Comments on: On Yeast, and Not The Kind You Bake With.

By: Harpy Seminar: On (Not) Wearing Underwear - The Pursuit of Harpyness

Harpy Seminar: On (Not) Wearing Underwear - The Pursuit of Harpyness — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:01:35 +0000

[...] Your mom was right–synthetics are just asking for trouble, particularly if one is prone to yeast. And thongs are…well, we know how I feel about thongs. They’re only as a last resort if [...]

By: Harpy Seminar: Ob-Gyns - The Pursuit of Harpyness

Harpy Seminar: Ob-Gyns - The Pursuit of Harpyness — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:43 +0000

[...] school) and in the Bible Belt. It was about as bad as you’d expect. I wrote about it in my post on yeast infections; they basically operated under the assumption that all college women were dirty, dirty sluts, and [...]

By: Elise

Elise — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:42:22 +0000

I am so glad you posted this BeckySharper. I have long had troubles with frequent yeast infections and UTIs. I’ve been tested for every STI under the sun, and since the doctors never found a reason for the frequency, I always assumed that there was something they missed. I don’t have insurance, so I often visit the local Planned Parenthoods for assistance, as well as the facilities offered by the college I attend. At the college, I often found the nurses to be testy, and sometimes down right rude. Even at the Planned Parenthood, it seems the doctors don’t really care to try to help to find a solution, but just want to get me out the door.
Although I would never wish either infection on anyone, I’m definitely glad to hear that other women have the same trouble that I do, and don’t have HIV! I definitely plan on using the boric acid that you recommended. Thanks!

By: TVille

TVille — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:14:07 +0000

Gawd damn! I love that the internet often makes me feel so much less freakish. @BeckyS, have.at.it, Rachel S, Shannon – I’ve never heard anyone tell me that, “Yah, latex condoms = yeast.” The doctors that I have seen over the years have all sort of scratched their heads and said, “Um…I don’t think that’s it…” So I’ve always sort of though I was nutso for making the connection. I’ve used non-latex condoms for the past 7 years and have been great!

And the raging fire pain from the OTC creams? Oh holy hell. I can remember sitting in the shower with a bag of frozen pees clamped between my legs in college convinced I was going to die. Again, only to be told by student health that, “You *might* be sensitive to it, but most women really aren’t.” Oh, because using the word fire to describe pain probably doesn’t indicate any sort of sensitivity. Because, ya know, most women don’t react like this.

I feel so vindicated!

By: Shamrockette

Shamrockette — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:54:33 +0000

I got my first yeast infection back in March, just before I went on my trip to New York with my friends. It was HORRIBLE. I honestly have no idea how I went a week without any relief.

I’ve noticed that I get yeast infections when I’m taking antibiotics or I use Dove soap. So I had to switch to Neutrogena soap and take some Diflucan when I’m popping the Amoxicillin. There could be other causes, but who knows.

The one thing that has really prevented them was eating yogurt. Specifically Dannon Activia. It really works.

By: wondering

wondering — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:50:47 +0000

OMG Kari! That explains a lot! I rarely experience itching or discharge when I have a yeast infection – my ob/gyn said not to worry about them if they didn’t bother me – but I have had times when sex was suddenly and inexplicably painful for no apparent reason.

Dots connected!

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:25:43 +0000

@Jenn: OMG, that is SO true. Like I said in the post, that happened to me with a prescription anti-yeast cream. And Monistat’s 1 day cream will do it too. You know that horrible photo from the Vietnam War of the little girl running down the street after being napalmed? That’s how I felt. And the stuff is oil-based, so even if you try to get water up in your vagina to wash it out, it clings to your vaginal walls and totally scorches them. I was weeping in the stirrups the next day while the doctor reassured me that I didn’t have third degree burns in my vagina.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:59:38 +0000

Here’s yet another PSA that is very incredibly super important if you suspect your lady bits are more sensitive than most. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES base your otc purchase on the idea that, “Well, this is a raging infection of the yeasties which clearly means I should get the hardcore stuff that works in just one application for twice the cost.”

If you do that, you’re bound to find yourself in fetal position trying to force out every last remnant of that poison you can while crying into the phone to your doctor begging to know if you just inadvertantly killed your vadge.

Seriously — they don’t put a warning on the label (though they should) but lots of women have a delicate system and if your PH balance is knocked out of whack that intensely, it’s more than uncomfortable and there is no way to stop the pain but to ride it out for a few hours. No one told me this and I really wish they had…

By: roseamafoo

roseamafoo — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:38:24 +0000

I had my first yeast infection when I was four, and I’ve been getting them fairly regularly ever since. Mine are generally mild enough that when I ignore them, they go away. I have found that tea tree oil relieves the itching and supposedly helps them heal, which is a nice twofer. I’ll have to try the boric acid next time.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:29:43 +0000

@BeckySharper: Very good to know! Mine just says “boric acid” under the contents list but I will stay away from it nonetheless.

And I second the condoms = yeast infection others are mentioning. In my case, it’s because I’m allergic to latex and irritation gets the ball rolling. On that note, non-latex condoms are a bitch to find.