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reoccuring yeast infections and uti's
I have a serious problem with reoccuring yeast infections and uti's. I don't have hiv or aids. I have been tested because that is known to cause this. I try to get medication as soon as possible but still get them monthly. Any suggestions on how to prevent these that I haven't heard before? (no tight pants, cotton underwear, urinating after sex) Also is affecting my fertility?
I have been dealing with yeast infections for years. I have tried it all. I keep getting told its a "resistant form" of yeast. I have been using terzol for about years. Yeast infection started about 7 years ago. I have gotten one about every month for a years. I think it might have been gone for about 1.5 years. Then this year it was back with a vengeance. I have had an infection every month for the past 10 months fml! I having been using terconozole or terzol ( I have been using both hoping that one or the Other would be the magic cure. I'm on day 6 and I feel the same. It always gets a little better, but I know it's there. Is there a doctor or team out there that can help? And if I hear/ read someone saying to take acidophilus and wear Cotton underwear one more time I'm going to scream!
I haven't read all replies, but I have spoken to my doctor about this. Mine started occurring when I got my IUD as a birth control method. Here are all the things I try to keep in mind in order to prevent them.
First and most important for me, i STOPPED drinking beer, i havent' had a sip since last father's day. fermented sugars are not good when you are trying to fight or keep away, haven't had but a few ALMOST flare ups since I stopped drinking beer.
Sugar in general, not good, bacteria and yeast feed on sugar, try to keep a low sugar diet.
Probiotics, I take them daily, they are a bit pricey, but I bet you would pay a lot more to make this go away. My suggestion is Solaray Multidophilus 12 (20 billion) you will find it in the refrigerator of the store. I take like 3, once or twice a day.
This sounds funny but I sometimes string up some garlic and insert it...yes I know how it sounds, but yeast can not grow w garlic, the same reason you never add garlic to bread dough until AFTER it has risen
Plain greek yogurt, you can use it "topically" on a tampon, or just eat a lot of it.
Apple vinegar baths, diluted of course, that is suppose to help balance your pH
If you have sex, don't let him deposit in you, my doctor says it messes with your pH, and if you do, rinse well after and try to pee.
I know this is candid, but the problem *****, and I have had good success when I follow these tips.
Good Luck
First and most important for me, i STOPPED drinking beer, i havent' had a sip since last father's day. fermented sugars are not good when you are trying to fight or keep away, haven't had but a few ALMOST flare ups since I stopped drinking beer.
Sugar in general, not good, bacteria and yeast feed on sugar, try to keep a low sugar diet.
Probiotics, I take them daily, they are a bit pricey, but I bet you would pay a lot more to make this go away. My suggestion is Solaray Multidophilus 12 (20 billion) you will find it in the refrigerator of the store. I take like 3, once or twice a day.
This sounds funny but I sometimes string up some garlic and insert it...yes I know how it sounds, but yeast can not grow w garlic, the same reason you never add garlic to bread dough until AFTER it has risen
Plain greek yogurt, you can use it "topically" on a tampon, or just eat a lot of it.
Apple vinegar baths, diluted of course, that is suppose to help balance your pH
If you have sex, don't let him deposit in you, my doctor says it messes with your pH, and if you do, rinse well after and try to pee.
I know this is candid, but the problem *****, and I have had good success when I follow these tips.
Good Luck
I would suggest everyone read The Yeast Connection Handbook by William G. Crook, M.D. -- My symptoms cleared when I cut out dairy all together and began using essential oils such as Lemon Grass and Geranium. The tea tree soap is also a good idea. Also, I would suggest taking Inner Defense, and never think about using antibiotics again, or a flu shot. Hope this information helps!
I too have been suffering from reoccuring a reoccuring yeast infection. It has been two and a half months since my first diagnosis of a yeast infection. My doctor prescribed Terconazole 7, which she said was the cadillac of all treatments. This only made the symptoms worsen. So I went back and was then told I still had a little bit of a yeast infection as well as BV. She then prescibed me an antibiotic (metro...? a seven day pill) and diflucan, because the antibiotic was going to cause another yeast infection. Well, after two weeks of the treatment the symptoms were still there. So, I went back for a follow up and she said there are no signs of a yeast infection or BV. However, I am still experiencing discharge and an annoying burning and irritation. I'm going to schedule another visit next week. I feel like they think I am crazy but I know what normal feels like and this is not it.
I too follow the rules to a "T" and I don't know what the deal is. It is not my partner because I don't have one and it has been three years since. I'm not taking any pills or medication and I have been tested for everything and the doctors say I am healthy. This all started a more than a year ago when I had back to back surgery. It took three months to rid myself of yeast infections. However, it never really felt 100% right down there and my body has just not been the same since. I just want it to go away and never return!!!! I feel as though I have had my share of yeast infections to last me a lifetime. I don't wish this on anyone but it is reassuring to know that I am not alone!
I too follow the rules to a "T" and I don't know what the deal is. It is not my partner because I don't have one and it has been three years since. I'm not taking any pills or medication and I have been tested for everything and the doctors say I am healthy. This all started a more than a year ago when I had back to back surgery. It took three months to rid myself of yeast infections. However, it never really felt 100% right down there and my body has just not been the same since. I just want it to go away and never return!!!! I feel as though I have had my share of yeast infections to last me a lifetime. I don't wish this on anyone but it is reassuring to know that I am not alone!
You might want to get yourself to an endocrinologist and have these tests done:
TSH (YOUR score should NOT be above 2.0)
FREE T3 (score should be in the top 1/3 of the range)
FREE T4 (score should be in the top 1/3 of the range)
THYROID ANTIBODIES
I have Hashimoto's and for years, I was told by many docs, including some of Boston's "best", that my thyroid was fine because my TSH was in the 3's and 4's... and I'm quite thin. Those are actually HIGH scores, although the labs do not flag them so most docs (other than endos) seem not to know. Furthermore, a TSH is not a very good measure of thyroid function. You need those other tests. It is said that 1 out of 10 have thyroid issues, but half go undiagnosed. Get yourself to a good endocrinologist. For more info, go to
TSH (YOUR score should NOT be above 2.0)
FREE T3 (score should be in the top 1/3 of the range)
FREE T4 (score should be in the top 1/3 of the range)
THYROID ANTIBODIES
I have Hashimoto's and for years, I was told by many docs, including some of Boston's "best", that my thyroid was fine because my TSH was in the 3's and 4's... and I'm quite thin. Those are actually HIGH scores, although the labs do not flag them so most docs (other than endos) seem not to know. Furthermore, a TSH is not a very good measure of thyroid function. You need those other tests. It is said that 1 out of 10 have thyroid issues, but half go undiagnosed. Get yourself to a good endocrinologist. For more info, go to
I sympathize with you very much. I also have been having problems with recurrent yeast infections for the past year. I started using suppositories, like Monostat, and pills, like Diflucan, with occasional success. For the most part, though, the damn infection just kept coming back. We probably have the same story - I tested negative for every STD in the book, and negative for hypothyroidism, diabetes, and HIV (all of which evidently have ties to yeast infections).
My most recent infection started in response to heavy antibiotics that I had to take when I got my wisdom teeth pulled. I used Monostat 3-day starting 6 days ago, and I had a culture done with my Gyno today. It had been over 72 hrs since I finished using the Monostat and she said she could ALREADY see the yeast budding under the microscope. Evidently when you have a resistant strand of yeast, medications like Monostat and Diflucan will suppress it, but it will always come back within a few days. She gave me Terconazole, which she said might work for this strand (we'll see). According to my research, not a whole lot is known about resistant strands of yeast, but they are treatable with certain medicine used long-term. So I have to see if Terconazole works. Otherwise, I'm going to see the Gyno again and talk about other options for treatment.
From what I have researched, long-term use of medications that treat common strands like Candida Albicans can build resistence in the yeast if you are infected with a different, less common strand, such as Candida Glabrata. Monostat and Diflucan are formulated to treat "most vaginal yeast infections" for a reason - most people are infected with an overgrowth of Candida Albicans. Sucks for the rest of us, huh? So basically, if you arent having success with common medicines, try to find out if you might have a resistant strand so you don't worsen the infection. My last Gyno just told me that getting recurrent yeast infections was normal, but they just get worse and more frequent, and now they stopped responding to medicine. That is NOT normal, and maybe I'm being sexist, but I think he didn't understand what it is like to have an uncontrollable overgrowth of yeast because he is not a woman.
The reason why this problem is most frustrating for me is that I take very good care of my body. I am a very careful eater - I get plenty of fiber, eat lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and I eat sweets and consume added sugars VERY infrequently. I exercise very regularly, get plenty of sleep, and am careful to keep stress at a managable level. I just have the hardest time accepting that I cannot control this aspect of my health. It is so hard to get past the lingering feeling that your yeast infections are YOUR fault. I truly believe that it isn't our fault, that many of us really are trying our very best, and that there is an answer out there. Perhaps science just needs a little time to catch up.
Lastly, the only option that I haven't explored is getting off the birth control pill. I am on a very low dose (Ortho-Tri Cylcen Lo), but it is the only thing I haven't tried besides Terconazole. If Terconazole doesn't work, that is my next step. It is hard because I am currently sexually active with my boyfriend. My parents are doctor are afraid to let me get off the pill because they don't want me to get pregnant, but I am totally ready to explore other methods of birth control if it means I could get better again.
As for the common belief that lots of yeast and sugar in the diet can make one more prone to get a yeast infection or make an existing infection worse, I have had experiences that confirm it. Drinking alcohol in excessive amounts always makes my yeast infection WAY worse. Also, cutting sugars, yeasts, vinagars, etc out of my diet wipes the infection out temporarily, until I start to reintroduce the carbohydtrates. As much as I understand the connection and believe that it has merit, I am still in search of a method of beating this infection without drastically altering my already healthy diet. There has got to be something else I am doing wrong that I can change, or some medicine that can help me.
Good luck, and I hope that you find answers. Never be afraid to get a second opinion - it can make a big difference in the treatment you recieve. And don't stop trying!
My most recent infection started in response to heavy antibiotics that I had to take when I got my wisdom teeth pulled. I used Monostat 3-day starting 6 days ago, and I had a culture done with my Gyno today. It had been over 72 hrs since I finished using the Monostat and she said she could ALREADY see the yeast budding under the microscope. Evidently when you have a resistant strand of yeast, medications like Monostat and Diflucan will suppress it, but it will always come back within a few days. She gave me Terconazole, which she said might work for this strand (we'll see). According to my research, not a whole lot is known about resistant strands of yeast, but they are treatable with certain medicine used long-term. So I have to see if Terconazole works. Otherwise, I'm going to see the Gyno again and talk about other options for treatment.
From what I have researched, long-term use of medications that treat common strands like Candida Albicans can build resistence in the yeast if you are infected with a different, less common strand, such as Candida Glabrata. Monostat and Diflucan are formulated to treat "most vaginal yeast infections" for a reason - most people are infected with an overgrowth of Candida Albicans. Sucks for the rest of us, huh? So basically, if you arent having success with common medicines, try to find out if you might have a resistant strand so you don't worsen the infection. My last Gyno just told me that getting recurrent yeast infections was normal, but they just get worse and more frequent, and now they stopped responding to medicine. That is NOT normal, and maybe I'm being sexist, but I think he didn't understand what it is like to have an uncontrollable overgrowth of yeast because he is not a woman.
The reason why this problem is most frustrating for me is that I take very good care of my body. I am a very careful eater - I get plenty of fiber, eat lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and I eat sweets and consume added sugars VERY infrequently. I exercise very regularly, get plenty of sleep, and am careful to keep stress at a managable level. I just have the hardest time accepting that I cannot control this aspect of my health. It is so hard to get past the lingering feeling that your yeast infections are YOUR fault. I truly believe that it isn't our fault, that many of us really are trying our very best, and that there is an answer out there. Perhaps science just needs a little time to catch up.
Lastly, the only option that I haven't explored is getting off the birth control pill. I am on a very low dose (Ortho-Tri Cylcen Lo), but it is the only thing I haven't tried besides Terconazole. If Terconazole doesn't work, that is my next step. It is hard because I am currently sexually active with my boyfriend. My parents are doctor are afraid to let me get off the pill because they don't want me to get pregnant, but I am totally ready to explore other methods of birth control if it means I could get better again.
As for the common belief that lots of yeast and sugar in the diet can make one more prone to get a yeast infection or make an existing infection worse, I have had experiences that confirm it. Drinking alcohol in excessive amounts always makes my yeast infection WAY worse. Also, cutting sugars, yeasts, vinagars, etc out of my diet wipes the infection out temporarily, until I start to reintroduce the carbohydtrates. As much as I understand the connection and believe that it has merit, I am still in search of a method of beating this infection without drastically altering my already healthy diet. There has got to be something else I am doing wrong that I can change, or some medicine that can help me.
Good luck, and I hope that you find answers. Never be afraid to get a second opinion - it can make a big difference in the treatment you recieve. And don't stop trying!
Are you sure that you are suffering form a yeast infection? You really don't want to keep self treating if it isn't an infection. It will lead to all kinds of problems.
I would get cultured the next time this happens, just to make sure that you are dealing with yeast. Also, a hormone level check might not be a bad idea.
There are alot of things out there that cause yeast like symptoms.
I would get cultured the next time this happens, just to make sure that you are dealing with yeast. Also, a hormone level check might not be a bad idea.
There are alot of things out there that cause yeast like symptoms.
also when you are treating your yeast infection make sure to get an external cream for your SO, because if he is not treated as well he may be reinfecting you.
I would get tested for diabetes... you can also try acidopholus (sp? the stuff found in yougurt.. or just eat a live culture yogurt daily) for the yeast and drink cranberry juice to possibly help with UTI's
also during and after your yeast treatments, try to change your cotton underwear often and wash them in the hottest water you can without ruining them. Use half the amount of laundry detergant and do two rinses (the soaps could be bothering you). The hot wash is because yeast can stay in the fabric and reinfect
other than that, I have no idea... maybe they are not being cleared up completely and you are getting reinfected?
also during and after your yeast treatments, try to change your cotton underwear often and wash them in the hottest water you can without ruining them. Use half the amount of laundry detergant and do two rinses (the soaps could be bothering you). The hot wash is because yeast can stay in the fabric and reinfect
other than that, I have no idea... maybe they are not being cleared up completely and you are getting reinfected?
I am not sure about the fertility, but I do know a friend of mine who had the same problem. It turns out she was diabetic, but still had problems with yeast inf/ UTI's. She tried a natural soap, Dr. Bonner's tea tree soap and the problem cleared right up by using down there. The tea tree oil in the soap zaps bacteria and yeast. It's worked wonders for her. The soap can be purchased at health food stores or online.
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