Could I be allergic to my boyfriend - recurrent thrush??

[kittykat818]

Hi, I have been getting thrush ever since I met my current boyfriend. He is the first person I have slept with so I don't know if it is a problem with me or just that our PH's are affecting each other. I made sure I clean after sex and even use an acti gel which helps make the vagina more acidic after sex. We also always use the pull-out method as we thought it would help. I have been tested for diabetes and had countless blood tests, I have also tried a non-sugar diet, changing to different underwear, taking probiotics daily and not using any soap down there. I have also done two 6 month courses of fluconazole (it goes away while I take it and then comes back once I finish the course). So I feel like I have tried everything and I am worried that me and my boyfriend are physically just not a good match. I have been with him for four years and we have just bought our own place together and other than this issue the relationship is great. I have even tried coming off the combined pill to see if this could solve the issue but the thrush always comes back. I am really really desperate to find a solution.

Is he being treated too? He could be passing it back to you.

Is he being treated too? You might find he's continually reinfecting you.

Also, last time I had recurrent thrush it wasn't thrush - it was some kind of allergy that was made worse by over the counter thrush treatments. I ended up in some hellish washing routine that involved avoiding getting shampoo or soap anywhere near my vulva. Dermol shower stuff instead of soap to wash all my bits. Took a year. Now I can use simple soap (but not any other unscented soap) and wash my hair standing up! Make sure they're doing the relevant tests to ensure they're treating the right thing (if you've an allergy many of your treatments are more likely to hinder than help)

My DSis has had recurrent thrush for years - it's related to a hormonal imbalance in her case.

Keep the DP

What do you mean you clean after sex? Could you be using something that’s irritating you?

And maybe stop with the gel too

Stop using the gel as that might be irritating you.

Your boyfriend should get himself looked at in case he has thrush too.

Use condoms so he can’t reinfect you and you don’t get pregnant.

Hi all, the gel is the only thing that I know has helped a bit. From what I understand the vagina's PH is acidic whereas a man is alkaline and the gel helps create a more acidic environment. When I say clean it is just with warm water and my boyfriend has also been treating himself too.

@Crepuscularshadows could I ask how you know it is hormone-related?

@kittykat818 years of investigations by her gp and tracking against her menstrual cycle.

I used to get thrush a lot when younger but it was thrush (as opposed to the later allergy) and it disappeared after my first DC. Some stuff you might or might not be doing:

Cotton underwear, cut the gusset out of tights, change out of gym clothes immediately, air your bits out (night shirt or nude, jammies without pants etc) and never ever ever douche.

@Crepuscularshadows I have tried doing the things you have listed, but thank you for all your help!

Is he clearing before sex? Both his penis and his fingers including under his nails..

It is likely that he is passing it back to you so you both need to be treated.

The no sugar approach probably needs to be a more thorough detox cleanse (no sugar, dairy, gluten, soy, red meat, no alcohol) and rebalancing your microbiome using probiotics and fermented foods.. it takes time to fix and every course of anti biotics and anti fungal will affect the microbiome leaving it vulnerable to regrowth. The balance is important, these micro organisms are never cleared from our bodies, it is only when they are out of balance that we see problems so it is important to ensure the stability of the other mirco organisms to prevent the problem reoccurring.

Washing powder and toilet paper can also be an issue. Switch to unbleached toilet paper and non bio washing powder. Fairy is good. Naked Sprout toilet paper.

If you're getting thrush it's often because your digestive system is not happy or you're eating too much sugar.

I wish I had taken my recurrent thrush seriously and made changes to my lifestyle and diet. I had it for 4 years and then got seriously ill. It is sometimes a warning sign that all is not well with your digestion.

Hi @Toomanyscentedcandles I use non scented unbleached toilet paper and period products.

@Chocaholic9 @ChateauMargaux
I tried cutting out sugar, carbs, gluten and diary for about 6 weeks but I got quite ill and lost way too much weight. I also think cutting out all this food has caused some intolerances for me as I do now get bloating which I didn't get before this diet so I am hesitant to try again as it didn't seem to solve my issues.

My main concern currently is that I have really tried everything and that me and my boyfriends PH's are just not compatible.

I can understand that reaction... it is likely that those intolerances were there before and the you did not sufficiently heal before reintroducing.. if you can find and afford a functional medical doctor.. I would. It is something that should be done under supervision.

Try probiotics, there is one I particular (I can't recall the strain) that helps. I took it post-pregnancy and it stopped recurrent thrush.

Are you sure he is being faithful?

He could be passing it between you and another?

@OneGlamMama Hi, I live with him and we do share locations on our phones etc. so I would home that is not the case! He hasn't given me any reason to think he is.

Often what appears to be thrush Symptoms is an allergy to soap or whatever else you're putting on the area, even if you're testing positive for thrush - it's possible to have the organism in your body, but it not cause symptoms, many people do.

If you want to use something other than water, try aqueous cream to wash and don't over-wash.
Try an antihistamine tablet to stop the itch.

Cut out sugar. It was the only thing that worked for me.

I see you did. The fact that you lost too much weight suggests something you were doing/eating/not eating threw you even further off balance. I'd go to a nutritionist.

@Almostwelsh Hey, I don't use any soaps down there and when I do show symptoms of thrush my boyfriend also gets balanitis so I know the swabs for thrush are correct. I have tried using an aqueous cream also but didn't seem to help sadly :(

@WhatMattersMost Hi, how long did you cut out sugar for? And is this including fruit, carbs etc?

My issue is that I did not have any of these problems until I started having sex which makes me think that it is not an issue with me specifically but rather me and my boyfriend throwing each others ph balances off.

@kittykat818 in your OP you said he's your first sexual partner - have you only gone on to the pill (assuming you're on it) when you started being sexually active?

When I had what I thought was continuous thrush years ago, it was linked to my contraceptive pill (microgynon.) Stopped taking it and symptoms completely cleared up within a day or two.

Thrush is very stubborn. It can feel as though it has gone and come back if not properly and completely treated. I struggled for years with it when I was younger and you have my sympathy.

For recurrent thrush creams and pessaries probably won’t do much,
I was prescribed fluconazole.
Initially a pill every 72 hours for 3 doses, then one pill once week for 6 months. Only thing that worked.

Go back to your GP and explain that it is recurrent. Good luck

@HarassedMother Hey, I was on microgynon for a few years and was advised to come off it because of the thrush, I then went on another pill but the thrush continued. I am not on any hormonal birth control but the thrush still comes back. Pleased to here you found a soloution!