptoms. Odorless white discharge (ranging from watery to very thick) slight to intense itching, and painful intercourse. This is caused by an abundance, or overgrowth, of the "good bacteria" known as Lactobacilli, and a lack of white blood cells. Except that in CV, the lactobacilli that are normally rod-shaped, are deformed–appearing hook-shaped or "question-mark-shaped" under a microscope, and your vaginal skin cells appear unhealthy or "torn-up." There is actually a LACK of yeast in this opposite, yet yeast infection mistaken condition.
You see, I originally had a yeast infection, but I over-treated it, and took wayyyy too many candida-fighting (yeast-fighting) supplements, etc., and I somehow managed to actually lower my pH by TOO much!
There hasn’t been nearly as much research done on CV as there has been for yeast infections, because it is suspected to be very rare. But I think that its more common than we realize.
BUT! before you go self-diagnosing. Go see a doctor and have them perform a "wet smear" to get a sample of your discharge, as well as a vaginal PH evaluation. Tell the doctor that this is what they should look for:
"The pH will be low, measuring 3.5 to 4.5.
Few white blood cells will be noted on the saline side of the wet
prep, and there will be evidence of cytolysis of epithelial cells
resulting in poorly defined cell borders and pale or bare nuclei.
There may be an increased number of rod shaped lactobacilli present
and a marked absence of the pathogens associated with bacterial
vaginosis, trichomoniasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis (Cibley, &
Cibley, 1991; Paavonen, 1995)."
"Vaginal cultures will demonstrate either normal vaginal flora or
heavy growth of lactobacilli, and they will not show candida. The
examiner should be careful to sample only the vagina for the cultures.
Contaminating vaginal cultures with cervical secretions may obscure
the diagnosis (Cibley, & Cibley, 1991; Secor, 1992; Paavonen, 1995)."
THE BAD NEWS IS—because of the lack of research there is no fast-acting cure. Baking soda douches and baking soda baths are recommended, as well as discontinuing the use of tampons for at least 6 months. Maxi pads might be an extremely annoying inconvenience, but look at it this way—6 months is only 6 or so periods you have to deal with like that.
More bad news, unfortunately: You may be one of the 8% who really do suffer from reoccurant yeast, or you may have something more serious such as diabetes (high blood sugar level may cause a yeast overgrowth), AIDs, or Herpes (often misdiagnosed as a yeast infection, because of the itching, and because herpes outbreaks may go unnoticed because the blisters can be microscopic.) So do YOURSELF a favor and get a blood test for each of those things, and get a pap smear, and wet smear as well.
In the case that it IS yeast: I’d recommend odorless garlic pills, and candida-fighting supplements. Eat plain yogurt too. It has live cultures (good bacteria) in it.
Once you get your pH balanced, I’ve heard people recommend a product called RepHresh. Its supposedly KEEPS it in balance.
Good luck!
have you seen a doctor and received an actual diagnosis of yeast infection each time? if not, visit a doctor and get complete STD testing. your doctor will advise you on how to treat your symptoms as they are not normal.
a nice cool bath with a little patchouli oil(essential oil) is soothing. also go to your local health food store and they will have something that can help prevent them from coming so often. avoid foods containing yeast and seafood can often cause episodes too. best wishes. oh yeah and treat your partner he may be reinfecting you. by the sounds of things you are on the verge so i would treat it now.
First be sure your partner is tested if you are sexually active in case he is reinfecting you. Second be sure you to eat lots of yogurt with live active cultures or take acidophillus capsules daily to help prevent them. Do not treat an infection unless you are positive it is a yeast infection. You may want to consider a different form of birth control if you think this is part of the cause.
OKay with a dumb jerk answer like "Yeah, but what are you going to do, not take the pill?" I, personally, would dump that guy.
Yeast infections are not par for the course when taking the pill. A yeast infection is an over abundance of one of two beneficial bacterias in your body..Candida and Gardina. A good doctor would swab you and find out which bacteria was causing the trouble.
They (the bacteria) have a party and you suffer. What you need is a doctor who treats you and not give you wise remarks.
I found that the yeast infection pill that takes up to two days to work really works well. Try eating more yogurt and use a fungicidal cream on your itchy spots. The stuff in Lotrimin is the same as the stuff in Gyne-Lotrimin and it’s the same stuff in the knock offs. Read the labels and save yourself some $$$ and feel better. Whatever you do, try not to itch you can spread the infection all over that way and it can infect other parts of your body.
The imbalance can be caused by many things. pregnancy, eating too much sugar, rough, prolonged sex, wiping wrong adn getting fecal bacteria (poo) in your girl areas can do it and I used to get one everytime my mom replaced the toilet freshener. I think the fumes from the perfume irritated me and that caused it.
Feel better!
Well a few things, I would probably have your doctor test you for thyroid disease the next time you see him/her. Birthcontrol does provide the right conditions for yeast but it usually requires a little help such as high sugar, thyroid disease, etc.
So I have had systemic yeast infections (thyroid and diabetic athlete. .. worst combo ever)….several things that help. . .
-low sugar diet (eat complex carbs instead)
- eat yogurt at least once a day with active cultures
- you can take an acidophylus (sp?) suppliment available at most healthfood stores
- take calcium citrate, which will help shift your Ph balance to a more acidic state. . . which yeast does not like
- try not to use tampons
- sleep bare bottomed (its amazing what just a little air will do)
- AND ….and I really fought this for a while but there is something called boric acid….if you read the bottle it says its rat poison. . .. it is a very old rat poison but its also an old remedy for chronic yeast infections. It comes in a bottle as a powder and you have to get these empty veggi capsules from a healthfood store (the boric acid is in most pharmacies)…you may be able to convince a pharmacist to make a bunch of capsules for you but they are all the same size just fill them up and don’t leave any around for fido or kitty to lick up…
My gynocologist recommended that to PREVENT yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (both occur due to overpopulation of naturally occuring organisms in your body) insert one capsule into your vagina once a week at night. . . one after intercourse, etc.
If you have an existing infection use two capsules a day, once in the morning and once at night for 4 days.
It makes for some interesting discharge and for me it kind of hurts a little bit so I use a swipe of A&D ointment down there to decrease irritation…..hope this helps
I know just the solution for you!
Take a shower right before bedtime. Then apply some non-flavored (unsweetened) yogurt to your vagina. Do not put any panties or pajama’s on. Because they will wipe the yogurt right off. Be sure to do this at least 3 to 4 times a week. I promise it will work! And it costs less than all those smelly creams. Good luck!
Eat yogurt–it is an age old remedy
Add a tablespoonful of vinegar into a half litre of water(cold water is better) and douche with the solution. Do this everytime u use the bathroom for a whole day and you will see the difference. It works for me and i hope it does for you too. Good luck!