Could sex be causing my recurrent thrush?

[MGJ818]

Hi, I need help/advice! I have been getting thrush ever since I started having sex (four years ago) I am still with the same boy I lost my virginity to. We are 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/HIV/thyroid issues/vitamin deficiencies 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 is sex in general that I react badly to or sex with him or whether it is completely unrelated to sex (candida overgrowth, hormones??). I have tried probiotics. diet change (never for very long), switching to nonscented products, Has anyone else suffered from this or does anyone have any solutions?? Please help!

@onwardsandupwards22 Oh okay so they did some more natural antifungals and then also probiotics! I started oregano oil today. Do you still have the name of the nutritionist you saw! Do you know if the oxytech is known to help with candida as well? I will give them a call!

@onwardsandupwards22 I've realised I am also more prone to thrush a week or so before my period starts!

@GlamGiraffe Interesting! I've not heard of using local estrogen for thrush, in fact, I thought it triggered it! Did you have any other issues that made them recommend this course of treatment?

[quote MGJ818]@onwardsandupwards22 Oh okay so they did some more natural antifungals and then also probiotics! I started oregano oil today. Do you still have the name of the nutritionist you saw! Do you know if the oxytech is known to help with candida as well? I will give them a call![/quote]
Yes oxytech helps candida

www.dulwichhealth.co.uk/product/oxytech-by-dulwich-health-180-capsules/

Download the pdf and have a read

Yes natural anti fungal stuff. I also had pessaries they recommended which were garlic based and they helped too

The practitioner I saw no longer practices but she now recommends This place

Edinburgh centre of nutrional therapy
I know they offer zoom consultations

maps.apple.com/?address=11%20Home%20St,%20Tollcross,%20Edinburgh,%20EH3%209JR,%20Scotland&auid=2195747447502022742&ll=55.943240,-3.203368&lsp=9902&q=Edinburgh%20Centre%20of%20Nutrition%20%26%20Therapy&_ext=CjIKBQgEEOEBCgQIBRADCgQIBhByCgQIChAACgQIUhADCgQIVRAQCgQIWRAECgUIpAEQARImKQpCHlcq+EtAMQ26OH3usAnAOYgXRLNQ+UtAQVEUfmcUkAnAUAQ%3D

[quote MGJ818]@GlamGiraffe Interesting! I've not heard of using local estrogen for thrush, in fact, I thought it triggered it! Did you have any other issues that made them recommend this course of treatment?[/quote]
Yeah so this is why the gynaecologist prescribed vagifem for me. I used it for a v short time maybe a week or two

@onwardsandupwards22 Could I ask if you were going through menopause when the vagifem was recommended?

@onwardsandupwards22 I will defo have a look at them, thank you!

[quote MGJ818]@onwardsandupwards22 Could I ask if you were going through menopause when the vagifem was recommended?[/quote]
No, I was similar aged to you! Im 32 now and it started when I was 21 for a few years

@onwardsandupwards22 I will definitely bring this up to my doctor, thank you! It makes me feel better knowing someone else has been through this and is feeling better now :)

Are you dry when having sex? This causes thrush for me. Try a ph balancing lube. Sylk is good.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled No, I don't usually have an issue with that but will introduce lube again once the bout of thrush has cleared and we are able to have sex again

I had the exact same when I met my husband and for years later! Pretty much every time we had sex I got thrush, treated him as well as myself but it didn't matter what I did it kept returning. All swabs etc came back as thrush and I had two courses of fluconazole for 6 months. It was exhausting and put me off having sex tbh. Read somewhere are probiotics and got some of these from Holland and Barrett and I haven't had a single bout since. Might be worth a try?

@needagoodnightsleep1 Thank you for sharing! I am currently taking probiotics and have so in the past without success but maybe I am just yet to find the right type/brand for me! I will have a look at the ones you shared. I am really happy you found an answer, I can't wait to be able to hopefully say the same one day!

@needagoodnightsleep1 How were you managing when you were struggling, would you just treat it each time with fluconazole? Had you tried any other probiotics before these ones? Thanks again!

Wash down below with aqueous cream only. Use Skyns condoms. If you have an irritation due to latex that is. Keep taking acidophilus. Stay away from all cheese all sugar and abstain from alcohol.

[quote MGJ818]@needagoodnightsleep1 Thank you for sharing! I am currently taking probiotics and have so in the past without success but maybe I am just yet to find the right type/brand for me! I will have a look at the ones you shared. I am really happy you found an answer, I can't wait to be able to hopefully say the same one day![/quote]
Good luck I hope you finding something soon that helps resolve it. I know how frustrating is it

@kittykat818 yes I just took a fluconazole every time, because the cream never helped, on the odd occasion I would also use the pessary.
but I found that very expensive when sometimes I was having weekly infections.
No I was fortunate they were the first ones I tried and so far so good I haven't had anything now for nearly a year x