Yeast Infection and Period
Dec. 9th, 2011 10:48 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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vaginapaginaHi, all. I'd appreciate some quick advice on something.
I'm pretty sure I've got a yeast infection, since white clumpy discharge and slight irritation/itchiness in the vulva aren't normal for me. This itself really isn't a problem, since I actually have a Monistat 3-day pack that's unopened except for the itch-relief cream for the external areas; I got it last summer when I had a yeast infection then and ended up getting Diflucan from my gyno instead. My concern is mostly because my period was due last week, so I'm not sure whether it'll arrive in the next few days, in a week, or just skip this month entirely. There's no chance of pregnancy, but I run a four to five week cycle normally and the stress that I suspect contributed to this YI can sometimes derail everything. I know I've seen here the idea that a period can sort of clean everything about and knock out a YI, but I'm not sure whether that's a viable option because of the timing issue. I'd like to just start the Monistat immediately, but it's the fact that my period could start tomorrow and potentially throw off the dosing that concerns me.
My questions are:
1. Can you effectively use Monistat during a period, or would the blood flow negate it? Could this be worked around by insertion before bed, when I'd be lying down and slowing the flow slightly?
2. I normally use a menstrual cup. Could I use the Monistat with a menstrual cup, and if so, how? I suspect my alternative would be tampons or pads, probably disposable ones since I don't know how to ensure the yeast being cleaned out of the cloth ones to prevent a recurrence.
I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions (except to try garlic, I'm not quite ready to try that yet!).
I'm pretty sure I've got a yeast infection, since white clumpy discharge and slight irritation/itchiness in the vulva aren't normal for me. This itself really isn't a problem, since I actually have a Monistat 3-day pack that's unopened except for the itch-relief cream for the external areas; I got it last summer when I had a yeast infection then and ended up getting Diflucan from my gyno instead. My concern is mostly because my period was due last week, so I'm not sure whether it'll arrive in the next few days, in a week, or just skip this month entirely. There's no chance of pregnancy, but I run a four to five week cycle normally and the stress that I suspect contributed to this YI can sometimes derail everything. I know I've seen here the idea that a period can sort of clean everything about and knock out a YI, but I'm not sure whether that's a viable option because of the timing issue. I'd like to just start the Monistat immediately, but it's the fact that my period could start tomorrow and potentially throw off the dosing that concerns me.
My questions are:
1. Can you effectively use Monistat during a period, or would the blood flow negate it? Could this be worked around by insertion before bed, when I'd be lying down and slowing the flow slightly?
2. I normally use a menstrual cup. Could I use the Monistat with a menstrual cup, and if so, how? I suspect my alternative would be tampons or pads, probably disposable ones since I don't know how to ensure the yeast being cleaned out of the cloth ones to prevent a recurrence.
I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions (except to try garlic, I'm not quite ready to try that yet!).
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no subject
Date: 2011-12-10 05:32 am (UTC)I don't see any reason why you couldn't use your menstrual cup, but I don't have any personal experience with it.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-10 05:53 am (UTC)Thank you for the assistance.
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Date: 2011-12-11 06:45 am (UTC)2. I wouldn't if I were you. For one, you'll have to boil the heck out of your cup later to avoid reinfecting yourself. For another, your vagina may not like having anything inserted, and the act of insertion might irritate your tissue and worsen the infection. But the part that gives me the most pause is the logistics of keeping the Monistat in place and not getting scooped into the cup. I guess you could do it by putting the cup in first, and then shoving the cream up there. But you would still have to ensure that the cream is getting basically everywhere in your vagina, otherwise you're only treating half the environment.
Also, some people find that their periods trigger yeast infections, and the yeast goes away with all the blood. Other people find the opposite happens.
My favorite non-garlic YI treatment is an apple cider vinegar douche, but I don't think that's particularly advisable during your period. The cervical os is more open when you're bleeding, and you don't want to risk shoving anything into your uterus.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-12 05:10 am (UTC)2. I hadn't thought of the issue of irritation by inserting things, but I can definitely see that being a potential issue. Right now my vagina is definitely CRANKY, if it could be!
That was about what I was thinking, with regard to having no real way to ensure that the cream was above and below, without being inside, the cup. I was hoping someone else could come up with a way, but maybe not. :) At any rate, I'm two days into the Monistat, so I doubt my period's going to arrive before I finish it. Like I said, if I knew that it was coming I might have just waited and seen if the blood flow/pH change cleared it out, but I wasn't sure.
I've never even heard of that! Something to look up in case the infection recurs, I guess.