Yeast Infections

[jenjt]

Hey all,

I have been biking (mostly MTB, lots of commuting, a bit of road) for a couple of years. About a year ago I moved to Washington DC, which has a hot humid summer climate. This summer I have been riding a lot and have also gotten several yeast infections. I'm wondering about the possibility that they are related to the amount of time I've been spending on my bike in bike shorts in hot humid weather. Has anyone else had any similar problems?

[Kitsune06]

Earlier this year, it seemed like I'd get infection after infection, after just making a 200 mile move 'north' ... Oregonian winters are wet, but I don't know that that justifies it.

The Y/i thing and humidity/time in the saddle DEFINATELY correlate. Some things I made sure to change/do:
1. take off the damp/sweaty chamois/shorts ASAP after getting home, rinse off in the shower and dry well.
2. Make SURE when you treat them, you get them GONE. My first 3 were actually (according to the gyno) were recurrances of the 1st, which hadn't been 'properly' treated. (don't putz around and waste time with yogurt and home remedies most of the time)
3. do NOT use antibacterial soap 'down there'. (had no idea GF's soap was such, and.. um... yeah.)
4. wear boxers or similarly airy, breatheable underwear as much as is practical, esp. after a ride.
5. This one's weird, but when you start 'feeling one coming on' or are in doubt, an individual little clove of garlic, with the papery stuff removed, put 'up there' is the most effective 'home remedy' I've tried, and will head the infection off before it turns into a full-blown pain in the ***.

Hope this helps...
I wouldn't wish those things on anyone.

[yogabear]

I highly recommend the book "The Yeast Connection and the Woman" by William G. Crook, M.D. It will put a whole new paradigm out there for you

[makbike]

I would agree with the others there is a direct relationship between cycling and yeast infections. I suffered from these nasty infections for almost 2 years before we (new gyno and myself) finally found a cure. Here is what my gyno recommended:

1. don't wear your biking shorts any longer than you have too. I now carry a pair of street shorts to change in as soon as I get off the bike.

2. don't wash your gential area with anything other than a baby soap.

3. douche with buttermilk - you need to reculture your vaginal tract. I had up to this point been eating yogurt everyday along with taking oral acidiphilus. My gyno told me this was great for my digestive tract but the healthy bacteria stayed there it never makes it way to your vagina thus the buttermilk douche for it allows for a "direct route" to the problem area.

4. I had to use a three day treatment of difulcan (sp?) as well as a topical vaginal cream - terconazole. My gyno recommended I apply the prescription cream to the external region before every ride and on long rides to reapply at some point during the ride.

I certainly understand what you are going through and I hope you find a treatment that works. It took me several doctors and many different treatment options to finally find the one that works for me. Knock on wood I've been free of yeast infections for 5 months now. I know that does not seem like much been after fighting them continuously for 2 years it seems like heaven.

[jenjt]

[QUOTE=makbike]
3. douche with buttermilk - you need to reculture your vaginal tract. I had up to this point been eating yogurt everyday along with taking oral acidiphilus. My gyno told me this was great for my digestive tract but the healthy bacteria stayed there it never makes it way to your vagina thus the buttermilk douche for it allows for a "direct route" to the problem area.

How often do you douche with buttermilk?

Thanks to everyone for your helpful advice. Am now on a course of diflucan but want to remain yeast free in the future so will be doing the vinegar baths as well as getting out of my shorts immediately.

Also, does DH stand for "Doting Husband" or Dumbass Husband"?

[Kitsune06]

It can mean either of those or 'Dear Hubby'... it all depends on the situation. =)

[makbike]

Jenjt:

My gyno recommended I used the buttermilk treatment every other night.

Good luck and I hope things clear up quickly for you for I feel your pain and discomfort.

[Dianyla]

I am very prone to the Yeasty Beasty, as well. For me, the vaginal yeast is always somewhat related to intestinal yeast overload and I'm just an itchy gassy mess at that point. What works for me:

1. Cut out the refined sugar and processed carbs for a while. Really, it's best for me to avoid the stuff in general, but I always end up eating more than I should. Some of the worst yeast infections (and UTIs, for that matter) have happened during the holidays with all of the candy and desserts and starchy foods. The only times I can get away with eating a lot of refined carbs is before, during, or immediately after an intense ride. It can also help to avoid fermented and pickled foods, as well.

2. Keep my intestines happy by making sure I consume a lot of good friendly flora. If I'm really yeasty I'll also take a supplement called caprylic acid which is a natural antifungal. No matter how careful you are with hygiene, the bottom line is that if your body's conditions favor yeast in one department, it will be favored in the other department as well.

3. Topical treatments: acidic rinses/douches with vinegar or lemon juice, topical application of live cultures such as plain unsweetened yogurt or buttermilk, etc. Boric acid capsules and garlic cloves for really full-blown cases. All good stuff. I often use an OTC anti-yeast cream as my chamois cream anytime that I'm cycling and feeling borderline itchy.

3. No soap, bodywash, etc. Period. The vagina is made of mucous membranes very similar to those that line your mouth and eyes. Would you wash your mouth or eyes out with soap?

4. Vaginal pH management - this is the most important part. A happy vagina should be nice and acidic (~3.5-4.5 pH) to discourage yeast and bad bacteria and to encourage good flora like acidophilus (acid loving). Some common alkaline invaders are soap (see previous) and semen. That's right, the ol' demon seed is an alkaline material designed to counteract the acidic environment in the vagina so that the little swimmers can penetrate our fortress. If you frequently come into direct contact with this material, it's a good idea to swish the stuff out with plain water or a slightly acidic solution postcoitus. If you do use a barrier method with spermicide, you might want to flush that out too as it can kill your friendly flora too.

BTW, your pH is more alkaline in the week before your period, which is why it is more common to have yeast infections right before or during your menses. It also changes during pregnancy which can lead to more frequent yeast infections to add to the discomfort.

[Margo1959]

HI. I know yeast infections are a big problems for riders and cyclists. My gyno just told me to stop wearing bike shorts. I tried that, but still get them. I decided to research this on my own a little more and found out that yeast infections can cause alot more harm to your body than just the burning and itching (which in itself, is enough to bear!!) It can also lead to pain in your joints, headaches, confusion, forgetfullness and respiratory problems. Anyway, if anyone is interested in learning more about it, I found a great report at http://infoaves.dmhmd.hop.clickbank.net. I read this and haven't had a YI in over a year. I'm sure not one to put garlic you know where, but I do believe in natural and healthy remedies!

[verotweety]

Hi, I am very prone to yeast infections, I use to get them all the time, now, only when I dont pay attention.

Basically your body gets them more often when your immune system is low because you partied, didnt sleep, stress, you were sick, vacation, etc... something you did that is not normal for your body and unhealthy.

But if on top of this you get on the bike and sweat, and dont clean and let dry right away... there is a problem, bacteria that comes from your body and the exterior starts affecting you.

So, be healthy as possible, use cotton underwear and cotton bike shorts, during the day use skirts to ventilate the area, not tight pants. Take a shower and dry right after you come back from any workout, the beach or being with your husband/boyfriend. Be always clean & dry.

Some girls like you and me have to be more careful than others unfortunately =(

Good luck!

Vero

[Brena]

Hi.
I'm a 28 years old, 5'9" 167lbs female. I'm in a monogamous sexual relationship and both my partner and I have only been with eachother ever since we were virgins.

About ten months ago, I came down with a vaginal yeast infection. It was not just any vaginal yeast infection. It was incredibly severe. It was, in fact, the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. There was a large amount of white growth all over the outside of my vagina. I can not even describe how painful this was, and the pain came on me very suddenly. I was screaming and crying…
I went to a doc where they prescribed me treatment with Cervugid Ovules - 3 courses. I did a research about this treatment and it is recommended by a lot of doctors from Europe for various sexually transmitted diseases like HPV high risk, Trichomoniasis Vaginalis and more. After i finished all 3 courses ( each cours – 12 ovules for 12 nights) I went back to the same gyno and she tested me for yeast again and it came Negative so I have been cured from this disease.
It's been almost 8 months since I finished the treatment and yeast infection has not returned…

[margo49]

[QUOTE=Kitsune06]5. This one's weird, but when you start 'feeling one coming on' or are in doubt, an individual little clove of garlic, with the papery stuff removed, put 'up there' is the most effective 'home remedy' I've tried, and will head the infection off before it turns into a full-blown pain in the ***.

Oh yeah, I posted on this a while ago. Very effective.
Tip: Thread embroidery cotton (or regular cotton doubled) up and back down thru the garlic clove and tie the ends together. Unless you feel like a frusrating half hour in the bathroom trying to get a hold on the by now slippery little f--ker!

[Kitsune06]

...you know, I've never had a problem. Good idea, though.

[margo49]

...you know, I've never had a problem. Good idea, though.

I'm full of them; good ideas,not lost garlic cloves

[eofelis]

I've had lots of YI problems. Mine are pretty tenacious. Diflucan doesn't seem to help much. And I've had lots of other heavy duty drugs prescribed.

I didn't really seem to see much coorelation between cycling and YI in my case. My YI didn't let up much even when I was doing 6 weeks of hiking in loose shorts in a desert climate.

One thing I found that works well for me (and I've tried everything) is a warm bath with 1 to 2 cups of apple cider vinegar in it (no soap). The ACV puts the proper pH in the area, which the yeasties don't like. I sit in it for about 1/2 hr, reading a book.

I also found a product at w*mart called Azo Yeast. It's a homeopathic tablet. It was $5/60 tablets and worth a try.

The garlic on a string is also a good idea.

Right now things are going pretty well with me.
I've been sitting in the ACV bath every couple of days to keep it that way.