yeast infections - an ugly thing, I should know!
 

Ok, I'm posing this question to all of you ladies who have hopefully been in the same boat and can imparte some desperately needed advice....
No matter what I do or try, I ALWAYS get yeast infections. It has seriously gotten to the point where my sex life has been drastically affected. ie, I have had sex in over a month - I've still done things w/ my SO but mostly for his benefit, and I'm starting to get really upset over this. See, I've tried over the counter medication (the one day, the three day and the seven day) and none seem to get rid of it completely....it might go away for maybe a day, but even then, its still a bit milky down there, and then it will just come back full force. My yeast infections don't involve the itchiness (thank god) but I do get red down there and I get extremely 'milky' (best way to describe it) and in the past when I've had sex in this state, everything gets really sticky and clumps up and stuff. Now I'm pretty sure that this is a yeast infections but I guess there's the possibility that its not and I'm treating it wrong. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? And if so, how do you get rid of it and what do you do to try and keep it from coming back? Like, is there anything that I should be doing on a regular basis that I'm not doing that could be the reason I'm getting them so often (ie, back to back)......

Any advice would be greatly appreciated by both myself and my SO! :lol:

I think we all get them from time to time.

A vinegar and water douche after intercourse can help.

Get thee to a Dr. I found when I had Yeast infections often I actually had BV. Bacterial Vaginosis can be caused simply by wiping the wrong direction or from having anal and then vaginal sex. The bacteria that belongs in your colon and helps you there is quite a problem in your vagina. A Dr is the only one that can diagnose it and give you a perscription to treat it. Once my Dr found that I had it, and I was having trouble getting rid of it, she gave me a perscription that I could refill as needed when I developed symptoms again.

Sometimes you can have BV and not have any evidence of it. Frequently it is combined with Yeast infections and makes you more suceptible to yeast infections. Also treating yeast infections makes you more suceptible to BV.Some charateristic symptoms are: Fishy smell, cottage cheese or curdled consistency of the discharge, white - milky discharge, burning, itching, and sometimes pain during and after sex. Web MD BV

If it's only Yeast infection. I try to stay away from the sweets. They encourage the growth of yeast. They won't initially cause the infection but can prolong the infection. I take an herbal suppliment of acidophilous tablets. I usually just get mine from my Walmart (top shelf - by the vitamins) but the better quality ones require refridgeration. They tend to be more effective. I also eat yogurt with live acidophilous cultures. Acidophilous is a live bacteria that eats much of the same things as yeast does. So it competes with the yeast in your body and helps any antifungal medications get rid of it.

Also - don't take a lot of bubble baths. For some reason the perfumes tend to alter the pH and cause many women problems. If you want a bath use Epsom salts. Those are one thing the Dr recommended to me to relieve the itching and burning from BV and/or yeast infections.

Wear cotton panties and not thongs as much as possible. Keep things dry. Don't use perfumes, body sprays, or baby powder down there. If you want to use a powder of some sort you can use baking soda. It doesn't have the scents and it will help absorb moisture. I also find that douching usually messes me up in the long run but if you do douch use one that is simple water and vinigar and not scented.

WebMD Yeast

In the end, I usually opt for the 3 -7 day treatments since the 1 day treatments seem to not be as effective. The last time I used a yeast infection treatment though I used the 1 day ovule from Monostat. I found IT to be VERY effective albeit Quite expensive. Good Luck battling the yeasties.

I never use an over the counter meds with mine, I eat yogurt. I usually only got them if the doctor put me on antibiotics so now...I eat a cup of yogurt before I even take a dose and I eat it three times a day while taking it and then for 2 days after I finish and I have yet to have one since I started doing that.

There's some good hints in this thread. :)

Also have him checked out. Your partner can carry the infection and have no symptoms what-so-ever, thus reinfecting you every time you have sex.