I know this is an old post but- on the off chance that someone else suffering from this happens to catch this post- I thought I should add something that no one else mentioned. Douching can cause yeast infections. I know that we women get all freaked out by our natural scent and try everything to get rid of it such as using scented tampons or panty liners or douching. But there is a certain pH balance you need to maintain in your vagina. Yeast is always present in the vagina but when we douche we rinse away all the good bacteria that keeps the yeast in check. This results in an overgrowth of yeast: a yeast infection. I suffered from yeast infections off and on for years before finally going to the gyno. I followed his instructions to stop douching and I've only had one yeast infection in the 12 years since!

Instead of eating yogurt,buy min. 12 billion acidophilus capsules and take 3x a day without fail. With eating yogurt, it it unlikely that you would get enough of the helpful bacteria no matter how much you eat, yogurt is dairy and most candida sufferers are dairy intolerant, and most has sugar.
Also, if your infections are recurrent, start to track when you get them, I realized after tracking, not only was I getting them just before my cycle, but also in the middle (ovulation) meaning likely hormonal imbalance.

I've been having recurrent yeast infection for the past 3 years. The infection skipped for 10 months - when I was pregnant with my second child and returned back after the first menstrual cycle was over. I get it 7-10 days after the start of my cycle. Have you tried anything to keep the hormones in check.

I have started using a product called "Vitex" also known as chasteberry. Was told it would take about 3 months to make a difference, have been on 6 weeks and am seeing some slight improvements. For instance, I would always get a yeast infection 4-5 days before my cycle, this month I got it the day before, giving me 3-4 days of relief. Also it was so mild, so maybe some hope! The fact that you didn't get them when you were pregnant and it is consistent with your cycle sounds like a definite hormonal issue. Will get back and let you know if it gets better

I've struggled with recurrent yeast infections for 3.5 years. Over the years, Diflucan worked less and less. Two things helped greatly for me, the first was I stopped wearing underwear. When I did this, I still got the yeast infections, but the severity of the symptoms decreased by 75%. I have started to wear them again when I wear pants b/c my gynecologist convinced me that I could be hurting my skin, but I would still recommend not wearing anything to bed from the waist down, and wearing long skirts with no underwear when possible.
Also, I have started opening capsules of Jarrow Fem-Dophilus probiotics and pouring the contents on to my vulva. This seems to help alot! I just do it about 2 times a month.
I am currently seeing Dr. David Foster in Rochester NY. He is really great and is committed to getting to the bottom of all of my symptoms. Other doctors (including when I went to another specialty clinic) have basically told me to stop complaining when they didn't know what to do. No one deserves that!

Yeah I am currently going to an infectious disease doctor for treatment of yeast. My yeast infection will not go away. And at first I was going to a gynecologist, then I found out I needed a different doctor. An infectious disease doctor deals with anything that is systemic in the body. This vaginal yeast infection is very frustrating to deal with. I envy all women that get rid of yeast infections in 1 week or less! I have had this nonstop infection for many years. What type of doctor is the doctor you are seeing? Gynecologist, infectious disease, or regular md?

I am currently taking diflucan on a weekly basis. It has not helped at all! I want my doctor to put me on a strong, strong, antifungal. I do not care what side effects it gives me either.

hi, i had low grade yeast infections for about 6 years. Drs gave me meds which would work temporarily then they would always return. other drs said it was about stress. no one ever asked about my diet. i gave up sugar for two months and it disappered completely. that was about a year ago and now and again i can have a chocolate or milkshake and have no symptoms, but u have to detox ur body first. i feel great and wish someone had told me this years ago. hope it helps!

Well my situation is a little different. My doctors have given me different meds. And none of the medications have ever halted this yeast infection. I have just finished taking 8 months of diflucan. I still have the yeast infection. I do not douche, I don't take bubble baths, I am not sexually active right now, I do not have hiv, no diabetes, no thyroid problem, I wear cotton underwear, and I consider myself a clean person. I have never went on a full sugar free diet. I asked my doctor about that and he said I did not have to abstain from sugar. Maybe he is wrong. Maybe thats really what I need to do-stay away from sugar. Having a yeast infection in your private area is not a joke! Especially when you have had it as long as me!!

Your post was very helpful Amyrhianne. Thanks Girly!!

you ladies have been very helpful in this matter. I also have recurring YI issue. I have taken all the suggested home remedies, I also have been given treatments from my doctors and it does help, but only for a while. I normally get it after my periods & usually have it about 3-7 days. Imagine having your periods 3-5 days, then YI for the next 3-7 days, I feel like I'm only normal 2-3 days out of the month & this is every month to me. like the other ladies have said, it's hindering my self-esteem. I try to avoid getting near people because of this (even my husband sometimes). Just yesterday my co-worker pointed out that my pants was soaking yet around my private area (how embarrassing). that is how bad mine gets. My doctors tells me that having discharge is normal, that it's occurs because of sex, stress, change in body, blah blah blah. if anyone our there is taking anything for the YI & has been better, please share the secret because i'm in desperate need to some healing.

I had recurring vaginal yeast infection for a long time and the stuff my GP gave me wasnt working any more so I tried probiotics but in spite of the hype it had no effect. I also tried putting living yoghurt inside my vagina and this actually gave relief in the sense that the episodes became less severe and shorter.

Finally my hubby got some some new drug called LUFENURON (sp?) by mail order and after mixing that into yoghurt and taking it with food for 5 days, my thrush never returned. So this fixed my candida.

someone find secret to cure yeast
i will tell you a truth story !

yeast infection can spread if left untreated and creams and antifungals tend to paper over what could be a bigger problem. The best way to treat it is naturally. The body usually provides a way to fight what ails it.

here are some tips on the causes of yeast infection, just to give you a clue and maybe you can pinpoint by yourself which ones are applicable to you.
Yeast infection is mainly brought about by the overgrowth of the fungus called Candida albicans. Here are some conditions which can foster the growth and the overpopulation of the Candida yeast in the body, especially in the vagina:

• Overuse of antibiotics.

Antibiotics can kill the good bacteria which are essential in maintaining the health of your body. Say, you have an ear infection. If you take antibiotics to deal with the discomfort in your ear, you kill the unwanted bacteria that cause your ear infection. But by doing this, you are also killing the good bacteria in other parts of the body like the digestive tract or the vagina.

• Diabetes

The yeast fungus Candida albicans feeds on sugar, so people who have high levels of sugar in their blood have greater chances of acquiring yeast infection.

• Birth control medications and hormonal changes in women

The vaginal walls are normally covered with some protective mucous tissue. The thickness of this mucous membrane depends on the balance of sex hormones present in a woman's body. This hormonal balance might be disturbed during menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, during menopause, or when taking contraceptive pills. When the mucous tissue becomes very thin, the vagina becomes vulnerable to infection.

• Clothing

Wearing tight jeans, synthetic underwear (those made of Lycra or nylon), pantyhose, and wet clothes fosters the growth of yeast fungi. The heat and moisture trapped by these tight and synthetic clothing makes your crotch a suitable place for Candida to thrive in.

• Steroids

People who use steroids for their arthritis or asthma were seen to develop yeast infections in their oral cavities.

• Chemicals

Inks, dyes, and perfumes found in commercial douches, hygienic sprays, and some menstrual pads, panty-liners and colored tissue papers can trigger allergic reaction and are harmful to the vaginal environment. Soap also damages the vaginal mucous membrane and disrupts the normal pH level of the vagina.

• Sexual activity

Yeast infection is not primarily caused by sexual contact. However, the Candida fungus may then be transferred to another person upon sexual contact.

Condoms contain chemicals which are not good for the vaginal environment. Also, women who may have allergic reaction to latex (the material that condom is made of) might become prone to yeast infection. Rough sexual experience, like the lack of lubrication during sexual activity, can cause injury to the vaginal membranes, thus making it prone to yeast infection.

Males who have had sexual encounter with women who have yeast infection may also develop penile thrush.

you can also opt for natural remedies for yeast infection...

It is wrong thinking that yeast infection is occuring due to only HIV.It may be only one reason but there are so many other reason of yeast infection.Just like Pregnancy, Diabetes ,Antibiotics ,weakened immune system ,Oral sex .

I have been dealing with recurring yeast infections for a while now and have tried everything. The double dose of diflucan and monistat but nothing worked.

Instead of using tampons, I highly reccommend using the Diva Cup. It is a rubber or silicone cup that fits like a diaphram. You empty it 2-3 times a day, wash it off, and re-use. They can be used for up to 10 years (saves you $ and better for the environment). Boiling in water after each period helps keep any bacteria from growing. My gyn. told me to stop using tampons which hold the fluid in your vagina.