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 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!

Thrush is miserable and absolutely a big deal! I feel for you.

@AKissAndASmile Thankyou!! I know for some women it just an inconvenience once in a while but I have been plagued for years and it affects so many aspects of my life including my confidence and relationship!

[quote kittykat818]**@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[/quote]
Yes, but surely a pregnancy would be more of a massive strain than thrush unless you and your boyfriend are in a position to want a child now?

Do you eat a lot of sweet foods which can cause systemic thrush?
Do you drink sugary drinks?
Have you followed an anti-candida diet?
Are you avoiding hot baths, tight jeans, etc?

I suggest you buy some quality probiotics and look at your overall gut health and diet.

@JinglingHellsBells Hi - yes of course I understand that but when you are very desperate you try different things and I am tracking my fertile days and being very careful for the time being. I have tried the candida diet but I lost a huge amount of weight and didn't think it's very sustainable, I am on some high-quality probiotics at the moment to improve gut health

@JinglingHellsBells I am more worried that the thrush is triggered by my boyfriend/ thrush as I have no suffered with thrush before losing my virginity and wondering if there is any way of combatting this reaction

You sound as if an unplanned pregnancy would not be a big deal.

I'd rather go without PIV sex and get the contraception sorted first rather than take a risk, but it's your choice.

I don't think you are getting thrush because of your boyfriend.
You are getting thrush because you are having sex.

No one has mentioned Acti-gel yet- it's a gel you can use to raise the Ph in the vagina and make it less attractive to thrush.

I also think your GP ought to refer you to a gynaecologist who can examine you, take more swabs and suggest a solution.

You need to talk to your dr the way you have here and explain how it's affecting your life.

Meanwhile, maybe avoid penetrative sex as it's clearly not helping matters .

But as others , it's possible your boyfriend is re-infecting you each time unless he too has had a course of medication after each time you have thrush.

I would not be having PIV sex until contraception sorted, unless you’re both ready for a child. Copper coil may be best option for you.

Re thrush: I think you should take more time between meds to ensure you’re fully clear

Have you considered diaphragm for contraception. No idea why it's so rarely used nowadays. Was go to in the late 90s. Works well and certainly better than nothing.

Do you always wee and wash after sex? If I didn’t, I would get thrush every time.

@JinglingHellsBells I do think an unplanned pregnancy would be a big deal but as I have said I have been on many contraceptions and I am being careful and using natural methods that many women around the world also use.

I have been referred to gynaecologists around the country and have continued to be put on the same course of antifungals over and over again.

Please no that after three years this is something I have really tried to fix including through treating my boyfriend. I was simply wondering if it could be something to do with my boyfriend as I have not slept with anyone else I am not sure if it is sex I am reactive to, having sex with HIM or whether it is something else that is wrong with me.

@Poppyolive90 The copper coil is very much advised against for women who suffer from thrush as after the first infection the fungus often get stuck on the coil - I really have tried to find a contraceptive option that would work! We have taken a two week break off of sex for the moment to see if this helps while the meds are working.

@QueenoftheIceAge Hi, what do you use to wash with? I want to find something that won't disrupt my PH balance, thanks :)

The withdrawal method isn't very safe.
You could use condoms- why not?

Or a coil- the coil is not contraindicated for thrush. The tiny bits of the string do not transfer thrush.

If you have seen gynaecologists all round the country (how have you managed that?) then I don't know how MN can be of much help.

Using condoms is the way forward because that will rule out an 'allergy' but thrush is not an allergic reaction - it can be made worse with friction and damage to the vaginal walls.

The copper coil is very much advised against for women who suffer from thrush as after the first infection the fungus often get stuck on the coil

Where have you heard this?
It's nonsense. Sorry!
Almost more than half of all women get thrush at some point. If they were advised not to have a coil, it would be well known.

Thrush lives in warm, wet, moist and sugary places, The coil is in your womb. It's metal. Thrush cannot live on it or on the strings.

Just a good rinse with water after weeing then pat dry with loo roll usually

@JinglingHellsBells I don't just use the withdrawal I use a comprehensive natural method which is proven to be just as effective as hormonal methods - but again this was a thread about thrush not my contraception. I can assure you I am being safe and have already discussed the risk factors involved with a doctor.

Yes I have gone to many gynacologists, in fact a number of them have told me not to go on the coil due to thrush! I have been to three different clinics in London, two in Brighton and one in manchester all through referrals from my GP and due to the fact I was a student and living in two different cities for some time.

I came to mums net despite going to doctors and not finding much help as it is a safe place to discuss with other women who may have gone through the same thing and could sympathise and advise me.

I find condoms very irritating and if I am being honest I dont find sex very pleasurable while using them so they're not a method that I am choosing to use.

@QueenoftheIceAge I am going to make sure I am 100% clean after sex every time! Thanks :)

I get recurrent thrush just before my period. It's awful. I've had it for about 20 years! I just use a but of canesten cream. Have given up on the pessaries, the pill is useless. It's not BV. I use condoms with dh. I might try a diet to sort it in the new year... .

@ZenNudist I have tried to track when I get thrush to see if it is related to my period but it doesn't seem to be, have you considered going on a pill that stops your period to avoid the hormonal changes - I have a friend who this has worked for! I have tried the diet but imo it's quite hard to follow - I am however sticking to no yeast and taking probiotics

I had the same problem when I started dating my now DH. Years later things have calmed down.

Do you shave down there, OP? I soon realised that by trying to always be smooth in that area made matters worse.

@kittykat818 Once I'd discovered the issue with being allergic to the lube, yes, I was able to link the problems I was having to the sanitary prodiucts I was using. I then moved onto Cottons and it was better but not perfect. Since moving onto reusable towels, I've not had amy problems.

I also found myself to have problems after using certain sex toys so I don't know if that's a consideration for you too.

@ChupForPresident that is reassuring to hear! I am so happy with my boyfriend and thrush is the only real problem for us so it is nice to know things have calmed down for you.

I do sometimes, I mostly wax to avoid using too many products down there but I have also tried leaving the hair and it doesn't seem to help

@Artinsurance I will defo have a look at reusable towels thank you !

How old are you OP?

I'm guessing not much older than 21? 22?

Thrush is caused by a yeast and it tends to attack when the vagina is 'traumatised' due to friction, as well as being a warm and moist area.

BTW there is no reason why you cannot use a coil.
A coil is not recommended - or wasn't- for women with multiple partners not using condoms as well, for the reason that the strings could (rarely) carry bacteria from STIs to the womb. But thrush can't live on plastic strings or metal.

I think you need to stop having sex, and allow your vagina to heal.

@JinglingHellsBells Hi I don't think my age would impact why I am getting thrush?

I am not sure of the exact science behind it but I have been strongly advised by doctors not to get the coil and a quick google search or even on mums net will allow you see that thrush is often more common in women who have the coil so I don't want to put myself at more risk.

I have taken two weeks off of having sex to allow the medicine time to work and to let my vagina "heal" I have however already done this a few times across the three years that I have been suffering and it just comes back unless I take a weekly does of fluconazole.