Hi, I'm 46 and new to the board. Four years ago I met my husband and went on the pill. After a few months I began to get yeast infections which I never had before. I went to the dr. and used Monistat and some prescription creams but they didn't help. Last year I went to a specialist who said I have vulvodynia caused by an allergic reaction to yeast. He put me on Diflucan and Lamisil which helped quite a bit after several months. Then I started feeling very dry and had burning in my vulva. He tested my hormones and they were low. I began taking the bio-identical estrogen, testosterone and progesterone about a month ago. Within a couple days of taking them I felt like I had an infection, went to my regular gyno who said I have a yeast infection. I'm taking Diflucan and Lamisil again. My v specialist had back surgery and don't know when he'll be back. My regular gyno doesn't know a lot about the natural hormones. I don't know what to do. I don't want to stop the hormones because they were helping with the dryness and are supposed to have a lot of health benefits. I'm so depressed over this whole thing. My first marriage was awful. My second husband and I had a wonderful sex life until all this started. I really don't think this will ever go away. I hope this makes sense and I'm sorry it's so long, I'm just so upset. I'd appreciate any advice about the hormones, the dryness and the burning. Thanks. Kathy

Kathy {{HUGS}}

I just wanted to offer you some support

The only thing I can think of, is that you should read the info on Bio Identicals here on PS by CLICKING HERE. You may also email Pete Hueseman, R.Ph, PD, who is a Bio Identical pharmacist as well as some other doctors that lend there time here on PS by CLICKING HERE

Hopefully, someone will read this that has had a simular experience and be able to tell you what they did.

Wishing you luck

Oh Kathy - how awful to be torn between sex vs. yeast infection. The only helpful thing I can offer is that I had never had a yeast infection in my entire life til peri hit. Had one, then another one so bad that the gyno made me come look at the sample under her microscope (she called them little Velcro monsters). I'm not on hormones, so that doesn't explain it. The good news for you is: I'm having the problem, too and hormones aren't causing it, so maybe they're not the cause for you either, just a coincidence.

Hope you find a solution soon. I still don't feel like my flora are exactly back to normal. I long for my old funky smell as opposed to the new funky smell

Otter

Kathy,

I am 47 years old and recently have had problems getting rid of my yeast infection, I've tried diflucan (1 dose) and also 3 doses (one every three days).

How long did you have to take the diflucan and lamisil to get rid of the yeast?

I've had a yeast infection since May but really started treating it in June trying natural herbal stuff but in late July I started the using diflucan.

Please, any help or input from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Emma

Hi Emma,
I'm so sorry you're going through this yeast thing too. I'm convinced it has to be from hormones going crazy. I would say it took 3 or 4 months before I felt any improvement from the Diflucan and Lamisil. Recently I started using Boric Acid suppositories and I think they may be helping a little. Maybe you could ask your doctor about them. I know a lot of woman use them for yeast. Hang in there. Kathy

I am 44 and just finished my second round of 3 doses of Diflucan and I know I still have a yeast infection. I am ready to cry. I am on an estrogen patch. These yeast infections started over a month ago. But I have been on ERT therapy for a couple of years so it wouldn't be coming from that would it? I never had any problems till recently. I just want rid of it. My dr has just asked me all the usual questions, diet, change in soaps etc. I thought maybe it was from drinking lemonade and all the sugar. But I have don't that in weeks and I still am being plagued with this. After the first round of Diflucan at least I felt I got rid of the infection for a few days possibly. This time I don't even think it is gone. I just know I need to call my gyno on my Monday. I have been seeing the nurse practitioner the last 2 times. I guess it's time to see the real thing and say I want something else with the Diflucan like lamisil or the boric acid. I have not had sex in weeks. Afraid to give it to my partner and then reinfect myself but I still have this anyways. Other than occasionally haven't gotten one in my life after taking antitiotics I have never had one out of the blue like this. What is causing it and how do I get rid of it? If any of you have more suggestions, I'm listening. Thanks.

Shady, eatting yorgurt helps combat against yeast infections, also..whenever you are on antiboditics..eat yorgurt..

Cheryl,

I can so identify with you. For now I am keeping the yeast at bay but I always feel it is just around the corner. It is due to a hormone imbalance, though some gyno will not know this or will say it isn't due to hormones. My naturopathic doctors says that things that contribute to yeast infection are: to much alcohol, to much sugar, to much sex and hormone imbalance.

Have you doctor check your vaginal pH, check also for BV (bacterial vaginosis); high pH is due to an imbalance of vaginal bacteria (lack of lactobacillus-good bacteria).

I know you are on estrogen but are you experiencing any vaginal dryness, thinning of your vaginal tissue? You may need to use a vaginal estrogen, like estriol, but you must get rid of the yeast before using any vaginal cream.

Ask your doctor for boric acid capsules or if you have access to a naturopathetic store or doctor, they may sell it also. The one I use is called Y-stat. Use the boric acid, in combination with the Diflucan and see if you can get rid of the yeast.

The suggestion of eating yogurt is also good. I drink Kefir which is also a yogurt drink.

Is the yeast with you all the time or just before your period?

Hang-in-there

Emma

Hi everyone. I posted a while back about yeast infections. My doctor had me take a blood sugar test and HIV test to rule those out and gave me diflucan. He could never tell me anything as to why I would be getting yeast infections. He just asked me the usual questions about wearing tight fitting clothes, cotton underwear, suggested I eat yogurt, etc. I moved away and got a new doctor.
Since the y i started, my periods have gotten longer (8-10 days), sore boobs, and occasional hot flashes. The y i usually start before my period starts, but it can vary.
Anyways, my new doctor told me that it's really common to get yeast infections when your periods start changing. (And she told me 34 is not too young for perimenopause to start!) Also, if you wear tampons for 8-10 days every month, you are changing the ph and bacteria levels in your vagina.
She suggested I take acidophilus every day and gave me a diflucan presciption. But I, like you, am so frustrated with these things! They are awful! I wish there was something that could be done for them, and I wonder still why I get them (I never had them before). It's awful.
Just thought I'd give my 2 sense!

JBW
God Bless your very smart doctor for saying that 34 is NOT too young for perimenopause. I was 32 when it first hit me.

Take care!

Yea, I was actually surprised when she said it wasn't too young, even though I knew that it was very possible. My mom also went through it at a very young age and my doctor said that usually we follow our mothers.

My mom always said she was 29 when she started through it. I'm 48 now. 16 years is long enough. I'm so used to feeling weird, it's not funny!!

Tots, my doctor also said that the average age that women stop getting their periods is 51 and that even if you start early, that doesn't mean you'll end early! That was not what I wanted to hear!

Like I said, I'm 48. I think I'm getting real close to stopping. My periods are all over the calendar. I'm still having them but my last Gyn visit in July, the doc told me I would probably stop within the year. She also said "don't quote me on that and that is not written in stone". Sure hope she's right. Symptoms don't seem to be as severe as they were a few years ago. We WILL get through this!!

Hi Ladies,

I read somewhere that certain blood types are predisposed to getting yeast infection. I have blood type A and with the exception of this peri starting, I've
only had a few. Just curious what everyone blood type might be.

Emma

I am A+ and I have only had 2 that I know of. Once when I was a teenager and then again in the 80's, I was in my twenties. I am 48 now. That hasn't been a problem for me.

Im B+ I never had one until I was pregnant..and now I couldnt even tell you how many I have had..it seems like, If I remember right that I would have at least 2 per pregnancy and then having no# 6 child..I was on alot of antiboditics for sinuse infections. I have had only 1 yeast infection in the last 3 years...YAHOO!

I am O+ and was only troubled with yeast infections a lot in college. I've had a few since then, but usually when I had to take an antibiotic for a sinus infection or something. I really don't get them at all otherwise. So...how does this data affect the hypothesis?

I was reading in an old Prevention magazine about the blood type diet and how it was full of baloney. Blood is supposedly blood and doesn't make any of us more prone to anything. Hmmm. Just what I read, just passing it on.

Shel

I was reading in a well know magazine...dealing with prevention and healing...

Heres just a things that encourages candida fungus....yeast infections,....

Antibiotics, some spermicides, BC pills, colored and/or sented toliet paper...(these are the ones that I have aware of)

Now these were new to me.... too much white sugar...beings how it takes less work and almost immediately for the body to break down! That is one of the reason brown sugar or even honey is better...

Some women that have chronic reoccurrances, can benefit from watch their diet in regards to "yeasty" type foods...like mushrooms,..alcohol, and even bread...if this is you,...avoid these for 3 to 5 months and you should be able to take note that the infections are not returniing as frequent.

I was reading in a well know magazine...dealing with prevention and healing...

Heres just a things that encourages candida fungus....yeast infections,....

Antibiotics, some spermicides, BC pills, colored and/or sented toliet paper...(these are the ones that I have aware of)

Now these were new to me.... too much white sugar...beings how it takes less work and almost immediately for the body to break down! That is one of the reason brown sugar or even honey is better...

Some women that have chronic reoccurrances, can benefit from watch their diet in regards to "yeasty" type foods...like mushrooms,..alcohol, and even bread...if this is you,...avoid these for 3 to 5 months and you should be able to take note that the infections are not returniing as frequent.

I have more, but I need to lay down all of a sudden

Well, I guess the blood type theory doesn't apply here. My doctor says there are f basically four(4) things that contribute to yeast infection: 1) to much alcohol;
2) to much refined sugar; 3) to much SEX (what's that these days!) and 4) a hormonal imbalance.

I think the 1st three factors we have control over but the hormone imbalance is most definitely the hardest.

Take care everyone,
Emma

Make sure you are eatting plenty of foods that are high in Vitamin c...such as the citrus fruits, brocolli and potatoes.

Too much douching...and wearing non cotton panel undies are no no's too.

I did not know that just regular washing and drying can allow the little boogers to survive! They state to soak undies for at least 30 mins, then scubb the day lights outta the crotch..making sure it is unscented soaps. Then rinsing is a huge factor, the soap residues can actually intensify majority of vaginitis...then...also to use a HOT iron on the crotch panels...anthing that was left behind..they die with a hot iron.... Hmmm

Too much sex? That would explain why I had most of my yeast infections in college

Shel

Here's my 2cents worth.
I was having recurrent yeast infections. I had one for 6 months (ew...I know!!!)..tried the OTC stuff many many times..as they usually work for me. Tried homepathic stuff that i'd find on internet...i was desperate! (and of course I knew I could cure it myself ) FINALLY I went to my dr. I'll spare you her comments (ha..descriptive as she was!!). BUt she said they were hormone related...the infections. So...I used the diflucan and also started a vaginal estrogen. Seems to be a good mix. I was also having painful sex, etc associated with meno. I hate the mess, and the goo from the stuff but if I don't use it, I will immediately have another infection (itching, burning, chunky discharge). So...doesn't look like theres much of an alternative...and it's definately helped with the dryness,etc.

My question is....If I've had so many yeast infections, can my husband give them to me? Is he , um...infected?? does it work that way?

And I wonder too...will I ever be able to not use the stuff??? At 46, I hate to think I'll be buying this stuff for the next 50 years (I plan on living a LONG time..ha)

June

Like every other symptom on this board...I have had a couple of yeast infections in the past year (and not from antibiotics--which were the only cause of previouse yeast infections). I was able to get them early and treat them with the OTC monostat ovule (what a concept--one dose...no mess and wham...cured it asap!)

Don't know if that will help any of you...but it really worked for me. Hope it helps ya!

beth

yes, he can. You should both be treated at the same time for these to go away.