Chronic BV And Yeast Infections
by Lauren
(Greensboro, NC, USA)
Q. I have have chronic BV infections for over about a year! I have had every test for STDs and I'm all clear. In the past I have been on flagyll, metro gel, diflucan, azo tablets, boric acid, you name it!
I have also been taking a lot of probiotics and things to get rid of the yeast, and lots of vitamin c as well as all the others to boost my immune system. Every time it finally is gone its back within the week. The boric acid seemed to burn more this time so I stopped.
I am not sure if I am allergic to my husband because it burns if he finishes inside me. We then decided to get the non latex condoms, the 1st time no problem, the 2nd I am stuck with another infection. I also am very red and irritated. I think the boric acid caused a blister inside, ( kind of like an ulcer in the mouth).
Help! The gynos are stumped and I'm sick of all the blood work and vagina testing. Please help.
A. I feel for you Lauren. Chronic vaginal infections can be very difficult to get rid of. It seems as if you are getting both BV and yeast and some women can almost swing between the two. Get rid of one and they get the other!
You sound as if you're doing most of the right things. Here are a few more things to consider - these have all been proven to increase the chance of a women get repeated bouts of yeast infection.
Oral sex
Eating more than 2 slices of bread a day
Allergies to semen
You can get an allergy to all sorts of things but whilst most women consider things like feminine hygiene products and soap , many don't consider semen. So using non-latex condoms is a good move. With allergies "down there" the symptoms can be very similar to yeast infection so really think about every single product or material that is in touch with your vaginal area.
Boric acid is effective but yes, it is strong, and some women find it just too strong. Try something like Yeast Arrest or Gy natren which is a much gentler dose of boric acid. Yeast Arrest used to be a boric acid based product and used to get rave reviews. They've changed the formula - and made a lot of women very unhappy - but it does still work for some.
Fem-Dophilus
is the probiotic to try. The two probiotics in it normalize the vaginal tract and are good for taking after BV, yeast infection, bladder infection - anything in the urogenital area. They don't work for every one but many women find if they take them for about a month and then slowly ease off, it has given their vagina the chance to establish a flourishing community of friendly bacteria.
) and not adding any extra sugar. It is a probiotic yogurt - don't worry that you feel as if you're making up a powdered mix - that powder is simply dried milk and probiotics.
