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 had this between 19 to around 24. I used to have to do several doses of pessary, sometimes pessary plus oral treatment, cream. I found that soft pessaries were more effective than chalky ones. It just kind of went away eventually. It used to play havoc with my life both sex and otherwise. I still sometimes get attacks of this and it usually clears up after my period. Not helpful to you but I understand how rubbish it is. I believe it is/was hormonal for me.

I did loads of preventative stuff - the diet, a million different herbal supplements (caprylic acid and the probiotics with the Reuteri and rhamnosus strains were most helpful) along with coconut oil for relief and also as a lube (google - it has antifungal properties and kills Candida) make sure your partner using it consistently too.x

@ShahRukhKhan Yeah it's had a huge effect on my life in all aspects! How often do you suffer now. It's hard to stay hopeful that I could live a relatively normal life with out this worry one day.

@Lolacat1234 did you do the diet long term? Thanks for all the info! x

I suffered like this when I was younger and a few things I did that helped was only 💯 cotton full underwear, no thongs! I washed them on 90 degree wash with bicarbonate and non bio powder (small amount) no softener. No tightsor jeans and only cotton leggings. Used Aqueous cream as a soap for my body and didn't take really hot baths only showers. I still to this day can not add anything to my bath or wear anything other than cotton underwear that hasn't been washed with softener. For me it was always the week leading up to my period too. I have PCOS and that can mean an issue with sugars and insulin resistance. I've developed type 2 diabetes after having 2 pregnancies with Gestational Diabetes. I'm diet controlled ( I eat carbs and sugar in moderation) and haven't had thrush for years.

I had constant thrush when I was younger too. My GP told me that the thrush fungal spores were not coming out of my knickers in the wash and were reinfecting me. She told me to wash them at 60C or more and dry them outside. When I'm unable to do this, I soak them in bicarb first - apparently a highly acidic or alkaline environment also kills the spores.

I used to have this and there is hope because I haven't had an attack in years now. I think some help with your diet would be good - for me I stopped eating gluten and dairy (hopefully you won't need to be as extreme!!) - also google SIBO if you have too much good bacteria - I had it and was prescribed a course of supplements by a naturopath and it was sorted but I'm sure it contributed to a general out of balanceness that caused the irritated private area. Gut health is about also crucial and again not just to do with a few probiotics. Good luck op - there is hope

I should have said, the GP was probably my right. Since following this advice, I have had no problems.

I know this sounds stupid but is it definitely thrush? I had what all the health professionals thought was recurrent thrush for years as a late teen early 20's. I'd be prescribed treatment, buy it over the counter was awful. Then I was referred to a specialist, who examined me once and said it wasn't thrush at all it was a type of eczema that when it was irritated ended up giving very similar symptoms. All the other thrush treatments was making it worse! Anyway I was given a very strong steroid cream and told to use it sparingly. On the next flare up I used a tiny bit and haven't had thrush/eczema since. It was like the cycle was finally broken!

Someone on here recommended ironing knickers. It wasn't a cure all but definitely helped.

I also thought I had recurring thrush but when advised by a doctor never to use any bubble baths, not to wash hair in the bath and to use only baby soap I never had another bout.

Your story sounds like mine. I thought it was thrust but apparently i got herpes 🫣🫣. my herpes its exactly like a thrush. I only been with my husband for 9 years. But one day he got coldsore didnt even realise it and going down on me. Thats when i get it. Because my husband is negative for genital herpes its only me. I was soo mad. But its okay now. Its dormant most of the time.

@fuckfuckfuck2021 I've been doing all of this already sadly! I did have an ultrasound where cysts were detected on my ovaries but the doctor said it was nothing to worry about as I have regular periods and none of the other pcos symptoms but maybe I should push for a more thorough check. Thanks for sharing, did the thrush only go away once you changed your diet?

@dizzydizzydizzy I have been washing all my knickers on a high heat but it hasn't seem to do anything. I've never tried the bicarb thought - I will give it a go!

@dramalamma I did cut out gluten and dairy with the diet and I wasn't have as bad of attacks every month, I introduced gluten and dairy separately when I was to trying to reintroduce food to see if I would have any reaction to either but no luck. I think I may have to reach out to a naturopath soon but I am just worried about wasting even more money. Are you able to eat normally other than the diary and gluten? I don't generally have gut issues or digestion issues but you never know!

I used to have this and it was horrific. Something that really helped me was using Multi gyn actigel daily. It is amazing stuff and really sorted out the issue. It stings/tingles a little at first but nothing major and was a game changer for me. I tried everything!

@GnTplease I've tried it with no luck but thank you! Hopefully your comment helps someone else :)

Ah I'm so sorry. It's so horrible! Keep advocating for yourself with the Dr until you get a treatment that works.

Has your boyfriend ever had any checks? I can't see if you've answered that elsewhere? Because it sounds like you're passing it back and forth between you.

You could get a Juno swab done at then consultant with the specialist at My Vagina. They seem to help with a wide range of vaginal issues.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy he has always treated himself for the infection when I have passed it over. He never had any issues before we started sleeping together and if I am on medication he doesn't ever get it so I think the issue is on my side!

I have lichen sclerosis, which was misdiagnosed as thrush for a few years - itchy as fuck. GP eventually prescribed ClobaDerm - thankfully it worked.

When I was young and actually did have thrush I used to bathe my foof in watered down cider vinegar - I kept a cupful by the loo and gave the foof a quick dab every time I used the loo. Worked for me.

@kittykat818 For me it was nothing in the bath and using aqueous cream as a soap along with the only cotton underwear and washing it on a hot wash with no softener that changed the getting thrush for me. I never use scented pads either. I had no treatment for the PCOS. I was thrush free for 12 years then I had terrible thrush in my GD pregnancies that just wouldn't go. I had metformin in pregnancy but my sugars were bad even on a strict low carb/sugar diet. The thrush was because of the sugars but went away as soon as I gave birth. In the last 8 years I've had thrush once, this was after antibiotics and it took 3 pessaries, 3 lots of oral tablets and 3 weeks of the double strength cream to get rid of it. Touch wood nothing since. I am Type 2 diabetic now because of the GD in pregnancy ( I had 2 babies in a year 🙈) but I am not on any medication for it and I do sometimes eat whatever I want but mainly I try to watch how many carbs I have and rarely eat anything sugary. Including fruit 😳.
When your partner is treating himself is he doing it for the full 2 weeks? Using the cream can just mask the issue in males. Make sure you wash his underwear on 60 degree or above wash as well. The fungus can survive in anything else x

Assume you’ve had all the STD tests but if not its worth doing as some can cause thrush symptoms.

Hope things improve for you xx

Ahhh I see, I am doing all of those now with no luck! I have seen others say metformin has stopped there thrush but would be hard to get a prescription! Do you find the diet hard to stick to? Yeah always the full two weeks and abstaining from sex! I think I am definitely the cause as he has had previous sexual partners with no problems and when we don't have sex I still get the thrush whereas he is fine unless we have sex when I have thrush coming on.