Thrush. Every. Fucking. Time.

[TheAngryItch]

I am fed up of this.

EVERY time I have sex, I get thrush, plus or minus a UTI. This has happened since I first became sexually active at 18 - I'm now 38.

I have had multiple swabs and been to multiple GPs. Every time it's 'only' thrush, and I get the usual lecture of wee after sex (I always try to - it makes no difference), don't use soap down there (I never do), do/don't cleanse with water after sex (makes no difference, either way), don't wear tights (never do), and on and on. I've tried taking a fluoconazole tablet every time I have sex - I still get it. I've tried probiotic vaginal suppositories like Canesflor - I still get it. I've tried putting in a treatment pessary or cream after sex - I still get it. I've tried using the cream during sex - I still get it. No, DH is not re-infecting me. The thrush I get is so bad we go literally months between any sex - this problem has killed relationships in the past because I just can't bring myself to do it anymore, because I know I'll face days, possibly even weeks, of aching, hideous itch and discharge that takes three or four pessaries, or a lengthy course of oral fluoconazole to shift. One shag literally costs me around £50 in treatments. It's not a sperm allergy - I still get it with condoms. I only get it after sex - rarely/never any other time.

I barely want to mention the UTIs because then I get antibiotics...and we know what antibiotics do to thrush.

Anyone else, please?! I just want a normal sex life!

I feel your pain - used to suffer from this all the time. Think a mixture of reactions to soap powder residue on knickers, soap "run-off" in shower etc as was sticking to all usual advice too. I started using BV gel - although pretty sure I didn't have that it's meant to help with PH and tissue health generally and found very soothing. Worth a try I think. Good luck

In response to a PP, coconut oil is really good as a lube. I found actual lubes would irritate me. It can be used while ttc too. I don't get thrush but I do often get cystitis after sex and have found a pint of water with a teaspoon of bicarb in a few times a day if I feel even the slightest tingle can stop it getting too bad. I hope you find a solution, I would definitely push for a referral.

Thanks gunpowder and thanks bonzo. Lots of things to buy!

Me too- however cutting out all sugar- ALL ie most fruit and much milk too- made the difference for me

Just seen the GP and she did a gynae referral straight away (first female GP I've seen with this problem...maybe that's been my problem🤔). Also getting a test done on my blood sugars to see if there's a metabolism issue there which may be impacting on it.

Seriously - I will give up sex before I give up sugar. I have no other vices (I don't drink, smoke, take drugs, minimise caffeine, have zero social life because of FT work and DCs), so I am not restricting my already vegetarian diet even further. If that ends up being the answer, then DH is going to have to make do with blowjobs and get handy with a vibrator. But hopefully the gynae will help investigate all other avenues first.

Thanks all

Hope you get it sorted

Good luck. Glad it is being taken seriously. I'd be interested to know how you get on if you can bring yourself to update the thread although appreciate that isn't exactly a priority for you ;)

Good luck. So glad your gp is on board.

Could be a few months before I get an appointment, witwoo, if you don't mind resurrection of a zombie thread. But if it helps the others on here who seem to have similar issues I'll try to remember.

(And remember the NC I've used for this so my regular MN NN isn't tarnished by a reputation of itchy nethers...)

So glad you are being taken seriously, I really hope there is a positive outcome for you both!

Had this since met dp over two years ago. Never been an issue before. I really hope you get some good support now via referral. I can't believe you haven't been tested for diabetes before? They tested me twice for that and all swans as you say. I find wee, shower and wee again straight after helps. Also I have to take oral tablet for about four weeks in a row to help a really bad case. I use multi gyn gel from boots if I can feel it coming on. Also look at how much yeast you eat. I can only have yeast every couple of days and same for chocolate as that aggravates it

Swabs! Not swans

This is going to sound a bit odd, but this started happening to me out of the blue. I had relationship problems so didn't fancy having sex with my H for about four years and when we did get back to it I got thrush. We had occasional sex for about 18 months and every time I got thrush. We tried both of us taking a tablet about 3 days before sex, but it didn't help. Then I had a check up at the dentist and she thought that there was some dodginess going on under a crown. So I had the crown replaced and the infection sorted out, and have only had thrush once since then. I suspect that I was carrying the thrush at a very low level in my mouth and it was being transferred by oral sex.

Ha! Well I have a dentist appointment next week, but nary a crown or filling. Shan't mention my bits...dentist might think it's slightly out of her remit...

You could always ask her if there is any sign of a mouth thrush infection and not mention the bits. I think thrush in the mouth is reasonably easy to treat with a mouthwash.

My thrush was always very mild though and easy to treat, one pessary was enough, your thrush sounds very stubborn.

I am just back from weekly shopping and have been scrutinising the ingredients in my usual bath and shower products

They have that methyl stuff in them !

Sorted that out

Visions of women striding up to customer service counters around the country, pounding down purchases for return, then retreating whilst mumbling and scratching surreptitiously...

It sounds like you have a systemic overgrowth of Candida Albicans (google it if you haven't already) and it has been with you for many many years - it's notoriously difficult to treat and you would have better luck doing this with the guidance and support of a Nutritional therapist rather than a GP.

Though now you have been referred that is great news - hopefully Gyne will know a lot more.

You're calling it thrush, but it doesn't sound like thrush to me, it sounds more like an allergy.
Is it possible that you have an allergy and your H is passing it on to you.
For e.g. A woman with a nut allergy can get symptoms from a partner who has recently eaten nuts and passed the nuts on to her through his semen.
Just a wild and outside the box thought!!

I had a bad bout of it that wouldn't shift with the usual treatments, inc a week of oral treatment, and my GP prescribed 6 months of weekly pessaries. It was annoying to do but after 3-4 months it was gone and hasn't been back in nearly a year. Apparently you can get resistant to the oral treatment / fluconazole (?) if taken too often. Not sure this is helpful as sounds like yours is a very long-term issue but could be worth trying if waiting a while for gynae appt. apparently you can only do this once tho.

Just another wild thought. Perhaps you are allergic to your own vaginal secretions when aroused. But I suppose that would point towards something dietary.

noego As I said earlier, I doubt it's an allergy as I get thrush when we've used condoms (and same with others pre-DH as well). Also re: allergic to my own secretions? I don't think that can happen. But even if it can, I only get it with PIV, not vibrator or masturbation, and I'm sure I 'secrete' with those (rarely need lube). Deep tissue infection sounds about right, maybe where a 'layer' gets worn off during sex and brings it to the surface. Would explain why it's so hard to shift as well.

I used to get it ALL the time and my GP put me on flucanazole for six months straight. It did the trick although the pharmacy gave me a hard time when I went in with the prescription

Nurse also said to me that at 'my' age - mid 30s they get concerned with Thrush beng underlying diabeties issue