I am one of those poor unfortunates who is prone to yeast infections. Stress, birth control*, sex, not showering one day, funny looks…anything can trigger one. I get them about once every couple months. And they’re not the nice kind that go away with that nasty OTC ointment crap. They’re not even the nice kind that go away on their own. No, it takes a trip to the doctor for a pill or even a broad-spectrum anti-fungal ointment. I’m aware that chronic yeast infections might be a signal for something else that’s wrong, but as far as I know I’m healthy.
So I’m asking the Straight Dope, is there anything that I might do to prevent them? Eat lots of yoghurt? Not wear underwear? Shave my pubic hair (shudder)? Or do I have to just deal with them as they come?
*[sub]I know that birth control increases yeast infections, but in my case so does using condoms, so…bleh.[/sub]
My doctor told me to eat LOTS of yogurt, and even suggested that plain yogurt could be smeared on the - uh - affected parts. I chose not to try that particular avenue, although I did use the eating option, which worked fine. Since the “good” bacteria need time to build up in one’s system, it took a week or two of eating three servings of yogurt per day (make sure the package says “live cultures”, because some custardy-type yogurt doesn’t have medicinal properties) before I was free of yeast infections. It’s been about two years since then and I was able to cut back on the yogurt intake and still not have infections. Also, they sell some of the “good bacteria” in pill form, such as Acidophilus.
Try to, uh, keep dry. Cotton undies only, as I’m sure you’ve already heard. A friend of mine found that wearing pants was a problem, and ended up switching to skirts 100% of the time.
Let me preface this by saying that I have no credentials in medicine, whatsoever. That said, in the past I suffered from a lot of yeast infections. I would get them when I wore pantyhose. I would get them after a round of antibiotics. I would get them following an especially strenuous session of sex. It was almost to the point that I could cross my eyes, flex my kegals, and end up with a yeast infection. I don’t get them anymore, though, so I will pass along the changes I made. I don’t necessarily know that these help prevent a yeast infection, but I do know that I haven’t had one in a couple of years.
With jeans or any kind of tight pants, I go commando.
I wear thigh-highs instead of full pantyhose, whenever possible
I eat 1/2 cup of plain yogurt almost every day (with no sugar added, and active cultures)
My doc also suggested to avoid thongs, as the material at the back is constantly wedged in your cheeks and creates an easier route for fecal bacteria to travel from your butt to your girlie bits.
I used to have a constant bacterial problem, for over a year or so. NOTHING cured it. All I could do was manage it.
When I went low-carb and stopped eating sugar and flour, the problem went away. It went away before I lost 90 lbs - and losing alot of weight surely helped uh, give the area more airflow - and it hasn’t been back since.
I am no longer completely avoiding sugar (doing Weight Watchers now, after 2 years of LC) but I eat so much less of it now that I no longer have the yeast problem.
I have noticed that when I DO happen to go on some sort of sweets binge (ie - Christmas!) I will automatically get a yeast infection (and sebaceous cysts).
So, that’s another theory. Stop eating things that yeast likes to eat, or yeasty things.
I am not a doctor or other medical professional. However, I can tell you that frequent yeast infections are sometimes a symptom of diabetes. Have you been checked for diabetes recently? Does it run in your family?
I’ve had some success with acidophilus tablets. I started taking them because I have digestive problems, and I can’t stand the taste of most yogurts. The tablets help my digestion, and they’ve also helped lower the number and frequency of yeast infections. I don’t know if they’ll help you, I’m just passing along some anecdotal results.
That said, they were all caused by the following two things.
a.) Broad-spectrum antibiotics. (3.)
b.) One weekend I wore a wet/damp bathingsuit for a good 16 hours straight. (1.)
I have only been able to solve either with the aid of Monistat or that prescription pill whose name I cannot remember. It’s a one-dose pink pill. I’ve only had to take it once, when I was post-surgery and on 2000 mgs of broad-spectrum antibiotics for two weeks. Antiobotics like that kill all bacteria, not just “bad” bacteria, which is why they have a tendency to cause yeast infections, constipation, etc. (At least IME. I am NOT A DOCTOR.)
b.) I can only assume this damaged the bacterial balance of my girly bits. All the magazines say never to wear a wet bathingsuit for longer than you’re in the pool, so I’m guessing they may have a point.
That said, I never wear underwear. Period. And I never douche, either. I’ve heard douching can increase yeast infections.
Beyond that, I’ve heard (like other posters) that live-culture yogurt can help quite a bit; some people are just more prone than others. I’ve only ever had yeast infections for very obvious reasons, so I can’t claim any experience in common what-the-hell infections that have no obvious source.
Instead brand cup thingies. No leaks, no changing it every damn 45 minutes, comfy, & no perfume or powder to irritate delicate girly bits.
Liners & pads can be used without panties, but some of the stability is missing.
Or wear cotton underpants just that week.
I haven’t had a yeast infection in <knock on wood> 9 years. I credit no or 100% cotton panties, thigh highs (pantyhose are deeply evil), & yogurt. Sugar & yeast in foods don’t seem to be an issue for me.
I wear cotton crotched panties, and usually panties that are wholly cotton. (Not all cotton panties are granny panties these days.) Eat live, active culture yogurt if you can stomach yogurt. Otherwise, take acidophilus. (Make sure it’s ok with your doctor before you do.) If I am given antibiotics, I get cranberry juice and frozen yogurt (which comes in live, active culture at places like Braums) before I’m done, and eat the yogurt every day for about a week, (I start the yogurt after the course is done, does no good until the antibiotics are done) and drink the cranberry juice. I also avoid caffeine, cheese and mushrooms for a while until I have re-cultured my stomach. I do “air dry” after bathing when possible, and I sleep nude.
I read something on the caremark prescription website that maybe someone else has an opinion on…? It recommended douching with tea tree oil and water for irritations and yeast infections. I tried it once and it smelled pretty funky, but it did seem to help the ick factor.
The last infection I had, the nurse recommended eating more acidic foods on a daily basis, like grapefruit and tomatoes. So if you’re not real sensitive about citric acids, you might try that.
My understanding (and I am not a doctor, pharmacist, or other medical type person) is that tea tree oil is VERY strong, and shouldn’t be used undiluted. I have no idea what the proper dilution ratio would be, but I’ve heard that oil can take your skin right off.
Hmmmm, I just looked up what it said:
I’d like more confirmed studies done before I put that stuff up MY delicate pink parts, thankyouverymuch! It’s a known skin irritant.
Showering too frequently can exacerbate things - each time you lather up you are upsetting the ph balance down below. (My, touch wood, only infection to date was diagnosed as due to a cheap sweet smelling shower gel.) I don’t know the brand names in the US but you should be able to find specially formulated shower gels which help keep things in order. (Here in France I was recommended “Gyn Hydralin”.)
Depending on how the tea tree oil is prepared, it can be. Also, depending on the individual. I have sensitive skin, yet the oil I get (Thursday Plantation, with the Australian seal on it, NOT from Germany or anywhere else) doesn’t bother me, nor does the soap by the same company. They make antiseptic oils for treating cuts and burns, and soaps for washing your face with. I also use the soap elsewhere from time to time. Basically do a skin test with it, to see if it irritates your skin. Put a teeny drop on your wrist and wait, if you don’t itch etc. you shouldl be ok. You are correct that you shouldn’t use it undiluted for things like douching. I put 3 drops into a bath* with some lavender oil from time to time instead of douching with it. I wouldn’t know the proper solution for that. I also wouldn’t use the steam method for sinuses they mention on the site, though IANAD it seems to me that the fumes from it might be enough to irritate and make you more congested. It does work on a broad spectrum though, including things like staph and strep IIRC, from a study I read about it several years ago. The site says: “Broad Spectrum Activity against bacteria and fungi (E.coli & Candida)”
*Usually I shower, soaking for too long in a hot tub can encourage a yeast infection to grow too.
