My vagina is broken

[kittykat818]

Hi, I have been getting thrush pretty constantly for 5 years ever since I lost my virginity to the same boyfriend I am with now. I used to think it was sex but I still get it if we abstain from sex for long periods and even if we use condoms. I have come off of hormonal contraception, been tested for diabetes/thyroid etc. I also use all non scented products and use no soap down there and have tried emollient. I get the symptoms a week before my period every month unless I take fluconazole, I have even done long 6 month courses of fluconazole but I don't want to be stuck on it forever as I am worried this may do longer term damage and that I am just putting a bandage over the problem. I have seen a specialist who said I show signs of cytolytic vaginosis but the suggested treatment has no effect and I am not convinced this is the issue as the fluconazole always works and my boyfriend has caught balanitis from me in the past (always treated). I was so desperate that I went on a strict no sugar, no carb, no fruit diet for about three/four months and this definitely helped but as soon as I tried to start reintroducing low sugar fruits, some dark choc and carbs here and there my problem has returned. I know I could stay on the diet forever but it made me miserable, I couldn't go out with friends and it started to create a lot guilt around food. I am totally at a loss and it has effected me in so many ways. I am 24 and have struggled since I was 19. I am so fed up and feel so lost.

I should add I have tried dozens of different probiotics over the years and my doctor has said my levels of good bacteria on my vaginal swabs are actually higher than usual levels

Your story sounds exactly the same as mine! I'm really sorry as the only thing that truly fixed it for me was having a baby! So in some ways I do believe it was the hormonal contraception I was on that caused it for me, when I came off the symptoms gradually reduced over a number of months until I became pregnant at which point it disappeared, same age as you as well. I'm 35 now and it never came back.X

I suffered with chronic thrush as a post puberty teen and the only thing that worked for me was the low sugar diet, probiotics and a supplement I got from a herbalist. I followed the wrong plan for a year and to be fair it worked. No idea what the supplement was I’m afraid as it was thirty years ago! Might be worth consulting an alternative medicine route?

Not the wrong plan! The plan!

Maybe the fact you have higher levels even of good bacteria is a problem too? Have you tried coconut oil? I did the diet too it was horrible. I also eventually got referred to gynae and was prescribed a month or two long course of antifungals, that also had a positive effect x

I swapped to cloth sanitary pads in 2018, this helped me a lot with thrush!

Caprylic acid! That's it I remember the supplement I was on at the time my symptoms drastically reduced, have you tried it?

www.cytoplan.co.uk/caprylic-acid-plus?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyMKbBhD1ARIsANs7rEFNEpyD8kOdLOgkK6Gcw8nva2WorYYm1AJGwZZ2N5Sw1O0NbFyK8mQaAkr4EALw_wcB

@Lolacat1234 ah so happy to hear that for you, how did you manage it when it was bad? Did you just treat it as it came or try to do anything preventive?

Have a google of sjorgens syndrome. You don’t need all the symptoms. My vagina was awful before I was diagnosed with this, constant thrush, monthly Fluconazole etc etc. Anyway, since I’ve been diagnosed I’ve been using Ovestin oestrogen cream internally and externally 3 times a week (it doesn’t matter if you’re menopausal or not the oestrogen is low dose and good for the area) and Replens non hormonal cream on the days in between. Might be worth a try? I also have Canestan internal cream 10% rather than the pessaries as I found I wasn’t actually absorbing the pessaries properly- I use these twice a month (it’s like a pre filled applicator of cream, you can have it prescribed or buy it via Amazon). Sjorgens often overlaps with lupus and other autoimmune issues.

@Kindofcrunchy I have heard others say this, I use 100% cotton or bamboo pads now but I don't think that is the issue as I only have symptoms the week before my period, after my period I am fine!

Do you drink cows milk?

@teaandtoastwithmarmite emmm occasionally but not often, usually just almond milk!

@Biscuitandacuppa the diet seemed to be working, I am wondering if I need to do if for longer but it was very difficult with seeing friends, birthdays, Christmas etc! Seems like the 3/4 months I have done already was a waste and I am back at square 1.

Is he not treating for long enough to not pass it back to you so you end up just passing it between yourselves?

Have you tried the pill? I get thrush with hormone fluctuations so something that evens it out might work.

@Beanbagtrap Yeah we have gone months at a time not having sex and we haven't had sex recently and I have symptoms now! I was on the combined pill when this all started but I have stopped in case it was a trigger

Pretty sure mine was perimenopause related. But I stopped baths, only washed with water and took these - they are the ones with the specific bacteria that is good for thrush and it did sort things.

Cultures for Women. Nutritionist Formulated Special Bacterial Strains - Lactobacillus Reuteri and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus. Vegan & No Dairy. 2.5 Billion CFUs per Capsule by NutriZing amzn.eu/d/0P3bHn5 Amazon

Sorry not sure link works but they must have the Rheuteri and rhamnosus for thrush

@Foro I actually have too much good bacteria according to my specialist so have been told to avoid probiotics but thank you, your comment might help someone else

Condom allergy? Vaginismus

Lichen sclerosis is often misdiagnosed as thrush, even by gynaecologists.The only way to tell is by a biopsy.

@cowandchickensmum I get the same whether we use condoms or not

@Bideshi been checked, definitely not LC

Have you tried working with a naturopath? They would be able to support you with diet to make that more workable for you. If the diet was helping then it seems like something to pursue. There must be a way to make it less awful for you. A lot of people do keto and sugar free diets these days so there are options for eating out, and people do understand.

@beastlyslumber I go to acupuncture and she doubles as a naturopath but I have thought about going to someone solely for diet help. I think I could commit to the diet again temporarily but it seems ridiculous that I ate a few pieces of fruit and a bit of dark chocolate and all my symptoms came back. The diet really disrupted my period a lot which may have also been why I wasn't getting the thrush symptoms as I don't think I was ovulation for the most part

It sounds like it would be a good idea to get some support with the diet. It is crazy how much different foods can affect us. Also, if you hadn't had any sugar for three months, then even a small amount would probably have a big effect. I do think diet is often the key to systemic issues like this - at least, it's something you've had reasonable results with so it's worth looking deeper.