Can some people just be symptomless?

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

Hello :), I tried searching for the answer to my question on search enginges and couldn't find a straight-forward answer.

Do some women just never ever get yeast infections? Or do they get them and just have NO symptoms what so ever of having one? I've never had an infection, and while yes, I am thankful for this, I do wonder if something is wrong. I hope I'm not being confusing, but did you ever not having any issues with something and you think, "this is too easy..." I've never had any odor (unless I couldn't get to a shower for 3 days or something), never had a yeast infection, no bumps, and never any itches. My period is like clockwork (on and off birth control). Discharge has always been clear/white and in very small proportion, and when ovulating more elastic and completely clear, but still not alot.

My mum told me, as well as other women, that yeast infections and having a lot of "lady issues" is normal. How come I haven't had any "lady issues?" I'm almost 19 and got my period when I was 10 years old. The only problem I've ever had is finding the type of tampon that I like best.

Can some women be symptomless?
I don't want to find out one day that I have some sort of infection/sickness/disease that was undetectable.

Superstars, can you share your knowledge? Should I tell my gynocologist my concerns? Or am I just overreacting?

**Sidenote: The reason I ask is because I have a friend who was just like me, never had any issues down there, but then one day she found out she had severe cervical cancer! I got tested and got the vaccine, but Idk, I'm kind of wondering if I'm normal?

Comments

[veryfirstdate.livejournal.com]

It's just as normal to not have yeast infections as it is to have them, I would think. Me personally, I have only ever had one yeast infection and that was from the wrong kind of lube. I'm also 19, if it helps. If you're really worried, you could probably see your doctor to get checked out. :)

[veryfirstdate.livejournal.com]

Oops just saw your side note. If you've been the doctor and everything is fine, then you should relax and count yourself lucky. :) It seems totally normal to me.

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

Ok, thank you very much for taking the time to comment! I appreciate it a lot!

[archangelbeth]

If you've ever been sexually active with another person (especially if there was PIV sex involved), then keep up to date on your pap smears. The virus that causes cervical cancer is very common -- 80% of all sexually active people have been exposed, I believe the stat is -- though in most people, the immune system takes care of it before it becomes a problem. When it doesn't, though, pap smears are the technique specifically devised to find abnormal cells, and those cut the rates of cervical cancer even before anyone realized that it was a virus that triggered the potential.

Other than that... I don't think I've ever had a yeast infection, or if I did it went away quickly. No BV. Some itches, but generally related to the fact that I'm used to keeping the area "crew cut" short (though not bare) and if I don't trim down regularly... Itchy! Itchy! Scratchy pokey hair!

It's within the range of normal, sure.

[indis-earfalas.livejournal.com]

I think I've had maybe 4 YI's in my entire life, and they were all when I was over 25 (I'm 37 now). I also don't often have other "lady issues" either, never had a UTI (thank heavens!) or anything even remotely like that.

I think coming here makes it look like everyone gets them all the time, because of the nature of this community - and even in everyday life talk with our friends, I doubt women are going to say "hey, my vag is totally ok" so we're generally only going to hear about the problems when they happen.

So it's just as normal to not have any issues as it is to have issues. Everyone is different and all of that. :-)

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

:) You're so right. This community also is very helpful with sex advice when it comes to us females too! Which is very useful.

[herlittlepony.livejournal.com]

I'm 25, nearly 26, and I've only ever had one very brief YI when I was about 19 or so. I think it's pretty normal (and fortunate! =P) to not have them ... and you may get them some time down the road.

[onlyforever10.livejournal.com]

I've never had a yeast infection (or BV for that matter) either. I'm 24.

I agree with the above comment that this community kinda makes you feel like you're "abnormal" for NOT having problems...mostly because obviously people mainly post when they have problems and not when everything is okay.

But I'm pretty sure it's "normal" to not have all kinds of vag problems (thank god!)

[tea-fiend.livejournal.com]

It's certainly possible to never get yeast infections.

My mother's currently having a bladder-related problem, which we were discussing, and I said I'd no idea what it was like as I've never in my 25 years had a UTI. She said "Well, what about thrush? You get that all the time." I told her "No, Mum, that's the, er, other available orifice." She was quite surprised, as she knows very little about the yeasties, since she's never had one. She's... 54, if my mental arithmetic's right.

On the other hand, my niece has already suffered an attack of the yeastie beasties, and she's only three.

[storychick.livejournal.com]

I'm 35, and the only time I've had a yeast infection was when I was pregnant and needed antibiotics, and even then it was mild. I've never had BV, problems with discharge, etc ever. I have had issues in recent years with heavy periods but I also was diagnosed hypothyroid and as I get that under control the bleeding has been going back to normal levels. So, yeah, its normal to not have problems, too. :)

[in-my-pjs.livejournal.com]

i didn't have any issues with yeast til i got pregnant, so i was either 19 or 20. since then, i really only have an issue if im on antibiotics (i'm 23 now). so for a lot of women it takes some kind of big change for their bodies to react, whereas some women are more prone to them.

[spicytoys.livejournal.com]

I had my first YI at age 21, right after I got my first IUD inserted. I've only had one since then, when I had my second IUD inserted. Some people just aren't prone to them!

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

I've never really had any issues. I had one yeast infection once, when I was 23. Happened after the first time I tried spermicide, so I can only assume it was due to that. Otherwise I've done/do things that seem to cause issues for a lot of people in this community; eat too much sugar, don't get probiotics, don't shower/pee after sex, use lube with glycerin in it, etc., etc.
Simply due to the nature of this community, I think that you're going to get a lot more questions from people about how to deal with issues. People don't usually say anything when everything is going the way it should!
As far as the cervical cancer goes, that is something that a pap smear is supposed to detect, and why sexually active women are so strongly encouraged to get one yearly. Having/not having BV, YI, or any other of the myrads of issues with your lady bits doesn't correlate in any way to your having or not having cervical cancer.

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

Thank you all so much ladies! You have calmed me down quite a bit! It's silly to worry when nothing seems wrong, but my mind loves to wander and consider the worst possible syptomless yeast-hailing evil thing ever. ANYWAY, merci merci! You are all so helpful!

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

I'm 35 and have never had a YI or a UTI. No gynecological problems ever, knock on wood.

[mxmissileproof.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind, you're only 19. You have a lot of years ahead with your vagina that is willing and able to get a yeastie :P

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'm chiming with the chorus. It's possible to have symptomless YIs and BV (common, easily treatable infections), but in general it's probably more likely you've simply never had one. You hear a lot about YIs and stuff, but lots of people never have one, and many people never will have one. I had my first at 25 and have only had one in the four years since.

Beyond that and a case of bacterial vaginosis (24, linked to sexual activity though it is not generally considered an STI), I've never had any gynecologial problems. Again, this is absolutely normal. Think about it this way: if you never got a seasonal cold, would you worry that you were okay, or would you be more likely to think "great, my immune system is doing well and my body is healthy?" :)

As far as your friend's experience goes: that's a bit of a different story. Abnormal cell changes on the cervix are essentially always symptomless. That is why it is important to obtain regular pap testing within the recommended guidelines (if you're in the U.S., starting three years after becoming sexually active or at age 21, whichever comes first; at age 25 in some parts of the U.K., between 18 and 25 elsewhere).

What regular pap testing does is detect abnormal cell changes on the cervix that can become cervical cancer. Pap testing allows these changes to be detected, and then if found, monitored so that doctors can ensure they either heal up on their own or are removed long before they pose any risk to one's health.

Pap testing is one's best defense against cervical cancer -- the vast majority of people who are diagnosed with cervical cancer have either never had a pap, or not had one within five years of their diagnosis.

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

Thanks for taking the time to reply! :). I have had one pap-smear and I looked at my calender today and realized I have another annual appointment coming up in April. So, I think I'll be okay as long as I keep going, which I will! My friend has had several partners and never got tested sooo...idk. That could explain it, but cancer is always tricky, unfortunatly.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

STI testing and number of partners aren't really as much of an issue -- there is no test for HPV in males, and females are not routinely tested for it with a pap test until age 30.

Number of partners isn't really an issue because the vast majority of people will have a genital HPV infection in their lives -- about 80%. Your chances of being exposed to HPV with your very first partner are fairly high, about 30%. HPV is common enough that many medical professionals assume that anyone who is sexually active with anyone who has been sexually active before is likely to have had a genital HPV infection.

But definitely, the biggest and most important thing is regular pap testing! It is an absolute triumph of modern medicine -- an easy, relatively low-cost and quick test that has turned cervical cancer from one of the leading causes of cancer death in women to one of the most rare cancers in women in the developed world -- and rates keep dropping consistently.

Your risk of getting cervical cancer with routine pap testing is unbelievably teensy... not even in the Top 25 of cancer risks to your health, statistically speaking.

[calypsoatlas.livejournal.com]

I like good news, thank yoU!