Struggling With Yeast Infections Since 5 Years Old. What Can I Do?

Dear KnowYourV,
I am a 31yr old woman; and since I was about 5yrs old I have been struggling with yeast infections (strawberry shortcake bubble bath caused it to start). They progressively have gotten worse with age.

They also have caused me to have medication prescribed (generic Diflucan) and a topical cream (Nystatin) over the last two years. But I can't seem to shake this infection or whatever it is.

I have been diagnosed with "trick" and given antibiotics and I haven't even had sex prior to this diagnosis. My "V" is discolored and wrinkly around the opening only on one side of my lip as if I have warts or something (which all my tests came back negative). When I use the Nystatin, it relieves the itching, swelling and discomfort (which helps) but nothing will heal the bubbly raw "scar" that keeps getting irritated - for whatever reason I'm not sure. It swells and itches and it's like the worst thing I have ever experienced.

Sex is out of the question because of it being raw and it's very unsightly. I have purchased WaterWorks and it really does help me get thru the day mainly because it's like an overproduction of yeast that greets me every morning or evening. Prior to WaterWorks, I had to swab out my "V" multiple times a day. I don't have medical insurance, so this is a financial pickle for me to keep going to the doctor with no resolution.

All of that being said, could my diet be preventing me from healing? Or could my bout of an eating disorder/depression (going days w/o eating, but drinking heavily, be the culprit? I'm at a loss here. I just don't know what else to do. Do you have any suggestions?
Sincerely,

Over It


Dear Over It,

I'm sorry to hear that you have been struggling so long. Bubble bath and soap can cause problems mainly because soap is alkaline, and the vagina stays healthy by remaining more acidic. So what we see with too much soap and bubble bath is rashes and allergies on the labia.

The Diflucan and Nystatin can help with both internal and external yeast infections, but only for a short time. Yeast and bacterial infections can always come back over and over. The medication is a treatment not a cure.

Trichamonas is passed sexually and can colonize or sit in the vagina for months if untreated. So there may be no way of knowing exactly when you got it.

Yeast infections can get better - as you have experienced - and you may feel OK for a few days, but then it can come right back. Why? Because anything that changes the pH of the vagina like sex, period blood, soap, hormone changes or feminine perfume sprays can bring them right back. That's why WaterWorks really helps, as it can be used to rinse out semen after sex, blood after a period and excess discharge. The plain water and medical grade stainless steel nozzle are very effective at healing the vagina and preventing reoccurrence.

I'm sorry I'm not there to look at the area on the one side of your vaginal opening-lip area to know what it is and biopsy it, but you need to see your gynecologist and have this done. Your doctor will want to determine what it is (including ruling out cancer or lichen sclerosis - as many lesions can cause ongoing, reoccurring, itching and swelling). Even reoccurring yeast infections can cause lesions like this that are raised, swollen and bumpy. They can make the normal vaginal tissue feel bumpy and look worse than normal. It is good sign that misstating helps, and it is possible that you just need to use it much longer or try a prescription antifungal/cortisone cream combination.

The opening of the vagina and the vaginal walls are "bumpy" naturally. This is called rugations and often women worry that they are warts. The rugations are a sign that a women's hormones are still working and that the vagina still has it's stretchability. As women age and go through menopause they stop producing hormones, and if they are not on hormone replacement, the vaginal walls will thin and shrink and lose their ability to stretch so vaginal sex can become very painful, or even impossible.

I hope this helps you to understand your body better and prompts you to see your gynecologist about the one side that is not healing. Hopefully (s)he can give you refills, so you can fill your meds and treat the infection as soon as you feel it coming back. Continue your daily use of WaterWorks as well.

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What Infections Can Affect a Pregnancy (And Their Potential Impact)

It's hard enough to handle all the physical changes of pregnancy as it is, and then to be sick with something that can make you feel worse - wow!! That's just tough, especially when you need to worry about your developing baby's health as much as your own. Fortunately, you may already be immune to a number of contagious diseases, and, thanks to successful vaccination programs in our country, many of the serious diseases that we used to worry about are completely gone.

You can also take comfort in the fact that most babies aren't harmed at all while in utero by most types of illness or even vaginal infections. It is also rare for an infant to become infected during the birth process. However, there are some infections that can be transmitted to babies through the placenta or during birth, and when that happens, it may have serious consequences for the baby. What's more, some infections can make you sicker if you get them when you're pregnant.

Although you can't avoid all sources of infections while you're pregnant, you can take certain steps to make it less likely that you'll get sick and to reduce the risk of serious problems for you or your baby if you do get an infection.

Finding a good physician so you feel comfortable and can get good prenatal care is really important, as simple blood tests can tell you whether you're immune to certain infections, such as chicken pox and rubella. You'll also be tested for infections you may not know you have, including urinary tract infections, group B strep, hepatitis B, and HIV. If you think you've been exposed to a serious infection or you become ill, getting care in a timely manner can often help prevent complications.

You can do a number of other things on your own, like washing your hands, not sharing drinking glasses or utensils, not changing cat litter, using gloves when gardening, and staying away from anyone with a contagious disease. These will all reduce your risk of getting sick. Continuing to practice safe sex, if you are not in a stable relationship, will help prevent many sexually transmitted infections. Many women don't realize that seemingly little things like dental problems and gum disease, can transfer bacteria to the blood stream and therefore to the baby. You must avoid food-borne infections too, by watching what you eat and avoiding eating certain foods. Take care to wash fruits and vegetables, and make sure that your meat, fish, and eggs are well cooked. Ensure your work surfaces where you cut your meat, fruits and vegetables are very clean and not contaminated with foods that had been cut there previously.

Here's a list of some of the infections that can affect a pregnancy (and their potential impact):

• Bacterial Vaginosis - pre-term labor
• Chicken Pox - If mom has at the time of birth, it can cause pneumonia in mom or newborn, but because of the baby’s immature immune system, infection can cause fetal or newborn death. Chicken pox acquired by mom in the 1st trimester can result in fetal birth defects (small head, deformed limbs, skin scarring & mental retardation)
• Chlamydia - the leading cause of blindness in newborns
• Cytomegalovirus - known cause of deafness in newborns, facial abnormalities, small head, retinal problems & mental retardation
• Fifth's Disease (Parvovirus) - If passed to the fetus, it can cause miscarriage, anemia, heart abnormalities and birth defects
• Flu - dehydration & pre-term labor
• Gonorrhea - pneumonia in newborn
• Vaginal Group B Strep - pneumonia and meningitis in newborns; one of the main causes of death in the 1st month after birth
• Hepatitis B - can be passed to the newborn through mother's bloodstream
• Herpes - Newborn meningitis, and other infections that usually lead to death
• HIV - can be passed to newborn through mother's bloodstream
• Listeriosis - From eating meats and dairy products; also can be acquired during Water Birth, as baby can swallow or aspirate contaminated water during delivery
• Rubella (German measles)
• Syphilis - active and acquired during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or severe mental retardation, joint abnormalities and severe facial scarring, corneal clouding, cataracts and bone pain
• Toxoplasmosis - from cat feces and soil; can cause birth defects, deafness, blindness, hydrocephalus, anemia & seizures
• Trichomoniasis - preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes
• Urinary Tract Infections - pre-term labor

So if you're sick or think you've been exposed to a contagious disease, let your doctor know, so you can be tested and, if necessary, treated as quickly as possible. I know it seems strange to be tested for so many things when you're pregnant. Especially sexually transmitted diseases when you are in a happy, stable relationship. It has little to do with your current relationship, and more to do with an overall screening that can review your health for past infections that could harm your pregnancy. And come on girls, we've all been in THOSE relationships where we were just sure he was faithful, right? I just hate that!!! I hate being the bearer of bad news, too, and I have never had a pregnant patient who was prepared to hear, "You have chlamydia and your 'Herpes Select' came up positive too."

I'm sorry, is it just me, or am I just so out of the loop that I can't understand why, if a man is going to cheat on his pregnant wife, why he wouldn't think, "I better use a condom just in case, so I don't give my pregnant wife an infection." Oh yeah, that's right, why would they even be thinking at that point or have concern, because if there were concern, they wouldn't be cheating in the first place, silly me.

The moral of the story from someone who has seen more than she has ever wanted to: Most husbands are loving and caring but you always have to put yourself and your unborn child first. It's your job to eat well, exercise, rest and protect yourself from infections for your good and the good of your baby.

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Summer Heat and Recurrent Yeast Infections

Summer time with all the excess sweating, can bring a handful of problems.   Athletic wear has come a long way to help allow the body to breath better while it heats up during exercise.   It is built to wick away some of the excess moisture.  Undergarments have used some of this same technology with good success in reducing common recurring infections.

I see some women a lot more often when the weather heats up, because common infections like yeast, bacterial vaginosis, beta-strep and external genital fungal infections are much more frequent.  This can be extremely frustrating and I know many of you even worry about underlying causes like a weakened immune system, diabetes, liver disease, thyroid disorders, or other chronic illnesses.  All of these concerns are valid and are great reasons to see your doctor to have all the appropriate tests taken and evaluated.  This way, your care can be individualized for you. 

Many of you, just like me, would like to know if there are "natural" ways to treat these reoccurring, benign vaginal infections.  It gets tiring buying and re-buying the same medications as these infections always seem to reoccur.

Set aside the notion of 'sexually transmitted' for a minute, as a lot of you are in stable, monogamous sexual relationships, and have been for many years.  You may be having over-the-top, satisfying sex, because like a fine wine, it just gets better with time, right?  Better (if we can use that word to describe it) and more comfortable - which leads to more imaginative play and fun positions and a desire to try more and more adventurous experiences together.  But, a lot of you wonder if it is possible for your husband (or partner) and you to  pass this  back and forth over and over again. The answer to this is, 'no.'

Recurrent infections and irritations can be so frustrating!  Even though you may feel like the only woman with this problem, it is so common.  Most of you have been given the standard treatments like fluconazole for recurrent vaginal yeast infections and its external vulvar and anal itching. 

Fluconazole works great most of the time, but you may wonder whether there is any way to just heal this and get better.  The good news is that several trials and comparisons are showing that probiotics are making a huge difference, when combined with traditional treatment and a healthy lifestyle that encourages a healthy immune system.  Why is this?  Probiotics are composed of the natural bacteria that colonize our bodies like lactobacillus and bifidobacteri. These bacteria release a surfactant that prevents the candida or other forms of yeast from adhering to the tissues like the vagina.  In addition, probiotics compete with the yeast and will  secrete antibiotic substances to destroy the competition.

Studies indicate that women with recurrent infections who took a capsule of lactobacilli and L. fermentum had a significant decrease of yeast after 4 weeks.  When combined with fluconazole and taken for 28 days, many women were cured of vulvovaginitis.  This is great news and encouraging for all of you who have seen your doctor and had cultures and know it is not from a chronic, underlying illness.

One more piece of help from me is that those of you using the WaterWorks system 3-4 times a week or daily will have added benefit.            

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Recurrent Vaginal Yeast and Bacterial Infections.

These type of infections are common, and they tend to increase in frequency and recurrence as the weather warms up. Several of you have had these off and on for awhile, but are now coming in because of "little cuts" that you are noticing around the labia and vaginal opening.

The skin around the genital area is so sensitive and delicate that it is common to see areas of breakdown associated with constant infections and moisture. Clothing can trap moisture against our skin, preventing it from breathing, and cause a yeast-based rash to occur externally. This can occur over the mons pubis (where most of the pubic hair grows), down around the labia and vaginal opening, groin & leg creases, under arms, breasts and tummy folds.

These rashes can cause extreme irritation and itching called genital puritis, and this can lead to skin breakdown and little cuts forming where clothing rubs or skin stress occurs during intercourse. These are not serious and will heal with time as the vaginal infections clear. There are wonderful creams that can be used to help facilitate healing and relieve the itching and temptation to scratch that area.

In extreme cases, it can be beneficial to wear underwear similar to men's boxers so that the elastic bands do not continue to rub and injure the skin. Keeping the area as dry as possible helps, as can using a blow dryer on medium heat to gently dry all the creases after showering and before putting any creams or medications on the area. This can also help to clear boils, ingrown hair follicles, and sebaceous cysts that pop up in that area.

It sounds silly to do all this, but we take so much care to keep the skin on our face clear and healthy, yet forget that a little extra care in the vaginal area can prevent recurrent problems. It can be a source of embarrassment to have "blemishes" all over the labia and upper thighs, and it can interfere with intimacy and confidence with our partners.

It is such a common problem, but with a just a little care, it can be completely cleared. I hope this saves you from a little worry and helps you to know how common this problem is. You are not alone, as so many women struggle with this. My next blog will continue to provide more information on this problem so we can continue to learn more and more.

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