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

[kittykat818]

Hi, I need help/advice! I have been getting thrush ever since I started having sex (three years ago) I am still with the same boy I lost my virginity to. We are very very happy but I am worried our sex life might be the cause of all my problems with thrush and that in some way our bodies are just not compatible. I have been on long term courses of fluconazole (antifungal drug) and while I'm on the medicine and for a short time after I stay free from thrush but it always comes back eventually. I make sure my boyfriend is always also treated when I have symptoms and we avoid sex during that time. I also avoid soap down there, wear cotton knickers, have tested negatively for diabetes and make sure we are gentle and not aggravating my vagina when we do have sex. I really don't want thrush to be the reason this relationship ends but I am not sure what I am meant to do, because he is the only person I have slept with I am not sure if it sex in general I react badly to or sex with him or whether it is completely unrelated to sex. Has anyone else suffered with this or does anyone have any solutions?? Please help!

I should also add that we always use pull out so I don't think it is semen i am allergic to? Maybe it's precum or just something else on him I don't react well to? He has also switched his body wash to a non-perfumed one in case this was a cause!

Try using lube for sex. It might help. You can get sensitive ones so it shouldn't cause any additional thrush issues.

Do you get this when you use condoms too?

I also avoid soap down there
Do you use anything down there?

@AKissAndASmile Hi no we don't use condoms - we did try at one point to see if we had been passing it back and forth.

@ramblingsonthego Hi yeah we probably should use lube more often - would this just stop friction or do you think it could act as a bit of a barrier?

@AKissAndASmile Hi I use an emollient cream I got from the doctor - just that and warm water!

I think maybe try not using the emollient at all. Just use plain water. When I told a Dr I'd been using E45 to try and soothe it he chuckled and said that was just feeding it. No idea if that's true or not, but maybe worth a try

I've found myself suffering from thrush-like symptoms and moved away from normal tampons, towels and liners to cotton based ones and then reusables. Is that an option for you to explore?

As far as lube is concerned, I had to move to a glycerine and paraben free type to avoid problems (no KY for me).

@AKissAndASmile hi I will try that, the doctor gave me the emollient as they were worried my shampoo/conditioner was reaching down there when I showered and possibly throwing the balance off!

I’m wondering if you have something like Lichen Sclerosus. I was plagued by what I thought was thrush as a young woman, constantly being treated, constantly on fluconazole, swabs coming back inconclusive. When I was about 30 I was diagnosed with LS, and things have been much better since. I find a thin smear of Vaseline to be good protection of the skin for sex (suggested by a dermatologist, but obviously problematic for condoms etc). I mostly keep it at bay now but steroid cream is the treatment during a flare up.

Does he wash himself properly and is he using the treatment properly?

@Artinsurance Hi! I too have moved over to cotton tampons/pads but not reusable ones - would you say the reusable pads are the safest?
I current have "YES" lube which seems to be sensitive but I am sceptical of everything at the moment - I feel like we've tried switching everything up that now I am just scared it must be our bodies rejecting one another !

He needs to use the flucanozole tablet too at the same time as you then abstain for a week.
My thrush was always bad when diet was too rich - I.e. Christmas etc alcohol, sweet stuff, always brought it back.
Sort out the diet ( if it’s sugary/ alcoholic) and both take the tablet.
Good luck. It’s horrible when you get a particularly bad case.

@Flamingolingo Hi - it's definitely thrush! I've had lost of positive swabs taken and my boyfriend also shows the symptoms of the male alternative when I have it.

@Astraturf Hi - this time around I have made sure he is treating himself really well and using the cream twice a day. I know it is myself causing the problem as when I take the fluconazole we are both absolutely fine it's just when I stop it comes back and then he starts showing symptoms too!

Probiotics can help with recurrent thrush, optibac do a product specifically for women which can help with thrush/recurrent utis in some people.

@muddledmidget Hi yes I have heard this! I've got some really strong ones at the minute so making sure I take them everyday !

What is he washing his penis with? Needs to not be using any shower gel or soap.

Make sure lube has no perfumes in.

Did using condoms stop the problem? Again. Certain condoms/coatings/spermicidal lube can cause issues.

Sorry not to derail but are you using the pull out method as contraception?

@Whatsnewpussyhat I think he uses the 0% sanex bodywash so I think that should be okay!
And we didn't use them for long as I found them very uncomfortable!

@Poppyolive90 Hi at the minute we are yes, I know it's not the safest but I came off of the combination pill as I was scared this was a trigger. I have tried the mini pill but I was constantly bleeding while on it so gave up

@kittykat818: I've had no problems at all with reusables but sometimes found the cotton ones slightly irritating. I use some fleecy bamboo ones (can't remember brand). Also use Yes lube 😊

@Artinsurance did you find that the thrush was around the time of your period ?

[quote kittykat818]@Poppyolive90 Hi at the minute we are yes, I know it's not the safest but I came off of the combination pill as I was scared this was a trigger. I have tried the mini pill but I was constantly bleeding while on it so gave up[/quote]
@kittykat818 Unless you want a baby, you should be using proper contraception. Pulling out does not work.

If getting pregnant now could be a problem for you both, please use a proper method of contraception.

Pulling out method failing is the reason a number of mums on here are mums! It cannot be trusted. So if not becoming pregnant is important, stop risking it.

I’d be more worried about that than thrush!

Try condoms for at least a month. With lube. If you still have problems swap to a different type of condoms. Perhaps latex then non latex ones if they are still affecting you.

I’d suggest you’re not getting rid of the thrush fully and it’s the same thing just coming back. Is it possible to get tested a few weeks after you’ve both used the meds to see if they have worked?

@JinglingHellsBells @Elieza Hi yeah I am very aware the risks that come with it but I hope you understand that thrush may not seem like a big deal to some but it has been causing a massive strain on my life for three years now and I was put in a very desperate position! I have tried 3 different forms of contraception and will be having an appointment with my doc as soon as possible to look at some other options!

I think I am getting rid of the thrush as while on the 6 month course I have no symptoms and then none for the following months but then it seems to creap back!

I am very confused by my bodies reaction and just trying to find the solution