Has anyone cured recurring monthly cycle thrush?

[Thetrainisinthestation]

Without fail for the last 9 - 12 months I have had recurring thrush that appears just before my period.

I now keep flucanazole, clotrimazole pessaries and cream in stock ready to go as one on its own is never enough.

It’s making me miserable and if I haven’t realised it’s there (it can sometimes be without symptoms early on) and we have PIV sex , the next day DH is also sore abs infected and so unless I’m ultra cautious in the weeks run up to my period he is also in agony.
It means we hardly have sex any more
He’s sacred of making me uncomfortable and I’m scared of passing it to him.

We maybe get away without any issues once or twice a month at most right now

Previous times I have seen my GP (which isn’t the easiest to get an appointment ) I have been given long courses of flucanazole to take weekly.
It keeps it at bay but as soon as I stop the pills it comes straight back

I have the copper coil.
Should I have that removed next to see if that helps?

Only thing that stopped my reacurring thrush was to change partners - sorry, I know that's not helpful.

We’ve been together years. Never had this problem before
I think it’s me

Have you considered a drastic change to your diet?

I would say maybe diet and / or your undies.

If only being washed lightly (low temp not much powder) thrush can survive the wash. Either wash on hot and lots of powder then tumble dry while alsotreating yourself or throw out, use treatment and start again with new undies.

I also found what handcream i used made a difference

I would recommend a few things

• Both of you go to GP and get long course flucanazole so it’s cleared completely from both of you. Men are commonly symptomless when they have thrush on their penis. His red/soreness could simply be result of having sex with thrush, not because you’re giving it to him. So it may be you are passing it back and forth, so just treating you only lasts as long as the medication does because he gives it right back to you.

• Don’t use any feminine hygiene washes, or douches or moisturisers at all. Don’t use any bubble baths or make a bubble bath with shower gel, shampoo...no bubble baths! No bath bombs or salts. Switch to unscented period products. Wear 100% cotton undies.

• Thrush is simply an overgrowth of yeast. And yeast lives off sugar. So cut back on sugar and any highly processed carbs in your diet. Yeast can also overgrow if there is not enough good bacteria around...so you should eat a serving of low sugar plain yogurt daily or one of those probiotic drinks like Yakult. This will colonise you with good biome and thus no room for yeast to over grow.

Yes. One month of internal treatment. Every night for a month. Never came back.

I had Gynodaktarin internal cream which is imo better than pessaries. I got referred to a gynae consultant who said the normal treatment often kills off enough to ease symptoms but not enough to get rid. Hence the length of time.

I'm sure the GP could prescribe a big tube of internal Gynodaktarin and applicators.

Also have your partner put some cream on himself for a few nights, and wash all towels and underwear on super hot for a bit.

Yes I managed it.

Switching to a menstrual cup and then hitting it hard with flucozanole. Also a lot of lubes contain sugars, which just feeds the infection. YES lubricants are totally sugar free, and this was also a key change that finally made a difference.

@RandomMess

Have you considered a drastic change to your diet?

Yes I’ve spent this year sugar free, reduced anything with yeast in. No bread, no beer.

I no longer use soaps or bubbles in my bath.

I use only cotton underwear

The last time I saw the gp she couldn’t suggest I try anything else

I’ve been trying for ages to get this sorted so I tried probiotics, apple cider vinegar and other supplements and none of it seems to have helped

@3cats4poniesandababy

I would say maybe diet and / or your undies.

If only being washed lightly (low temp not much powder) thrush can survive the wash. Either wash on hot and lots of powder then tumble dry while alsotreating yourself or throw out, use treatment and start again with new undies.

I also found what handcream i used made a difference

Is a 40 degree wash enough?

I swapped to sensitive washing detergent in case it was the stronger stuff that I was reacting to

@Jenala

Yes. One month of internal treatment. Every night for a month. Never came back.

I had Gynodaktarin internal cream which is imo better than pessaries. I got referred to a gynae consultant who said the normal treatment often kills off enough to ease symptoms but not enough to get rid. Hence the length of time.

I'm sure the GP could prescribe a big tube of internal Gynodaktarin and applicators.

Thank you , this sounds like what I need.

I’ve got another gp appointment booked for next week so I hopefully will get a referral and some longer/harder treatment

@Cyw2018

Yes I managed it.

Switching to a menstrual cup and then hitting it hard with flucozanole. Also a lot of lubes contain sugars, which just feeds the infection. YES lubricants are totally sugar free, and this was also a key change that finally made a difference.

I swapped to YES lubricant too. It’s definitely helped (others were causing massive flare ups)

I have a load of autoimmune issues and thrush often goes hand in hand with those. I have Addison’s, lupus, sjorgens, kidney issues, pituitary issues, hypothyroidism… once you have one you often get others. Have you had any bloods done?? I would start with a full autoimmune screening and go from there. Low iron, low b12 and diabetes are often the main culprits for recurrent thrush. I get oesophageal and vaginal thrush and have to take Fluconazole 150mg every 4 weeks, and a longer dose of 50mg if it flares up badly. I find the internal loaded cream applicator much better than the canestan pessary which is hard to dissolve.

Also - what is your dp using to treat his thrush if he gets it? He may need a longer / stronger course if you’re passing it back and forth. It may actually be coming from him initially so my advice re autoimmune conditions goes for him too.

Certain brands of loo roll trigger thrush in me.

Your dh needs to be treated too. It's such an easy infection to pass back and forth . Also have you considered the local sexual health clinic? They can test both of you for more infections than the gp surgery can.

I had this years ago. I started intermittent fasting and it stopped completely, it did return for a couple of cycles post partum this year but back to normal again now she's almost 4mth.

@Thetrainisinthestation Did you ever figure this out, I am experiencing the same!

Switching to a moon cup helped me.

if you can get tincture of myrrh, several drops in a cup of cold water, used as a douche, helped my symptoms clear up. It’s also very soothing for the itch.

Did you change you're diet as well? Thanks!