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Chronic and Recurrent Yeast Infections
For all of those of you who have tried everything. How to get rid of
yeast infections once and for all.
Advanced Medical Anti-Yeast Treatments
After you've tried the over the counter, topical treatments, you want
to go to your doctor for prescription treatment. Here's a list of
anti-yeast medications. They are in different doses and different
regimens. The order is a guideline as to which to try first, second,
etc., but these are not hard and fast rules. These are all oral
anti-fungal medications, except borax tablets. The main side effect
of the oral medications is stomach upset. They work by killing the
yeast. The borax tablets are an acid and can give a burning
sensation. They work by changing the pH, or acid balance of the
vagina.
- Diflucan--taken by mouth, up to 200 mg., in a single dose
- Diflucan--taken by mouth, every third day for two weeks
- Diflucan--have your male, sexual partner treated, use condoms in the meantime
- Terazole
- Ketoconozol
- Sporanax
- Borax Tablets
Cut Down on Vaginal Irritation
Making certain you have good lubrication can help. When the
vaginal lining is irritated through friction during intercourse or
dryness due to lack of lubrication it is more likely to become
infected. Astroglide or KY Jelly are over the counter lubricants.
Your physician can give you lidocaine gel, which also numbs the
tissue surface and gives relief of the discomfort.
Do you really have yeast? Is it just yeast?
Sometimes other vaginal infections masquerade as, or occur at the same time as yeast infections. Some women have never had formal testing of the vaginal organisms. And even if they have been tested, sometimes no other organisms were grown in culture, but nonetheless are still present in the vagina. Ask your doctor about the possibility of your having an infection that is not related to yeast. The medications listed below are available for other types of vaginal infections.
- Cliocin
- Metrogel
- Doxycycline
Other Things to Try
- Consider changing your birth control pills or use a non-hormonal form of birth control, as hormone levels are factors in yeast infections.
- Consider being checked for an underlying disease, such as AIDS or diabetes.
- Discontinue bath soaps and don't douche unless instructed by a physician.
- Limit sugar intake (the evidence for this as a factor is questionable)
- Wear skirts, dresses or other open ended clothing without underwear, whenever practical.
- Wear loose, cotton underwear and loose pants, or dresses/skirts at other times.
- Pat yourself dry before getting dressed with clean tissue or a towel.
- During sex, make sure that no body part contacts the area around the anus, and then goes in the vagina or around the vaginal opening. This can happen easily and inadvertently. His penis may be brushing up against the your anus during foreplay.
- Be careful with toileting. While the traditional medical wisdom is wipe yourself from front to back, all women know this is uncomfortable and impractical. Try wading up toilet tissue and firmly blotting. Pull down and away from the body, then drop the tissue when removing to make sure that the portion farthest towards the back, the part closest and perhaps in contact with the anus, does not brush against any part of the vulva.
If it is Truly Chronic
If nothing works for good, you may need to treat yeast periodically. Use the single dose of Diflucan on a regular basis, depending on what your triggers of the infections are. Many women will need to take it once a month with their menses, as hormone changes are a common trigger for yeast infections. Other women may take it with specific triggers, such as antibiotic use.
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