Yeast Infections - Plano,IL

Often women report yeast symptoms that coincide with their cycle. It could be a little bit of yeast that is cleared up when your period comes or a change in vaginal discharge that is more hormonal and causing irritation.

You could try the typical yeast changes- cotton panties, try to reduce card intake, avoid scented/colored soaps, avoid scented/colored laundry detergents (on panties) and see if that helps. Increase probiotics. If you do yogurt try to find unsweetened. If you use yogurt vaginally it must be unsweetened and I shouldn't have to say this but it has happened- NO FRUIT :) And NEVER DOUCHE! Douching causes the vagina to be way out of balance.

Bacterial vaginosis is also a common culprit- it is not sexually transmitted, just an overgrowth of normal bacteria that causes irritation, redness, and usually a runnier, milky to clear discharge. Usually treated with a vaginal gel or pill.

Otherwise, not all yeast responds to the typical yeast treatments, you may need a different yeast med.

I read The Yeast Connection a couple years ago. If someone is telling you that the yeast is hormonal, they may be partly correct. Estrogen can feed the yeast. I don't remember how it works exactly, but the estrogen surge mid-cycle is adding to a yeast problem throughout your system. People who receive a steady stream of estrogen through birth control pills are especially prone to yeast infections, too.

Yeast affects so many bodily functions, so I recommend that you pick up the book for a quick read. It may look hokey with the drawings, but the scientific explanation about yeast is basic nutritional guidance.

I did the yeast cleanse recommended in the book. I felt incredible after the first three days. The eating habits are hard to uphold long-term, especially around the holidays. In retrospect, I wouldn't give up dairy again if I were to cleanse with the diet. I did use a probiotic and it's handy to keep on hand anytime you have a sugary day.

K.:
You've gotten some great advice here - especially with respect to clothing, ridding sugar (white processed sugar since yeast does feed on it) and the possibility that your husband may have something as well. But it may be a form of Candida and that is merely an imbalance of good/bad bacteria.

There is so much success in a good probiotic. While I am not afflicted with this, I use it every day, not just around my period or when something may come up (I don't have issues any more!). Our body is constantly getting out of balance by the water we drink, the foods we consume, etc. There is a natural balance of being alkaline/acidic and you appear to be too acidic.

Do find out from you doctor as to if it is yeast but I highly recommend the highest source of probiotics that are 100% certified organic. Yogurt can't possibly have all the strains that your body needs. Believe it or not, we do have to have a healthy balance of bacteria. Without bacteria, we wouldn't be functioning! All cells depend on it!

So, if you'd like more information on this probiotic and a "fast track" way of ridding the bad and putting things into balance, just let me know. I'll provide you more detailed information and you can determine for yourself the difference. Best to you! I know how terrible they feel. Wouldn't it be great to be free from these once and for all?

Here's to your health,

K.
Wellness Consultant

Hi, i also had been having this problem and yes it was after my 2nd child. my kids are now 7yo, 5yo and 2 month old. But anyway, i had been going back and forth to the doctor and they couldn't really tell me what was causing it. Definately go to the gyn first to make sure that it's just yeast. once they can confirm thats what it is then you can try some of these things that i found helped me. once you start to feel the slightes itching tingling of one coming on, you can start to eat yogurt or get the pills that have the same thing in them as the yogurt gives you. believe me it helps. you can also make sure you wear highly breathable cotton underwear when you feel one coming on. i also stayed away from sex when i had this feeling and if i did have sex i would make sure to go to the bathroom afterward and wash up really well. my doctor told me it was hormonal and it also could be because my husband had some bacteria/infection that he may not have had symptoms from. so i had him get checked out too. he said that you could be passing it back and forth and using the monistat to clear up my problem doesn't help if he has one too. i hope you get rid of this problem and good luck. by the way for some reason or another i just stopped getting them after a few years and haven't had one in a while.

Hi, I had the exact same problem. It also started after the second child (I have a 7 yr old girl and a 4 yr old boy). It's taken me over two years to try to figure out what is wrong with me. Within the last 1 1/2 yr I have been going to the obgyn. My first doctor put me on medication (for yeast, can't remember the name of it.)- it didn't work. I was on it for a few months. I had so many ultrasounds too and still couldn't figure it out. I switched doctors and he did a silicone ultrasound where he found polyps and then had them removed - I still continued with the problem. After other testing and after complaining of pain on my left side of my abdomen, he did laproscopic surgery because it turned out that I had some endometriosis. I felt great a few weeks after this surgery. My pain is very mild now only when I feel constipated - which is another problem I'm working on now by changing my diet. He also had me take vitamin B6 from day 14-28 of my period cycle. He also suggested for me to take acidophilus....K., I tell you I have not had a yeast infection and have been clear for months now. I am so happy that I finally found the right doctor. It appears that in my case, it is hormonal. I am 36 yrs old and I guess my hormones are a bit wacked. Acidophilus is also an ingredient in some yogurts and is what keeps (bad)bacteria from forming in your body. I do feel for you because I have been battling this for almost 3 years. Hopefully you won't have to go through surgery or anything like that but definetely try the acidophilus (ask your doctor). Everyone's case is different of course. I had 2 c-sections so scar tissue is what may have caused my endometriosis...but my second child did definetely change my body. Good luck!

K.,

It's great that you've figured out a pattern and made an appt with your dr. A couple of things to try/keep in mind:

1. If you husband has the yeast infection, he can keep giving it to you.

2. Try some of the Acidopholous tablets (I use the ones from Whole Foods refrigerated section) and keep them in my crisper. I suggest taking 2 tablets at each meal (your husband can too) for about a week. See if that helps stop the recurring infections.

3. Limit sugar intake - very important. Yeast thrives on sugar. So if you notice you're getting some cravings, try to up your yogurt intake and avoid the sugar. (Watch soda, juices, snacks, etc.)

4. If you buy plain yogurt you can eat it or insert it (just like monistat) if you notice the "burning/itching" sensation. A LOT cheaper than buying OTC drugs.

If your dr says it's yeast, but you keep getting the infections see if they can put you on a higher & longer dosage of "Monistat" or oral medication (yes, I've been on both at the same time). Sometimes 1, 3 or 7 days just isn't enough if it's a persistent infection. My dr told me that sometimes the littlest bit of yeast can hide in the folds of your uterus. Each menstrual cycle is like refeeding the yeast and starting the problem all over again. Also, again if your husband has it (and he may be a carrier and not know he does), then he too may keep giving it to you.

Otherwise, keep your self (privates) dry and aired out. Watch baths, swimming, intercourse (or even playing where you get wet and don't dry off/air out), use cotton underwear, loose fitting clothes around your groin or even sleep naked. ANYTHING to help circulate air and keep yourself dry should help.

When I "felt" an infection coming on, I'd wear a nightgown or big tshirt to bed with no underwear, if needbe, insert the yogurt (using one of the plastic Monistat dispensers), eat yogurt and/or take some of the Acidopholous. I don't even need Monistat anymore!

The best part about eating yogurt and taking taking the supplements is that you can do this while you have your period and not have to wait until it's over while the infection rages on and you don't have to paid a lot for a prescription from the drs office.

I hope these suggestions help. Yeast infections are horrible!

Good luck.

Sara