Possible TMI ~ It's not a yeast infection ???

[Synchro246]

So, there's no pleasent way to talk about this so I'll jump right in. My vagina hurts/burns. Not my vulva, my vagina. I thought it was yeast, so I got my speculum out to see if I could see any of the indicative cottage cheese- I couldn't. I think I'm getting fertile though (cervix soft, open, and clear mucus. There is some white creamy/strechy mucus too. That's all. (I'm still bfing my 15 mo old son and I haven't had af yet) I'm red and inflamed and confused. I had sex like a week ago and it hurt after I O'd, but only after I O'd. The pain has been increasing all week. There's no strange odor and I haven't changed detergent.

Any ideas? I'm stumpped.

[melissel]

The best thing is to go to your doc/midwife and have them culture it, I think. IME, my yeast infections have always presented the way you describe, which my midwives just don't get. Instead of getting an infection with discharge, I get very dry and itchy and red, but a Monistat type product (yes, I know, this was pre-MDC ) always took care of it. However, I've also had a vaginal strep A infection (which also mystified everyone, but that's what the culture showed, gazillions of little strep A bugs), which was cured by antibiotics, and a mysterious non-yeast infection that cleared up on its own. And I know that one was not yeast because when I used a yeast treatment, OMG the pain. I had to take Tylenol to make it back down.

SO! Long story short, I say if you're really concerned and have tried some at-home yeast treatments, head to your health care provider for a culture.

HTH!

[Spencersmom]

I agree about getting to a health care provider. You don't necessarily have to use the treatment they prescribe, but it would be helpful to know exactly what you are dealing with. It might end up being yeast after all. I usually get symptoms outside of the vagina - itching, burning, redness - but none inside. It is caused by a different kind of yeast and OTC treatments don't work. Are you sure there is no issue with detergents, soaps or the like?

[Spastica]

I get that sometimes after canoodlin'. It's the start of a yeast infection sometimes and it's worsened by lack of lubrication during intercourse and because of hormonal stuff. Guys have yeast too, so all that bumpin' can give you an itchy rash. And you're right, it's not the typical cottage cheese kind, it's a runny discharge if any and bunch of sore itchiness.

These days I squirt some diluted apple cider vinegar in the genital and labia area and take my apple cider vinegar capsules orally. I also gulp down some cranberry/acidophilus (Juice pills!) capsules after sex too to ward off any UTIs. As unromantic as it sounds, I try to clean myself up and pee after nookie so I can prevent infections. I'm really prone to them. The apple cider vinegar is helping a lot though.

[melissel]

Originally Posted by Spastica

Guys have yeast too, so all that bumpin' can give you an itchy rash.

This had me I'm so happy to hear (which is bizarre, I guess) that I'm not actually the only one who gets yeast infections this way. Every HC professional I've talked to about it has thought it was weird. I love that I can always rely on the MDC community to remind me that I'm not weird!

[EmmaJean]

You're not weird!!! You sound uncomfortable, though! What helps me whenever I'm having any itching, pain, weirdness, is to, quite simply, stick an acidophilous/probiotic capsule into my vag, and it clears it up by the morning! So awesome, simple, and not messy. I don't think it can hurt, it can only help to get the "flora" in the correct balance so the yeast don't have a comfy place to hang out.

Ok, so now I know *I"M* the weird one! But honestly, it works!

[Synchro246]

Update:
Things are a little less "owie". I'm going to do some flora corective stuff anyway. . .and make an appt (I need a pap anyway)

Thanks for all your replies.

EmmaJean- You aren't weird either. I had bonafide yeast one time and I did the garlic clove in the vagina followed by acidophilus capsules. This was when I was still in midwifery school. The following week we were learning to do pelvic exams and I volunteered to be the "model". The student who did the exam on me was very tactful when she turned to the teacher and said
"her cervix is foaming". It was kinda funny. I told them what I did and the teacher said the foamyness was from the acidophilus.

[BabyBumblebee]

Sounds very much like the beginning of a yeast infection to me; I get them a lot, and they seem to start out that way, before they get the the classic 'curdy' stage - bleeeuch!

Time for the acidophilus...I also made dh take it too, as I am 99% certain that we were just passing it back and forth, if you catch my drift

[Spastica]

I dry my privates with my blow dryer (low heat, low blast of course) after showering so I don't get recurring yeast infections like I used to. Bacteria love moisture.

Same with guys - I'd encourage a lil' baby powder or baby powder cornstarch action during the summer. Keeps the twigs and berries nice, dry, and comfy!

HEEHEE!


People with asthma and allergies tend to get yeast infections more. The healthy bacteria goes out of whack, especially with medication.