Related Vagina Thread

[Rubyee]

So, I have only had a couple of yeast infections before, and I fight with them tooth and nail.

What over the counter meds do you find work for you? And do you believe in the one dose medications? I am not too sure if I do. Just wanted to see what you all think.

[raeanna74]

Are they repeat infections? Have you seen a Dr about it? It's recommended that you see a Dr at least for a primary diagnosis. They there's no problem with diagnosing yourself later.

As for the medications. I hate the 7 day meds, simply because I can't wait that long to have sex again.

The 3 day meds are ok.

I tried a 1 dose med the last time and it worked GREAT. I was quite impressed. I did not like the cream that came with that combination pack though. The cream was irritating to me.

[lurkette]

I get pretty persistent yeast infections, so one-dose products by themselves usually don't work. I usually do two of those (one now and one in a week) and take the yeast fighter pills I mentioned in the UTI thread, or azo yeast, or acidophilus. One shot of diflucan never knocks it out, either - I usually have to hit it with everything (diflucan AND OTC treatment AND supplements) for it to go away completely.

[Amethyst]

I have only had one yeast infection and it was years ago and they gave me cream for it. I hated the messy cream but it worked. Now I think they have pills you can take but I don't think they had them back then.

[shannon]

i tried one cream one and one pill one. and the cream felt pretty funny in, but the pill didn't really stay in. this is gross detail, but it like dissolved and then i would have a bunch on my panties for a few days. which i guess is something they kinda warn you of, but i wasn't a big fan. i'm thinking next time the ovule things maybe? they look kinda fun.
acidophilus is a supplement kind of thing that is supposed to help prevent/mildly treat yeast infections. i don't know how well they work. i didn't try them cause you're supposed to keep them in your fridge to keep them fresh, and i wasn't about to put something in my family's fridge and have them all asking about my pussy. but anyways, i saw them in the fridge of a friend of mine, so i figure they might work cause my friend's a smart lady and wouldn't keep stuff around if it was shit. i haven't directly asked her though how they work...i wonder if any of the girls here have given them a try....
good luck!

[qtpye4u84]

My sisters friend ate yogart and used monastat and some pill and now shes fine.

[lady]

I've tried the vaginal suppositories and diflucan before. They both worked well the first time. I tried the supp's this time but it hasn't worked so I'm going to have to go to my doctor tomorrow to get something.

I must have an intolerance to something in Monistat because it itches and burns like hell whenever I use it - way worse than the yeasties themselves. Canesten works fine though...

[raeanna74]

Originally posted by lady
I must have an intolerance to something in Monistat because it itches and burns like hell whenever I use it - way worse than the yeasties themselves. Canesten works fine though...

Last time I had the yeasties I ALSO had BV. When I got done with the medication for Yeast I then used my perscription for BV and the burning went away. What they told me is that when you get rid of the yeasties the BV takes over and that has always caused me more discomfort than yeast ever did.

yeast infections tend to happen when you are on meds- especially antibiotics. Also, if you don't cleanse at least once a month. consider those 2 factors. the best thing to do is to see a dr.
a good preventive way is to take acidopholus every day. but if you do get one, i'd just take monostat. it's worked for me before.

[sexymama]

Yep, Monostate works best for me too. However, I encourage you to use whatever works best for you. And, although you can buy over the counter drugs, you may want to see a dr. as this sounds like a reaquiring event, which is not a good sign.

[isis]

I used Monistat, the single dose stuff. I was only 17, and was on antibiotics. I was paranoid that I didn't REALLY have a yeastie, so I researched it on the internet.
I was going to go with the 3 day stuff, but I really just didn't want to wait. To keep the pill more 'inside', I inserted it just before i had a nap and made sure that I layed completely horizontal. I also used a little pantiliner to ensure that it didn't mess up my underwear too bad.

Now, I totally boycott antibiotics. I hate them, I never want another yeast infection. They suck .. so much. Especially the first time =X

[Rubyee]

Well, I think that if I had the choice, I would rather have a yeastie than a UTI- but to get one right after the other sucks! So that is why I don't completely HATE antibiotics. I am just annoyed with them.

[lurkette]

So I just had my annual gyn exam yesterday and my doctor mentioned a "home remedy" treatment that has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing yeasties:

Get some pharmacy-grade powdered boric acid (not the bug-killing stuff from Home Depot)
Get some 600 mg size "O" empty gel caps from the health food store.
Put the boric acid in the capsules
Pop one capsule up inside before bed at night.

She said to do this maybe every day for a week or so if you have an active yeast infection, maybe once or twice a week for maintenance if you're prone to infections. Not sure how it works - they think it changes the acidity of the vagina and makes it less hospitable for yeast. I may give it a try!

[Averett]

Yikes. Alright then, what do you do to prevent this from even happening?

Don't know that I ever have. And from reading this I sure don't want to. Eww.

[lurkette]

Averett, you mean to keep from getting a yeast infection?

Some people are just prone to them, and if you haven't had one yet, good for you! They suck! But there are some things you can do to make it less likely you'll ever get one.

1. Keep yer coochie dry. Yeast loves warm, moist environments, so wear cotton undies (if I so much as LOOK at nylon panties, even the ones with a cotton lining, I get itcy), dry thoroughly after showers, get out of wet swimsuits as soon as possible.

2. Never, ever, ever put sugar in your vagina. Yeast loves sugar. So no using honey as enticement for oral sex. No popsicle dildos. If you eat a high sugar diet, that can increase your risk as well. So eat healthy.

3. Don't douche. It kills off the good bacteria that keep the yeast in check. For some reason, bubble baths and bath oils also seem to be a major culprit for a lot of women. I don't know if it's heat + chemicals that does it, or if the oil in the bubble bath makes things stay moist longer or what, but anecdotally I know a lot of women for whom bubble bath=yeast infection. Hot tubs are also a risk for some people - probably hot hot water + wet nylon bathing suit.

Um...I think that's it. Dry coochie, no sugar, no douching, maybe avoid bubble baths. Anybody think of any other tips?

[Averett]

Sounds like good advice. So what's the deal with peeing after sex? That's more of a UTI kinda prevention thingy?

[Rubyee]

I have been told whenever I go in for my yearly to be sure and do that. It gets rid of any UNwanted bacteria from sex that could lead to either a UTI or a yeast infection, though I think in most cases, sex would more easily cause a UTI. Always, always, always do that. Sometimes I can sit on the toilet for 20 minutes trying to pee, but it is worth it.

A male on this site pm'ed me saying that his wife takes some plain active culture yogurt without sugar and a turkey baster and, well, uses it that way. Has anyone ever tried that?

[Averett]

Originally posted by Rubyee
A male on this site pm'ed me saying that his wife takes some plain active culture yogurt without sugar and a turkey baster and, well, uses it that way. Has anyone ever tried that?

Eww! I get so skeevy with things like that

So I should get up and pee after sex. Sheesh, I kind of like to use that time to regain motor function...

[lurkette]

I haven't heard the turkey baster thing, but I have heard of putting plain, sugar-free yogurt on a tampon and er...delivering it that way. It's the live acidophilus in yogurt that is supposed to help balance yeast - I imagine you could stick an acidophilus capsule up in there, too, for the same effect.

[lurkette]

Originally posted by Averett
So I should get up and pee after sex. Sheesh, I kind of like to use that time to regain motor function...

I know...it's so romantic. "Sorry, hon, gotta pee - get outta my way." Still, UTIs are SO not fun that it's worth it to me to sacrifice a little romance and avoid a trip to the doc.

[raeanna74]

I've done the yogurt thing in my vagina. Used some plastic tube thingys that are meant for the vagina yeast cremes. It didn't completely clear it up but it gave me relief from the itching and all and seemed to make it not near as severe. When I stopped using it though the yeast infection came right back.

[lady]

No BV this time. I've had that before though. I had BV, took abx for it, then wound up with a lovely yeast infection. Needless to say I was a wee bit bitchy during that time.

I gave the 3-day Canesten a good 6 days to do its thing, but went to the doctor a couple days ago and got some Diflucan and took that. Seems to be working. It's not totally gone, but definately on its way out.

[isis]

I had to go get antibiotics today .. ICK. They're like horse pills! I hate being sick. But anyways, I asked the doctor for some Diflucan as a preventative thing and he was incredibly nice and was very happy that a girl of my age would plan ahead and know her body so well. I was just like .. ohh I love you guys.

Anyways, my pharmacist said that my antibiotics have a big chance of messing up my Depo protection.. I always thought Depo wasn't affected by that? And he said he isn't sure how long I should wait. My major problem here is that I am allergic to latex condoms, and I'd have to go buy those crazy natural ones.. when I really just don't like it ;D

Anyone on the Depo know anything about how long I have to wait? Thankya madams.

[lurkette]

K, so all precautions to the contrary, I now have a RAGING yeast infection. I thought I had the beginnings of one earlier in the week, and some er...vigorous anniversary sex seems to have kicked it into serious mode. Sigh. This is so miserable - waiting for the OTC meds to kick in, sitting on an ice pack.

[Ella]

I use the Canesten too, and had a mild one during the week that went away with only one dose of the stuff. And I only ever use a non-soap wash for my vaginal area. The one I use is called Pinetarsol, which is a gel. I find if I use soap the whole area turns into itchy/scratchy hell.

So....no soap!

[snowy]

Wow. This thread gave me a lot of great advice. I'm in the midst of a fierce battle with sOMETHING itchy (the 1-dose ovule did NOT work and normally if it's a yeast infection it clears right up) so I think I'm going to have to go to the doctor on Monday...somethin' tells me it's the BV. Yuck.

[monica]

My doctor just told me at my last appointment that a study recently came out and found the more times than not, the doctor and the patient are likely to wrongly diagnose an infection as either yeast or bacterial vaginosis. She said that for this reason, it's a good idea to see your doctor and get a swab.

Also, I figured out something this summer that was the cause of several yeast infections... Because it was the summer, and we would drink on the weekends at the cabin or on the patios, I would often give my boyfriend a blowjob after we had been drinking beer. What didn't occur to me is that the yeast in the beer from my mouth would then be on the skin of his penis, and would be there the next morning still when he would decide to have morning sex with me. I think this was actually causing yeast infections as I was suddenly getting them often during the summer months, and once I realized what might be causing it and prevented it from happening, I quit having them.

SO... if you've had beer, don't give your SO oral sex without brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth out first!

[monica]

I totally forgot to post this as well. My very first yeast infection came when I was pregnant, and I was unable to treat it until after the baby was born. However, when I was finally able to treat it, we couldn't get rid of it.

I tried all the over-the-counter treatments, all the creams, all the tablets, all the oral-dose pills... We did EVERYTHING, even going as far as treating me for three weeks straight with 3-day cream treatments each week. Nothing worked. The symptoms would improve during treatment, but then after the treatment was over, I was raging with infection again. I saw a specialist and everything and nothing worked.

I had to start washing my clothes with unscented soap. I was no longer allowed to use soap in the bathtub unless absolutely necessary, and then I would use Dove unscented. Cotton panties only with a cotton crotch were a must.

And after all that, we decided to quit the treatments for a bit to give my body a break... my skin was beginning to get hard and cracked and we felt the treatments were probably causing more damage than needed.

And somehow, the infection disappeared. I wasn't treating it at all when it went away, so we're not sure what worked.

However, since then, when I do get an infection, I'm able to treat it with a one day treatment.

When I asked the doctor's which treatments were best, they said the 3-day ones worked better than the 1-day or 5-day treatments... but when a one day works for me, I'd rather use that.

If you have an infection that won't go away, make sure you get tested by the doctor to confirm that it is indeed a yeast infection. You'll probably want to check for bacteria, because bacteria will just get worse when you treat for yeast. And make sure you've had testing for STDs as well, to be on the safe side.

[Demeter]

Prevention seems to be the best thing you can do. I've never had a yeast infection. I know, I'm a lucky gal. Learning from sisters & friends I've come up with these tips;
1)Acidolpholus. If you are taking antibiotics take it in capsules or eat a cup of yogurt daily.
2)Limit baths. this is one thing I avoid myself. I don't care for them. I'd rather shower quick & get on with my day. Biggest culprit here....bubble bath. Avoid at all costs.
3)Wear cotton undies. Let your kitty breathe.
4)Go commando in the night.
5)Wash hands before you go to the bathroom as well as after. A coworker mentioned that when she worked in a bakery (yeast!) she got infections frequently.
6)Give your laundry an extra rinse. Skip the fabric softener or use something fragrance & dye free.
7)Don't douche. Your body knows how to keep itself clean. You'll disturb the natural bacterial flora & leave yourself open to yeast infection.
8)Get sleep & avoid stress. Being run down weakens your immune system.

[snowy]

It's starting to subside (knock on wood) without me visiting the doctor. I picked up some clotrimazole over the weekend and starting using that in addition to taking acidophilus. The combination must've done the trick because the little-yeasties-that-could are going away.

One interesting fact I found out this last week: BV can also be treated by acidophilus. So get some capsules, yogurt or whatever and take those if you've got the itchies. It will help regardless of what you have.

[pcwidow]

One interesting fact I found out this last week: BV can also be treated by acidophilus.

You are right. The acidophilus puts more bacteria in the intestines. Gets rid of the extra yeast you may have or will develop. You may still need a prescription to get rid of the actual infection but a pill a day after will help keep it from coming back

[nickynicole]

I read once that your body will naturally kill mild yeast infections. Your ph level raises or lowers or somehow alters before your period, and that can be enough to rid the infection. I'm sure this is no help for most of you, but still interesting.

[Manuel Hong]

an important thing to know about probiotics (acidophilus and the like). If you are frequently taking antibiotics, they kill all bacteria in your body, esp in the intestines and a certain amount of good bacteria is necc. Supplimentation of beneficial bacteria can be obtained by taking probiotics, not all brands require refridgeration. Also, be sure to take the probiotics at least two hours after the antibiotics, so they don't get killed off by the presciption and rendered useless. Regular use of probiotics in women who tend to get yeast infections can really help. If it doesn't, consult with a health care professional (my preference is the natural kind: ND's, homeopathic doctors, herbalists) Good luck, Ladies!