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Yeast infection EVERY month...right before period

post #1 of 27
9/6/08 at 12:29pm
Thread Starter 
Every single month......about 1 1/2 weeks before my period, I get a yeast infection. Is this common? Should I treat it with OTC yeast infection crap? What should I do about it?
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post #2 of 27
9/6/08 at 12:33pm
Have you been tested for diabetes? Frequent yeast can be a sign of diabetes.

OTOH... My MIL said she had the same thing for years, but that her period washed it away... which to me doesn't sound like yeast, it sounds like it could be a normal discharge thing...

Have you read "taking charge of your fertility"? She talks about how lots of women think there's something wrong with them, but it's just "normal" discharge. I'd be curious about that, especially if it happens monthly.

In answer to your question... I wouldn't treat w/the OTC stuff, I'd look for the root cause. Otherwise you'll be dealing with it for who knows how long...
post #3 of 27
9/6/08 at 12:38pm
Thread Starter 
TMI ALERT! If your squeemish, don't read on.

Well I really don't feel like it would be normal. About 1 1/2 weeks before my period I get super super super itchy down there. Tons of discharge. Really yucky yeasty smell. Then whenever I pee it burns because it's so sore.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Juvysen View Post
Have you been tested for diabetes? Frequent yeast can be a sign of diabetes.

OTOH... My MIL said she had the same thing for years, but that her period washed it away... which to me doesn't sound like yeast, it sounds like it could be a normal discharge thing...

Have you read "taking charge of your fertility"? She talks about how lots of women think there's something wrong with them, but it's just "normal" discharge. I'd be curious about that, especially if it happens monthly.

In answer to your question... I wouldn't treat w/the OTC stuff, I'd look for the root cause. Otherwise you'll be dealing with it for who knows how long...
post #4 of 27
9/6/08 at 12:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juvysen View Post
Have you been tested for diabetes?
I have before, but not recently.
post #5 of 27
9/6/08 at 8:28pm
I've had that happen - not sure why. I also get yeast overgrowth other places now that I'm on inhaled steroids for asthma. I'm not much help -- just that I know what you are talking about. I've found, for me, taking probiotics helps.
post #6 of 27
9/6/08 at 9:28pm
Huh. Did the OTC anti-yeast stuff work?

Well, sorry I have no real help for you, but I hope you figure it out. I guess I'd recommend a doctor visit for that one. Personally I'd go to a naturopath or something along those lines (or midwife, I guess) before I'd go to an OB/GYN because they're more likely to help you with a dietary or non-medicated solution, but that might just be me.

Looking forward to hearing what you figure out
post #7 of 27
9/7/08 at 12:11am
Have you tried treating for systemic yeast? There are others on here MUCH more knowledgeable than I, but I believe recurrent yeast infections are frequently a symptom of a larger candida issue. Either way it sounds like the hormones from ovulation are throwing you out of wack.. your leutal phase is about 11 days?

If you think it may be candida, you can check out both the battling thrush thread in breastfeeding challenges, as well as the healing the gut tribe thread, and the healing the gut sticky for different approaches.
post #8 of 27
9/7/08 at 12:16am
I ended up having to go on Diflucan one pill a month for a year to clear mine. Not exactly the route I would prefer, but I had also tried boric acid suppositories and they didn't work.
post #9 of 27
9/7/08 at 1:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by xekomaya View Post
Either way it sounds like the hormones from ovulation are throwing you out of wack.. your leutal phase is about 11 days?
Hmm....I am assuming it's between 10 and 14 days.
post #10 of 27
9/16/08 at 1:33am
I was battling with BV (bacterial vaginosis) and yeast infections every month--also during the same part of my cycle (between ovulating and having my period). A new family doctor I just saw thought lower estrogen might have something to do with it--being 41, nursing, and being in that part of the cycle all contribute to lower estrogen.

I also found--and this is embarassing, but true. My hygiene is just not as good as it was in my pre-motherhood days. I simply don't take as many showers. So what I started doing is using that handy rinse bottle that came with my homebirth kit (I'm guessing folks get them at hospitals too)--the one you can squeeze and water sprays out of the top, sort of a portable douvet. And during that part of the cycle I wash with it a few times a day. That has taken care of the problem.
post #11 of 27
9/16/08 at 1:36am
Have you tried boric acid suppositories? Sometimes they work to treat recurrent yeast. Also, gentian violet can work but it's seriously messy.
post #12 of 27
9/16/08 at 2:42am
I had that for about four cycles once. My gyn said it wasn't a "recurrent" yeast infection, it was the same one, the symptoms just kept coming back more severely during certain times of the month. Once I did an OTC treatment it went away for good.
post #13 of 27
9/16/08 at 3:53am
I used to get YI every month. I still get them every few months but it's at least an improving situation. I ended up finding several things that helped. I stopped taking birth control. I would use a blow dryer to dry off down there after a shower. I kept the hair down there trimmed as well since the hair seemed to be making it hard to stay dry. I started drinking large amounts of water kefir and using dairy kefir and yogurt in smoothies. I also have had to cut out refined sugar completely. This has made the largest difference by far.
post #14 of 27
9/16/08 at 12:56pm
i sometimes use a spritz with tea tree oil, coupled with a few drops in my underwear. oil of oregano is more powerful but also much more expensive.
post #15 of 27
10/6/08 at 8:18pm
I have the same problem. I feel like I am going crazy. I have at least 1 yeast infection every month. I have tried everything. I have taken Diflucan and it still comes back the next month. I have tried all of the OTC creams and even prescription creams. PLEASE can anyone offer any advise!!!
post #16 of 27
10/6/08 at 9:25pm
Another thing I've done that I forgot to mention in my other post is take a product called "Femdophilous" by Jarrow. This a good bacteria for vaginal health. A few months I've taken one orally and one vaginally when I felt it coming on and it has worked, usually with one dose.
post #17 of 27
10/6/08 at 9:36pm
i have this problem. i also often get a yi from sex. i treat them with yogurt, and that seems to help, but as soon as i stop they come back. it's no fun. none at all.
post #18 of 27
10/6/08 at 10:13pm
I have had this problem and boric acid suppositories have worked wonders for me. To get the initial infection under control you use one suppository at bedtime for a week (some people say two weeks, but I think that's overkill), then you can use one suppository a week to keep the yeast at bay. I make them myself and it's super cheap! You can get boric acid at any drugstore and fill size 00 empty gel caps and use as suppositories.
post #19 of 27
10/6/08 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockymtnmama View Post
I have had this problem and boric acid suppositories have worked wonders for me. To get the initial infection under control you use one suppository at bedtime for a week (some people say two weeks, but I think that's overkill), then you can use one suppository a week to keep the yeast at bay. I make them myself and it's super cheap! You can get boric acid at any drugstore and fill size 00 empty gel caps and use as suppositories.
I treat mine the same way. It is so much cheaper that way. I just remembered though, on the gel caps, research which ones to avoid. There are gelatin and vege-based caps I believe. One is preferred, but I don't remember which.

As far as the cause, it could be something as simple as a change in diet. Keep refined sugar out of your diet as much as possible for a cycle and see how it goes. You could also seek out a naturopath who will also advise you on your dietary needs as well as diagnose and do other HCP things.
post #20 of 27
10/6/08 at 11:32pm
I had the same exact thing for several months in a row and got sick of waiting for my period to come so it would go away. I went to the local pharmacy and got an over the counter product called Yeast Gard Advanced. It's homeopathic and I got the suppositories. The package had 10 in it and I used one each night right before bed. It was gone in 3 days. The next month I thought I was getting it again so I used it for two days and it never turned into a yeast infection and NEVER CAME BACK! It's been around 9 or 10 months since that last one and I haven't even had a hint of problems! I highly recomend this stuff!
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