Eeek! Yeast infections...

You should be able to prevent an occurence by taking Lactobacillus Acidophilus. This is the bacteria that is found in yogurt. You can get it OTC in pill form at any drugstore including Walmart. I'm not sure how much you would need to take daily for the chronic problem, but you should ask your doctor about it. less

thanks, cakes, i have noticed that when i'm actively eating yogurt every day they do not start. that IS an effective preventive measure, for sure.



but for curing this chronic thing... i'm wondering if anyone else has any home remedies?


thanks!

less

= ( Im so sorry you have to go through this!! My sis has the same condition and I feel horrible for her. = ( Ive gotten like 2 in my life and I wouldnt ever wish it upon anyone.

Since you have no med ins, are there any planned parenthoods where you live? I believe they are a sliding scale clinic. Or sometimes family docs will give a discount if you pay cash.

Good luck sweetie! less

When I was on the pill I got them often, like monthly. Since going off, I got one only once when I was on antibiotics and it was really mild because I was taking acidophilus.

If you have a regular sexual (male) partner, he can be a carrier. If you are not using condoms, he should get treated because often the men give it right back to the women without even knowing.

If you get the acidophilus pills, it should help a great deal. they are not expensive and popping 1-2 a day should really help less

When I was on the pill I got them often, like monthly. Since going off, I got one only once when I was on antibiotics and it was really mild because I was taking acidophilus.

If you have a regular sexual (male) partner, he can be a carrier. If you are not using condoms, he should get treated because often the men give it right back to the women without even knowing.

If you get the acidophilus pills, it should help a great deal. they are not expensive and popping 1-2 a day should really help less

I went through a period of getting almost constant yeast infections. I treated with prescription antifungal and it would always clear up, then come right back. We determined it was a vitamin I was taking (Omega 3+6+9). I didn't want to stop taking the supplement, so my doctor told me I should try taking an Acidophilus supplement (the bacteria present in high quality dairy products). I started taking the Acidophilus supplement and less than a week later, the yeast infections stopped, and have never come back (it's been about a year). The supplement is fairly cheap and I'd recommend it: I've noticed improved GI tract health as well. less

wait.... what?

i do have a regular male sex partner and we dont use condoms. i was getting them before we started dating but it only started right before then. i blamed it on the birth control pills at first, as i got an infection during my period with the first 3 periods when i was on it. i yanked myself off the pill after that.

and continued to have the infections, intermittently, until here lately. i've had one pretty constantly for several weeks.


i tried miconazole cream insertions (the big greasy pills you pop in your ticky at night) two days in a row with no results and it actually got worse!
those things have worked before but now...



how do i know if he's infected?


and will a pill work on my boy too? i know he doesnt wanna fuck with messy creams. i'm sure he'd already be horrified to know i'd been passing an infection to him without him knowing... geez.


thanks so much for all the info, ladies! you've all been a great help.


knowlege is powerful, aint it?

less

don't get me wrong, the boy is great. he offered to help me cook special meals as opposed to his usual chinese take-out trips to help me get back on the healthy track. he's constantly looking out for me, making sure i'm happy, healthy, taken care of.

i just mean he's kinda of icked out by blood and is pretty virginal, so the idea of an STI (which, technically, if i have passed it to him via sex, it is) i'm sure would not be comforting.

i'll look into the diflucan. thanks for the info.

less

wait.... what?

i do have a regular male sex partner and we dont use condoms. i was getting them before we started dating but it only started right before then. i blamed it on the birth control pills at first, as i got an infection during my period with the first 3 periods when i was on it. i yanked myself off the pill after that.

and continued to have the infections, intermittently, until here lately. i've had one pretty constantly for several weeks.


i tried miconazole cream insertions (the big greasy pills you pop in your ticky at night) two days in a row with no results and it actually got worse!
those things have worked before but now...



how do i know if he's infected?


and will a pill work on my boy too? i know he doesnt wanna fuck with messy creams. i'm sure he'd already be horrified to know i'd been passing an infection to him without him knowing... geez.


thanks so much for all the info, ladies! you've all been a great help.


knowlege is powerful, aint it?

less

I'm sorry, hon. I get these all the time, too.

It isn't a bacteria (although you CAN get bacterial vaginal infections and only certain antibiotics will treat those) it's a fungus. Yogurt will NOT cure (and probably won't do all that much to prevent) yeast infections. Sorry, but acidophilus, as well as other pro-biotics are killed by the very stomach acid that digests your food. You can take enteric coated pro-biotics but they may prevent further infections, but won't cure one in progress.

I find Miconazole doesn't work for me and only causes irritation, especially the Ovules (those pills you jam into your Yoni) as there is too high of a concentration of the drug in the Ovules and many strains of Candida are resistant to this over used drug.

Ticonazole, (brand name FEMSTAT, but you can get it in a generic form) in the ointment form is the best over the counter treatment.

If you can get to a Planned Parenthood, they will do a test, similar to a PAP smear, but with vaginal tissue, and make sure it is Candida (yeast) and not a bacterial infection or something else. Actually, most yeast infections can be cured with only TWO Diflucan pills. But, you need a prescription, which Planned Parenthood or a neighborhood clinic can prescribe for you.

My Man also gets yeast infections when I get them, and we've passed them back and forth. I buy him a tube of Ticonazole or other athlete's foot ointment (it's basically the same fungus) and he rubs that on his penis and balls for a week or two, while I use the one tube of FEMSTAT Ticonazole, divided over two days. Part of your partner's responsibility of having a partner is to take of his own health and help you take care of YOURS. A week of ointment (which isn't all that messy) isn't a huge commitment to make. Who is to say he didn't get the yeast infection first?

The best advice I have is to stay away from panties made from anything except cotton, stay away from thongs (as they can bring bacteria and fungus forward from the anus, and do a crappy job of protecting your Yoni in the first place, from fungus in public places, as fungus like Candida can live for days on some surfaces, especially in the summer) bleach any underwear you use during treatment, don't use lube containing sugar, honey or glycerin and drink lots of water. Taking the pro-biotics will help with prevention, but it won't cure a yeast infection in progress. Yogurt will....do nothing. What little probiotics are in it are dead long before they can get into your system. And if you believe the food related theories about Candida, dairy products are one of the worst culprits in the first place.

Buy live culture enteric coated Acidophilus, from a reputable place, which should keep them in a refrigerator.

Good luck. less

I have been self-diagnosed with chronic Candida, AKA chronic yeast infections. I'm wondering
A) how many of you have them, and how often, and
B) if any of you have experienced long-term damage or negative effects of it.


The website I was just checking out lists fatigue as a symptom, but I'm wondering if my poor 'ticky' (that's what we call it!) can take all this permanent bacteria overgrowth? It seems to sting a bit in the hours after intercourse, and I sometimes avoid sex in order to not agitate it.

Your experiences are greatly appreciated! Please share.


A website I've been checking out with information on what chronic Candida symptoms are, how it comes about, and great diet information about foods to avoid and foods to seek out to cure it naturally is here.


Thanks, ladies!




How often do you get yeast infections? less