question down under

[georgialaw]

I recently started riding and am having problems with yeast infections. I wear perl izumi cycling shorts with no underwear. I am a new triathlete so I swim in my cycling shorts (racing only) much of the time. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[LBTC]

ouch
it's never a pretty thing
I usually get them early in the season then somehow get used to it, and don't get them so often

I wouldn't be surprised if riding in wet shorts is problematic.

I mountain bike (and road bike to train) and feel like a complete geek that I change out of my shorts into anything else right after the ride...but that does seem to help

do you eat much yogurt? that contains a lot of the good bacteria needed to control that yeast...

and there's always fluconazole....one pill and a few days later everything is happy again!

I'll be interested to see if there are any other suggestions....

Namaste,
~T~

[madisongrrl]

When you are done riding, immediately remove your bike shorts and maybe hop in the shower... Do you have a few different pairs of shorts that you can rotate and wash after every use?

[CorsairMac]

did you have problems with yeast infections before you started riding or only after?

[neuroticcyclist]

Ditto what the others say - dry it out down there immediately.

My friends who do tris use special, lighter shorts than regular cycling shorts since they apparently breathe better and dry while on the bike before the run.

[LBTC]

so I found a different saddle on girlbike called the saddleco flow....totally breathes....I'm looking at giving it a try and I'll let you know if the theory works for a fairly light girl on a road bike. I checked a review site - those that loved it LOVED it (mostly girls) those that didn't like it HATED it - they mostly broke it - I'm guessing it would only suit lighter riders.

I'll let you if I get it and if that helps with comfort and avoiding yeast infections (yup, one road ride on Friday and I already had one. thank goodness for fluconazole!)

namaste,

~T~

[newrider]

I used the search function to find the proper thread for this question. Clearly, "not a dude board" is what I'm looking for. Direct me elsewhere if there's a better place for this.

I just bought cycling shorts, after reading this thread and the one about Chamoise Butt'r, in hopes that lubing up with either Assos, Chamois Butt'r or Bag Balm will help me NEVER AGAIN acquire the poison ivy type itch I just endured for a week -- swelling, spreading rash, itching-bottom-taking-over-my-whole-body experience. I assumed it was yeast (although it was never vaginal, just everywhere else in a 3 inch radius from there), but Gyn Lotrimin and then Monistat didn't phase it. My obgyn had a look and tested for EVERYTHING, but everything came back negative, even yeast.

I'm thinking now it was serious chafing with a nice bacterial infection of some sort jumping in when it had the chance. Does this sound likely? I'm 48, and have the thinning tissues, decreasing estrogen thing going, I think. I couldn't think about getting back on the bike for a week, and I want to be sure I'm over it (whatever it was) before I risk riding again. I was only up to 7-10 mile rides, and this started. Cycling shorts apparently make a big difference? Do I just spread the chamois cream all over the chamois and my parts? I intend to wash thoroughly after riding, then dry thoroughly, and as my obgyn had me do, lie down with a light bulb shining away down there to dry it all the way to toasy. Will I have to do this forever? Will things toughen up? I don't exactly feel like athlete girl right now....

I AM going to see about lowering the front of my seat a bit (it seemed very comfortable riding, though), slide it forward a bit perhaps, stand and ride for a breather down there every once in awhile. What else?

Anyone else ever have something besides yeast bothering them? I could use your collective wisdom here, for sure. I've been walking for exercise for a couple years, but my husband and I recently bought Trek hybrids, and hope to ride all over our gently hilly rural midwest together (having sex again eventually would be nice, too).

This got really long, but I think I got it all out there. Thanks for this great safe-feeling place to ask things I never thought I'd be asking!!!!

sign me,
Woosy *****

[Jones]

I am sorry to hear about your rash. Could it be possible that you are allergic to something? Chamios or chamios cream? Maybe you could put some chamios cream on a test patch on a non ride day and see what happens. Hope you can get back on your bike soon.

Jones

[Beth-Ro]

"the poison ivy type itch I just endured for a week -- swelling, spreading rash, itching-bottom-taking-over-my-whole-body experience. I assumed it was yeast (although it was never vaginal, just everywhere else in a 3 inch radius from there), but Gyn Lotrimin and then Monistat didn't phase it. My obgyn had a look and tested for EVERYTHING, but everything came back negative, even yeast."


Sounds very familiar to me...as soon as the weather got hot and humid the chafing began and with it came the same symptoms. I went to the pharmacy where my buddy Meg told me about two new products from Monistat. She even ordered both for me to try. They are called Soothing Care. One is for chafing relief. It is a powder-gel (goes on like ointment; dries to a powder.) It is for the "Inner Thigh and bikini area/from moisture, heat, movement, and shaving". The other one is called Itch Relief Cream..."for itching, inflammation, burning irritation". The itch relief worked the best for me. In two days I was all healed up and my rides are no longer miserable. Lo and behold, its main ingredient is 1% hydrocortisone.
So if you can't find these at the pharmacy, try plain old hydrocortisone.

hope this helps!
-beth

[newrider]

Beth and Jones,

I'll look for the Monistat Itch Relief Cream! I haven't tried a chamois cream at all yet, but I'm hoping it'll reduce the chafing that I think was the cause.

Thanks!

[Technotart]

If the yogurt application is too messy for you - try this - insert an acidophilus capsule before bedtime. Less mess, but it doesn't have the cooling instant relief of the yogurt. Freezing is not a bad idea, but I am not sure that you preserve a lot of the live acidophilus that way - just something to consider if the frozen version doesn't seem to be working for you.

[CorsairMac]

are these new shorts for you? and do you have any allergy? I had the same type of reaction to my first pair of PI shorts, t'would seem I'm allergic to the antibacterial ingrediant they use or the synthetic chamois. I stopped wearing them as soon as I had problems, got myself healed up and haven't had any problems since..........but I'll never wear PIs again.