What's a yeast infection?
 

Okay, so I came upon the whole sex thing kinda late in life. I'm 21 and just starting to explore that whole realm of life. Anyways, my problem is kinda weird and I think I have a yeast infection but I don't know for sure.
I'll give you the symptoms. It kinda burns when I urinate, not a lot and more at the end then at the beginning. I was really itchy, but now I have my period and the itchy is gone. I chalked that up to hair regrowing in. I guess that's all. I thought there was discharge but now I add that up to the days before my period. My boobs are really sore - for the last week or so. I got a new 'toy' - a vibrator and have been using that - with lube (both firsts) for a couple of weeks. I always clean it with toy cleaner. This is only my second peroid since becoming a vegatarian.

The burning thing is weird and hasn't happened before.

My point? Does this sound like a yeast infection? If not, what ARE the symptoms of a yeast infection?

Thanks.

Some lubes have glycerin in them, which can cause yeast to grow. The burning while urinating is consistent with a yeast infection. Vegetarianism would likely have little to do with it. If you still eat dairy, I would recommend getting some yogurt and eating a cup a day. Acidophilus is your friend. Also switch to a lube without glycerin (if yours have glycerin in them).

When you get your period, the symptoms of a yeast infection often subside for the time you're menstruating, but more often than not it will come back once your flow has stopped. Go get some generic clotrimazole and start using it when your flow has subsided. There really is no need to spend $16 on a pack of Monistat or whatever--the clotrimazole is an equally effective antifungal and a quarter of the cost. Massage the cream into the inflamed tissues, then squirt a bit on your finger and insert it into your vagina. Do this every day until the tissue is no longer inflamed and itchy and the burning during urination has completely subsided. This may take several days. Also either be eating yogurt or taking acidophilus capsules during this time--it will help rebalance the flora in your body. Make sure that when you do wash yourself, you are washing with unscented, non-irritating soap and rinsing well. Also dry yourself well and let yourself air out. Wear cotton underwear. Anything synthetic will cause your natural flora to grow out of control.

It really DOES sound like a yeast infection--the breasts being sore would go with your period, though. The burning, itching is definitely consistent, however.

A burning feeling while urinating is also very consistant with a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection). It can become quite dangerous if not taken care of properly. The first UTI I ever had, I mistook the symptoms for a yeast infection. It ended up infecting my bladder and finally my kidneys resulting in kidney stones and a week long hostpital stay (while 7months pregnant). If the burning sensation does not subside, get to your gyno sooner rather than later. Also preventative measures for UTI's - Drink LOTS of cranberry juice and eat yogurt cultured with the acidophilus bacteria. Those little guys are not only great for yeast, but great for maintaining intestinal and UT health.

~Rachael

This could be a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, UTI, or several other possible STD's. That fact that you've gone vegetarian would make a yeast infection more possible. Until you figure out the things you need to eat to preservethe right level of acidity in your vagina. Too much sugar and non acidic foods will lower the acidity and provide sugars for the yeast to multiply on.

I would suggest, now that you are getting into the realm of sexual exploration you see your gyno. Even if it's only a yeast infection, the over the counter medications even recommend that if it's your first yeast infection you should get a Dr's diagnosis first. If it's a UTI you will not get rid of it on your own and it could get much much worse before any antibiotics start helping.

BV usually doesn't have burning while urinating as a symptom, though, which makes me think it would be a yeast infection.

But yes, that was one point I missed--your first yeast infection, go to the doctor. But my point about not buying Monistat still stands. It's excessively expensive, even in generic form, if you're buying it as just a yeast infection treatment.

Ugh. I have one right now, and it SUCKS! Just finished up antibiotics for stepping on a rusty garden tool (had to get a tetanus shot, too...guess which hurt worse, the shot or the foot?) and the meds gave me the lovely yeasties.

No yeast infection, however, have ever been as bad as that first one, when I thought my cooch was going to burst into flames from the itching. I didn't know what it was and let it go on FAR too long. Get thee to a doctor, and get them to give you a double dose of diflucan.

Go to a professional. They can give you the answer. My friend thought she had a bladder infection and it turned out to be clamydia!
My experience with yeast infections was terrible. For about a year I kept getting them over and over. I couldn't figure out why. I tried the over the counter stuff and even some prescription medication. Nothing worked! One day when I was getting my yearly physical I mentioned this to my gyno. She said that if you have unprotected sex with your boyfriend, he probably has the yeast infection too. I didn't think guys could get yeast infections! Therefore, the reason I kept getting them was because he kept giving it back to me every time we had sex. As soon as I figured that out we were both medicated and the problem hasn't come back.

It can when it gets too far gone. But in that case, for me anyway, it's a BV infection that turns into a UTI as well because the bacteria is overgrown all over that area. So perhaps I would have to say it's a UTI causing that sensation. I get it all soo often that I think of them as almost one and the same.

Well it sounds like a UTI to me and trust me I have had my fair share of them. If it feels like its a stinging burning sensation and you feel like you need to pee but not much comes out its probably a UTI. A yeast infection is an overgrowth of bacteria down there and the symptoms are usually itching like crazy on the pubis mound and on the lips of the vagina and a discharge that has a chunky almost cottage cheese like consistency. Not a pretty picture huh? A good way to prevent it though is to keep yourself clean but don't clean too much or you will kill off the good bacteria too and to eat yogurt. Yogurt helps replace the bacteria that is good for both your stomach and vagina. Cranberry juice helps too because the enzymes help kill off bacteria. Hope this was helpful!

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=3548
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=99788

Here are a couple other threads that have a similar vein of discussion... hope these help! =)

I didn't notice this until just now. A yeast infection is not an overgrowth of bacteria. It's a fungal infection caused by a very similar strain to the fungus that causes nail fungus (those yellow, thick, brittle nails), atheletes foot, jockitch and ringworm. BV - Bacterial Vaginosis is a very common vaginal infection that has some similar symptoms to a yeast infection. The two things are treated differently. A yeast infection is treated with Antifungal creams or pills, while BV is treated with Antibiotic creams or pills. The biggest difference between the two is that BV will often have a characteristic fishy smell sometimes while a yeast infection will never have a fishy smell. Both will have creamy white or yellow discharge which may or may not be chunky like cottage cheese. Both will itch and burn - though in personal experience the yeasties itch more while the BV burns more but that's relative to my experience - and both can be passed to your partner. BV is not normally detectible in men but if you are getting it repeatedly it's not uncommon to have the man tested or put on antibiotics because he can be passing it back and forth with you. Yeast infection in men presents itself as jock itch - just as irritating and fairly simple to treat with antifungal creams such as Clortrimazole.

Sorry - just had to make sure things were clear.

Hey. Thanks guys. I went to the doc this morning. The morning after I posted this I woke up with the idea that it could be a UTI and, according to the doc, it is. Thanks for everything!

Does Diflucan actually work? I've been on antibiotics so long with this infected cyst yogurt isnt working anymore and they called me in a script for this...I've never taken it so I was wondering how good it was?

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I actually just took it today and I'm hoping it will clear things up, but I've had times where I had to take the pill and use the cream. I'm wondering though if you are still on antibiotics? If so you will probably just get another yeast infection. Cream might be better, but really I suppose that's up to you and your doctor.

yeah Im worried about that too....Im going to keep my fingers crossed though

Just checking in to mention that I took the pill and things seem to be better for me! Hope all goes well for you.

i seem to get yeast infections a lot after having sex, and a friend of mine said the same thing. i have tried non-latex condoms as well as non-lubricated condoms (buying a couple different kinds of lube to test different ones out- i'm on my second kind now). has anyone else had this problem? it makes sex life really drab.

one of our guys asked that I post this

Can you post:

Diflucan is very effective at treating Candida infections, however I have been told by a specialist in the area of STI's that almost 1/3 of suposed yeast infections are not in fact correctly diagnosed.

Most doctors will diagnose based on discomfort and a discharge, but very few will carry out a culture of vaginal swabs to confirm that the STI is in fact Candida and not some other pathogenic organism (such as Bacterial Vaginosis).

If you have persistent "thrush" that is not cured by Diflucan or Co-Trimazole, make sure the doctor confirms that infectious organism by ELISA or PCR.


Shannon...you do know that your SO can reinfect you dont you? They can carry the bacteria, so if you've had sex after you have cleared back up its *possible* he can give it back to you