Thrush every single month

[kittykat818]

Hi all, I have been suffering really badly from thrush for years (since I lost my virginity to my current boyfriend). I have tried coming off the pill, not using any scented products, cotton knickers, tried using condoms and not using them, I have been tested for diabetes and thyroid issues and have tried cleaning with warm water after sex but the only thing that keeps it away is if I consistently use fluconazole - I really don't want to have to take fluconazole for the rest of my life as there are so many stories of people becoming resistant or it leading to liver problems etc. I want to know if there is root cause and how I can fix it rather than being reliant on medication which is just acting as a plaster over the issue. This issue is seriously impacting my mental health and wellbeing - it all started when I was 19 and I am 24 now and I am just so exhausted of having to constantly worry about thrush.

I was also on Microgynon but never had any problems with it for years, my thrush only started when I actually became sexually acitve! However, I have been off it for a couple of years now as my GP suggested it may have been triggering my thrush but it hasn't seem to have helped! I do use the Canesten cream but even if I don't I still get thrush the next month - I am quite allergy prone so I have switched to all fragrance free more natural products for cleaning etc. I am reaching the point of going back on the diet again but it is sooo miserable, I'm so impressed you stuck to it for 12 weeks - were you very strict on it?

"my thrush usually actually goes away during my period and the weeks following it is the week before my period that I always get thrush"

Are you SURE that your boyfriend is taking enough measures to be properly clear? Presumably this week where you always get it is because that's the week where you've been sleeping together again for a few weeks after your period.

@StormTreader Hmmm yes I think so - he shows symptoms when he has caught it from me usually and we have also been using condoms the last few months and I am still getting it. If we have sex the week after my period I won't get thrush but regardless of whether we have sex the week before my period or not I still get it :( .

I can sympathise. I had re occurring thrush for just over 3 years after the birth of my 1st child. I had thrush every week, sometimes twice a week, it would go away with treatment and then return a few days later. I had swabs & blood checks - all fine.
I was put on a 6 month maintenance treatment (using a pessary every week - even if you don't have thrush)
After around 3 months of doing that my symptoms just disappeared & I haven't had thrush since (it's been around 9 months now), so I lm hoping it's gone for good!!
Make sure you get the pessaries from the GP otherwise it will cost you a fortune.

Yes it would go away and then come back at least once a month if not more. I was prescribed Itraconazole and also stopped using bath products other than Dermol 500. I also applied a layer of Dermol to the area each day as it has antimicrobial properties and the doctor said it was good at keeping everything balanced.

This was years ago - maybe 6 years? And I've barely had thrush since except for when I'm run down or had too much sex!

@OooohAhhhh Hey - I have done a 6 month maintenance treatment of fluconazole and while I took the tablets I was fine and the thrush also stayed away for the next 6 months but then it came back again and once I had got it once I got it every month again! I have done this treatment a few times not and the same pattern always occurs :(

@ohCARP Ahh so did you never do a long term course of fluconzole? I have and it seems to sort it for months at a time but then it comes back so I am worried the itraconzole would just do the same. I use an emollient sensitve cream to wash now and that does help me feel more comfortable!

I did about 6 weeks but not 6 months. Itraconazole is stronger I think because I remember there being extra warnings on it. It's worth a try?

Are you taking a high dose? I used to just take it in a multi vitamin but there’s only a tiny amount in them so I changed to a separate one as well as a multivitamin. Yes, I still take it now, I don’t dare to stop to be honest, same with all the other changes I made to laundry liquid, toilet roll, only white underwear etc. I suffered with it for just over 3 years.

I saw a private gynaecologist and tried various pessaries, (I can’t remember the name of them, sorry) and then 6 months of itraconazole and never had a negative test throughout the time I was seeing them.

I do remember them also saying that stress can make you more susceptible, which when I was stressed about having it felt like I was just stuck in a never ending cycle. But if you do have any stress in your life than you can reduce, then try to, often easier said than done I know. I really feel for you, I genuinely felt like I’d have it forever and it really gets to you.

Are you still with the same boyfriend? If so unfortunately I think it sounds as though his sperm is irritating your vagina's PH balance and there is nothing really you can do about it, you aren't compatible in this sense.

Not had time to read all your post OP, but I was like you years ago.

What finally helped for me was using 'yes' lubricant regularly (they sell individual applicators for use every 2 to 3 days), most other lubricants have some sort of sugar in which just feeds any thrush that maybe lurking, which kept my vagina moist all the time and regulated the ph.

Then switching to a menstrual cup seems to have kept it away.

I still get thrush occasionally but it is easily shifted with flucazonale.

AFter having the coil fitted, I would get thrush on a monthly basis. It was awful but drs and nurses said it was nothing to do with the coil. I got it removed and have never had it again. Was mad that I persevered for so long.

@InTheZone I have checked and I do take quite a high dose already and it sadly doesn't seem to have done the trick! I have switched to eco lover non bio washing powered, white underwear and bamboo toliet paper but no luck! The fluconzole for 6 months always does the job for me but 6 months after I stop the thrush is back monthly again - my body seriously hates me!

I feel like the main stress in my life is thrush ironically - I don't tend to have toooo much work stress and my relationship only really suffers during my flare ups as I become quite recluse.

@Pregante Hey - yes I have been with the same partner the whole time, this all started when I lost my virginity to him about 5 years ago! But we have been using condoms recently and I am still getting it so I am not sure if it is necessarily related to him. As I have never slept with anyone else I am not sure if it is just how my body reacts to sex but it is strange that I don't always get it after sex and only when my period is a week away!

@Cyw2018 I have used YES lube before but generally I don't use lube at all as I don't find we need it but maybe I will give it another go. Had you previously found that is was other lubes that caused you to get thrush? I have also tried a menstrual cup but I couldn't get the hang of it and felt I was irritating the area even more when trying to figure it out! Because my thrush is always a week before my period I don't think my period products are the culprit!

My “sensitive” washing powder and fabric conditioner ended up being the cause of my recurring thrush. I gave up fabric conditioner completely, switched to sucare washing powder and I wash all undies & towels at 60 degrees.

I had been using fairy nonbio and comfort pure because of my sensitive skin. Coincidentally, my eczema disappeared when I switched too!

Interesting! Where do you get the washing powder you mention?

I use Optibac Probiotics for women game changer.

The only place I can find near me that stocks surcare powder is sainsburys.

@Molly2008 I swear by optibac for women too 🙂

Found it on Amazon!