Please pardon the alias, and please pardon the length of this post, but I'm hoping I might find some suggestions here that I haven't thought of yet.

I am provider, and 5 weeks ago developed symptoms of a yeast infection. So I stopped taking appiontments for a few days and treated myself with a 3 day course of Monistat. The symptoms seemed to get better but didn't go away. I waited a few more days and agreed to one appointment with a regular only because he is one of the few guys who asks that everything is covered. Hours after the appointment, the symptoms of a yeast infection returned with a vengeance. I again treated myself for a yeast infection, and when the irritation and itching still didn't resolve, made an appointment to see my OBGYN.

I stopped taking appointments altogether and went through a living nightmare for the next two weeks while i first waited to get in to see her, then waited for the test results. Three days ago I got the extremely reassuring news that I was negative for STDs. Thank god for that much. At least I can stop losing sleep wondering if I've destroyed a marriage or wondering if my reputation was going to be destroyed.

But now I am stumped, and my Doctor couldn't offer much advice either. And after being unable to work for more than a month now, I'm starting to panic just a little too. I am experiencing extreme irritation and itching and for the life of me, can't even begin to guess at what is causing it. It is not a yeast infection, and it is not an STD. I haven't made any changes to any hygiene products recently such as a new body wash, laundry soap, etc. I haven't started using a different brand of condom either, nor a different type of lube. I haven't made any changes recently that I can think of.

My doctor is not aware of the fact that I am a provider and I am just not ready to reveal that to her. LG, are there any suggestions you can offer that I haven't tried yet? Any advice will be gratefully appreciated.

and share that information with a good doctor to whom you would be a stranger?  Sorry, that's all I can think to suggest.  Good luck, hon.  *hugs*

Dear AnonymousOfCourse,

I can completely understand your frustration and inability to solve this problem. I have no idea how old you are, but chances are that if you are nearing perimenopause, your tissues may be more sensitive and not easily as lubricated post-trauma or illness. Hence, the delicate acid balance in the vaginal tissues becomes more easily disturbed, and irritation sets in.

However, it also seems to me that your entire bacterial flora is out of whack. Now, I'm not a holistic health practitioner, so any advice I may have should not be counted on as dogma. But the info below is based on what I have done for myself:

You need to "de-yeastify" your entire body, acidify your vagina and then recolonize. One of my favorite books on this topic was written by the late Dr. Hulda Crook and is called "The Yeast Connection." It's an oldie but goodie, and I recall learning quite a bit from it. Aside from buying this book, I'd run out there and get some Solaray "Yeast Cleanse" pills containing loads of caprylic acid. And then start popping them like candy. Personally, I ignore the suggested dosages and just storm away. I would also cut out any type of sugar, including honey. Forget about sodas or refined carbohydrates. Also, yeasty things like soy sauce are out. You will need to live like an ascetic food nun for this to work. The book will give you lots of support though.

And beware the Herxheimer reaction - you will feel worse before you feel better. The yeast will slowly leave your body. In conjunction with all this, drink a bottle of BioK EVERY DAY for a month. Expensive but worth it. One BioK is like 100 small yogurt cups. They sell BioK at the health food store. If they don't have it, make them order it. It is the only acidophilus product designed to be kept cold and they guarantee the potency.

Another point may be that you are becoming allergic to latex condoms or anything else that goes in there. But then again, if you haven't had protected (or any) sex for a month, this should have resolved. In addition, did the doctor give you Aci Jel? It's also an oldie but goodie that attempts to reacidify the vagina. But often, I have found that getting rid of the yeast and downing BioK for 3 weeks or so will get rid of almost anything.

If you are nearing perimenopause, it could mean that your tissues are becoming deficient in E3 (Estriol, one of the 3 estrogens in a woman's body). Do a search for "estriol suppositories" on the Net. The FDA is trying to limit our options right now by classifying estriol as a "medical substance," so suppliers of this natural estrogen compound are sometimes having difficulties, but no worries. Last time I checked, there were suppositories available at various sites. If you begin to use the suppositories every day for the first 3 weeks and then drop down to 1-2x/week, you should see that the tissues plump up again and become resistant to infections and irritations.

My next move, if the above doesn't help, would be to seek out a holistic practitioner who can help with herbs. Oftentimes, these folks have their own way of testing out things.

PS. If you want me to address these issues in the future, just post a message and I can always go in on the Provider Board to answer further questions you may have - particularly if they would benefit a wider female audience.

Here's to your health my dear,
the Love Goddess

I would ask to be tested (or you can get a test kit of your own) for a bacterial infection. Sometimes the symptoms can be similar and you may just need to balance your pH.

I have also heard that even though you may not have changed what type of hygiene products you are using...maybe the people that make the products are changing an ingredient here and there to try to (as they say) "improve" the product. This is especially the case in lubes and detergents.

I tend to get them when I wear tight jeans and thongs together. The combination rubs me raw and give me a heat rash. I'm no doctor but I hope this helps. Hugs!

If it's not an STD, you might not have to tell your ob/gyn about your occupation.  You can just say that you're sexually active.  Whatever is wrong, they should be able to figure it out.  No doctor should expect you to live with irritation "down there."  If she won't, can't, or doesn't figure out what's going on, you might like to find another doctor.  

LG didn't mention this... but could it be psychosomatic?  Is your life very stressful right now?  

Good luck and don't scratch!

AnonymousOfCourse, could you describe your symtoms more accuratly.  My wife sems to have the same thing.  Int he vaginal area itches like hell and a bumpy rash, sems toarrive after we have sex. (hvn't sen it in a LOOOOOOOONG ime!)It's not HSV I or II or any other std, but it sure is a pain!

-- Modified on 8/23/2008 8:49:46 AM

BTW Ashlyn-yur killin me wth that thing about tight jeans and thongs-WOW!  LOL
Oh and my othr post was for anonymous not sweet jayn,sorry I'm no paying attention!

After 5 weeks of hell, I finally discovered what the problem was, and boy do I feel stupid. Sometime around mid-June, about 3 weeks before all this trouble started, I started shaving with a new brand of razor. It never even crossed my mind when I was trying to think of any products I had recently changed.

Last Monday, after being free of all irritation for nearly a week, I finally accepted the first appointment I've taken in over a month. During the last month of course, I haven't done anything more than just shave the legs since I have been seeing anyone. Just before my gentleman arrived, I jumped int he shower and started shaving - and within minutes was howling from the irritation. So, I cancelled the appointment, used an ice pack, and by Wednesday was feeling well enough to give it another try, this time reverting back to my old shaver. Nooooo problem at all, no irritation, nothing at all.

It would almost be funny if I hadn't gone through hell before realizing what the problem was. But thankfully, it seems to be completely resolved now. What a huge relief.

Thank you to all who commented on this thread though.

Honey I feel so bad for you. Let me ask you a question. Around the same time you started getting that stinging, and itching feeling. Did anything happen where a condom busted, or slipped? Or something where sperm got loose into you virgina? If so you had a allergic reaction to the protien in his semen. It causes a very itchy feeling. No matter now bad it hurts down there dont scratch, because the epidermis down there it highly sensitive and thin. You will rip protective tissues. Tissue that takes longer to heal because your vaginal fluids keep the dermis down there wet, so it cant scab up and heal fast like the demis on your arms or legs.

There is a cream you can get called "Cortizone 10 plus" they sell it at Walmart, etc . Place it where it itches, and dont scratch. Hope you get well soon.