His and Her Health

ok I've had it! why is it that everytime i have sex i get a yeast infection. I can't stand this anymore. I've been to my doctor several times about this problem and I've taken different medications for yeast infections and everytime I think they're gone, i have sex and I get another one. Does anyone else ever go through this? If so, what do you do about it?

You might want to have your partner treated for yeast infection. He can keep reinfecting you. Men can have it without showing any signs.

pildo, it seems you've asked this question here before. I, and another poster, suggested some ideas. Did you try any of these things, such as taking showers vs. baths, changing to an allergy-tested laundry detergent, making sure you and/or your husband aren't using lotions, poweders, etc. in the genital region, not using sugared or flavored lubricants, using an anti-bacterial and scent free soap, doing a double-coursed perscription treatment, or having your husband treated for yeast infections (and not having intercourse while he was being treated)?<P>It would really help to know what things you have tried, and what you've eliminated as the cause. Without that knowledge, it's going to be a bit hard to come up with other explanations.

I doubt they are yeast infections. Also, based on your past posts, when you say it hurts when your husband so much as touches his penis to you, it strongly suggests a psychological basis for your pain and discomforts with sex, like a sexual aversion disorder. Have you sought psychological therapy at all, along with your husband? You should approach this together as a team.

I missed the posts about it hurting when a penis so much as came in contact, but if this is the case, there are some other important questions to ask, as well. Not all causes of vaganal pain (I am not even sure that most causes of vaginal pain) are psychological, though that is certainly worth looking into. <P>Does it hurt only when a penis comes in contact, or do tampons and other things also cause pain or discomfort? I believe that Vulvodynia and vagisiumus are worth researching here. If the moderator doesn't delete this:<P>Or, just type either vulvodynia or vagisimus into your browser. Both of these can have psychological and/or organic causes. Investigate these, and see if either has symptoms that fit yours. Gyns often don't know about, or how to diagnose, these (yes, you'd think they'd cover it in med school, but they usually don't).<P><p>[Note: This message has been edited by NEWSHE Moderator]

thanks for your answers. Dona, I've tried everything you said and then some. My husband was put on diflucan for it and so was I and we abstained from any kind of sexaul contact. My doctor told me that if i got another infection she wanted to test me to make sure that was actually what it was. and turns out, it was. she told me to take diflucan once a week for 3 weeks. but i had sex again more than a month after i took all the medicine and i'm still getting yeast infections. and to answer the other question, it hurts to put anything inside of me. my doctor said it was vulvodynia, but i do believe alot of my problem is mental. not to bore everyone with my problems, but i think i mentioned that i haven't been able to have sex for 2 years. we've attempted it, but it hurts too bad. but lately i've seen a side of my husband that i don't like. he got laid off from his job and has been under a lot of stress, and lately when we fight he hits me. he doesn't beat me up, but he hits me and it's been getting worse and worse. he says really horrible things to me and it's gotten to the point to where i can't stand to be around him anymore. i don't look at him the same now. i decided to separate from him and move back to my hometown with our children. i need answers. please help me <p>[This message has been edited by pildo (edited 13 August 2003).]

Do you feel your discomfort with intercourse is also due to "tightness in the vagina"? I'm wondering whether you have a degree of vaginismus.

I'm glad you are out of your abusive situation. I don't think what you did is bad at all.<P>Do you easily get yeast infections, aside from after sex? Just curious, because if so I went through something similar. I was on Diflucan for six months, if I'm recalling correctly.<P>Do you use condoms? That might be causing it, some women don't tolerate them well.

to zaneblue, <BR>thanks for your support. i can't remember if i just got yeast infections from anything. it just seems like i get them from sex, attempting sex, or oral sex. i don't use condoms anymore because they would irritate me too.

Again, pildo - I seriously doubt it's a yeast infection that is causing the problems. Lots of doctors misdiagnose yeast infections and there are a lot of false positives. With culture, often the relatively low numbers of yeast carried by some healthy women in their normal vaginal flora are detected. And microscopy requires instrumentation and the sensitivity is very dependent on the expertise of the microscopist. Simply said, just because your doctor detected yeast doesn't mean your symptoms are caused by a yeast infection. I hear it's more common to be incorrectly diagnosed with a yeast infection than correctly diagnosed! Do you have a watery discharge?

I tend to agree with Wren, especially if your doctor hasn't talked to you about any other possibilities. Has he/she talked to you about other thigns that might cause vaginal irritation or pain, such as the two things I mention above?<P>You said you believe some of your issue may be emotional/mental. Vaginismus and vulvodynia can have their roots in emotional or mental causes. Have you heard of, or discussed, either of these with your doctor?

To make a VERY long story short.... I have suffered with yeast for 15 YEARS started when I was 16 because of meds I was put on for Strep throat. First thing, yeast can not only be in the vagina, it can also get deep into the vulva skin. That alone will cause pain. I KNOW !!! Yes, for me, (before I have been put on Diflucan once a week for maybe life) Sex could trigger it. Things seem OK before sex, then O' a few days later there it is again. Watch out for too many infections..... it can and does cause life long skin problems.. Look for cracks in the vulva skin, no matter how small they can BURN!!!!!!!

I agree with rain. For a period in my life any intercourse would cause a yeast infection (although not oral sex). But at that time, almost anything else would too--not changing out of my exercise clothes right away, having a cold, etc. For some reason it went away completely, I'm assuming because of my diet. Taking the Diflucan seemed to just be helping the symptoms. I suspect my pH was off--at that time things always felt dry down there but now it's slippery all the time. I'm not a doctor and I don't know why all this happened, but it can change.

Hi everyone. I am knew to this discussion but it has been a learning experience for me to read all of the comments. <BR>To Zaneblue:<BR>I sometimes get irritated with condoms. The only condom I seem to be comfortable with are Magnums. Other condoms such as Trojans make my skin irritated, very irritated. <BR>Do you or does someone else perhaps know why? Is there some type of ingredient in these condoms that causes this irritation. <BR>Thanks, <BR>Rani

I certainly know a thing or two about condom irritation!!!<P>I'm allergic to latex...not allergic like I'll die, but I get a pretty bad rash, burning, itching...<P>You may be allergic/sensitive to latex. Or, you could also be sensitive to non-oxynol9 - I'm sensitive to that, too.<P>Check how the Magnums are different from the Trojans. <P>Maybe someone will come along with more info about this type of sensitivity.<P>Tracie