Constant Yeast Infections

[kyleann.livejournal.com]

I get yeast infections pretty regularly. It seems like I get at least one every 2 months. I have no health insurance so I can't really go to a gyno to see what's up. I've tried everything to prevent them. I don't use perfumes in my detergents or fabric softeners, I wear cotton underwear or no underwear at all. I can't figure out why I get them so often. What could be causing them to be so frequent? It's super frustrating.

Comments

[nakedfaery.livejournal.com]

What are you washing your vulva with? Any soaps or scented products can increase the likelihood of YI's, especially if you bathe in them. Have you tried cutting down your sugar intake? http://www.candidadiet.com/ This place might have some good suggestions.

[noelove.livejournal.com]

I second looking into your diet. There is a ton of info about the Candida Diet on the web.

[kyleann.livejournal.com]

I never thought about looking into my diet. I do tend to eat lots of sugary foods. I don't use soap on my vulva. I only clean it with water. I'll look into that website, thank you.

[brigittefires.livejournal.com]

I know people always suggest wearing no underwear at all, but when I do that for too long (like, more than overnight) I tend to get yeast infections. Notably it's in part due to chafing/friction in general, but there's also nothing there to help absorb the sweat and natural discharge off the area to keep it dry. So wearing cotton underwear all the time (except at night maybe) could potentially help, but not likely enough.

One reason that modern women, especially in America, get yeast infections so often is because of the abundance of sugar in our diets. Cut out high-fructose corn syrup. Cut out all refined sugars and flours; go to whole grains, sweeten with honey but go easy on it. That in itself should help. Potentially, switching away from disposable menstrual products (if you use them) could help. I also found that if I go too long without washing my underwear in HOT water, I'm more prone to yeast infections. Every time I get one, I make sure to wash them all in hot water right away, and any that I use while having it I wash on hot again when it's done. Same goes for my cloth pads (which always get washed on hot anyway).

If you get aggressive with treating the next yeast infection, starting with diet changes, doing garlic and yogurt suppositories, ACV douches, oral acidophilus, and killing anything the laundry, you could be rid of it. I'd venture a guess that if you're getting them that frequently, you never really get rid of it. Make sure you treat aggressively for at least a week after symptoms disappear. If you have a male partner, make him take acidophilus orally for 10 days to kill any external infection from which he may not be experiencing symptoms. Don't have sex for those 10 days, in order to avoid re-infecting yourself (and him!).

Good luck!

[paperispatient.livejournal.com]

My doctor told me that all you can do to help prevent YIs is to wear loose cotton undies and clothing and eat yogurt. She told me that diet doesn't play a huge part unless you're diabetic or the YI has gone systemic, though I've heard of people who made dietary changes and stopped having such a problem with YIs. I'm prone to them, and I don't use soap anywhere near my bits, I just wash with water. If you're using lube or lubricated condoms, that could certainly be behind it as well - and as someone else mentioned, if you have a sexual partner you could be passing the YI back and forth. I also make sure I've washed my hands before I masturbate, and I wash off and change my clothes right after working out so that my bits don't get too moist.

[insidethefridge.livejournal.com]

I have had chronic infections for years. Some things that help (not cure) is cleaning your vagina with apple cider vinegar (sometimes I drink 2 teaspoons dilated in drinking water as well), ditching undies (hard because of the discharge), and trying to stick to a rigid diet. I take asidolphylis everyday.