my crotch has been injured from riding

[butterflysaddle]

Please, someone help me figure this out. I'm afraid to go riding again. I've only been riding for 6 months total, both mountain and road bike.

6 weeks ago I went on a 20 mile ride, then two days later a 30 miler where I got caught in the rain. Within one week I thought I had a yeast infection, and to make a long story short, over the course of the next four weeks I have been to two doctors (ob/gyn and family doctor), being treated for a yeast infection, a UTI and two bouts of bacterial vaginosis. Both doctors said this stemmed from cycling.

I have ridden my bike once in 5 weeks trying to get all of this healed up. I had put Monistat in my bike shorts before the ride and still had problems. Someone has recommended Chamois Butt'r. I also bought a $125 pair of Pearl Izumi 3D PRO shorts which I have been told helps, something about a nanoparticle chamois crotch?

My seat has now been adjusted downward slightly on the road bike. I don't think there is anything I can do about the seat on the mountain bike.

I have two questions:

- Is there any further I can do to prevent this from happening again?

- Won't Chamois Butt'r hold in moisture making me more likely to get a yeast infection?

Please, people, help me. I'm new. I don't know what I'm doing. I love biking and my crotch is afraid I'm going to have to give it up.

[Biciclista]

how old are you?

[butterflysaddle]

how old are you?

36.

[Biciclista]

I wanted to make sure you weren't having menopausal issues; so no, you're not.

All I can suggest is super good hygiene, and perhaps a professional bike fit?

if you're sitting on the wrong parts of your crotch, you're going to get hurt; that's the bottom line here.
Chamois butter does hold in moisture, but that saves tissue from being rubbed raw and irritated.

You also might get a different saddle. There are lots of good suggestions in the saddle threads. Good luck.
Be patient, others WILL comment here.

and welcome to TE btw.

[alpinerabbit]

Umm...

don't use too much "stuff" down there. Don't prevent with antimicrobials. Keep clean but don't use too much soap. It kills your flora.

Keep your shorts meticulously clean, this stuff needs to be clean so mine goes in the 40°C. That, or some antibacterial handwash there would not hurt. But not on yourself!!

Avoid friction (yes, pointing saddle down is good, but don't overdo it or you'll have too much weight on your hands; I assume your name impliesl you are riding a cut out saddle), and avoid sitting around in tight shorts much after you've ridden.

Restore your flora - lactobacillus capsules or yoghurt?

Peeing: someone I know who had recurrent infections was told by her doc to not go to the bathroom constantly, but wait until you're quite full, and then go - really flushes you out.

[Zen]

I wanted to make sure you weren't having menopausal issues; so no, you're not.

Not necessarily.

[butterflysaddle]

Thanks for the welcome!

And yes, I have a Terry saddle. I have had several professional bike fits. Think I'll request another one and just be honest with the guys at the shop about what my problem area is.

What should I do about the Chamois butter/Monistat stuff? What should I be putting in my shorts?

[butterflysaddle]

Also, is it possible to take too much acidopholus? I'm afraid I may be taking too much.

[Biciclista]

i don't put anything into my shorts except me. I do use chamois butter directly where I need it the most.

by "take acidophilis?" you mean orally. No, it's a food. i don't think you can take too much,well gallons of it?

[Lakerider]

I was having alot of crotch pain. I now have an "easy seat" and love it. Nothing touches the crotch!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Butterflysaddle-
At the risk of getting disagreed with....I'm going to suggest to you that perhaps you would benefit from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and more protein in your diet.
When I was in my 20's I used to get lots of female problems including stubborn recurring yeast infections. My gynocologist kept giving me medicines and acidophilus etc, but it would keep coming back.
I went to a different gyno doctor- a very very OLD German woman doctor. After listening to my complaints she had me write down what I'd eaten for the past week as best I could. I had been eating mostly junk and processed convenience food. I was also smoking and drinking too much, which made things worse.
She then gave me a huge lecture about how my body would never be able to fight off these infections on its own until my diet improved a great deal. She gave me strict orders to eat 3 fresh fruits and 3 fresh veggies every day, and a certain amount of protein as well. She really laid into me and scared me into following her instructions! After that my yeast infections and other gyno problems went away and I think I've gotten one since then (I'm now 55).

In any case, I just thought I'd mention it as another weapon to battle yeast infections. Don't underestimate the health power of lots of good fresh produce and protein!

[sarahspins]

An obvious question... are you wearing clean shorts every time you ride?

Also, don't discount the hormonal possibility just because you're younger.... as our hormone levels change during our cycles, it does leave our parts somewhat more susceptible to infections and with a lesser ability to heal if they already have one.. so your body may just not have enough change to catch up before it basically deals itself another blow (estrogen levels drop just before your period, and stay low through the first part of your cycle, so if you notice it getting worse around that time, it may be why). Estrogen supplementation may help, and it's something worth asking your doc about if nothing else seems to be helping.

I'm only 28 and I've had to use estrogen to fix things down there (not cycling related, but I was still miserable!).. so it happens

[shootingstar]

Butterflysaddle-
...When I was in my 20's I used to get lots of female problems including stubborn recurring yeast infections. My gynocologist kept giving me medicines and acidophilus etc, but it would keep coming back.
I went to a different gyno doctor- a very very OLD German woman doctor. After listening to my complaints she had me write down what I'd eaten for the past week as best I could. I had been eating mostly junk and processed convenience food. I was also smoking and drinking too much, which made things worse.
She then gave me a huge lecture about how my body would never be able to fight off these infections on its own until my diet improved a great deal. She gave me strict orders to eat 3 fresh fruits and 3 fresh veggies every day, and a certain amount of protein as well. She really laid into me and scared me into following her instructions! After that my yeast infections and other gyno problems went away and I think I've gotten one since then (I'm now 55).

In any case, I just thought I'd mention it as another weapon to battle yeast infections. Don't underestimate the health power of lots of good fresh produce and protein!

Very interesting, Bleeckerstgirl on how much whole foods (or eating foods closest to their natural state) can affect a women's internal functioning. A great message to spread to many other women.

Butterfly: Some of us are abit different in what we wear/do when we cycle for our own comfort. Do you always cycle with padded shorts/tights? If it's a shorter distance, you may not need to wear them, but must change panties after each ride.

+1 about making sure the saddle is properly positioned.

I agree about not wearing tight shorts or pants tight in the crotch after you ride. My jeans, dress pants and walking shorts are not skin tight in the crotch. I've wondered how some women can stand it, with super tight jeans..

[malkin]

I know people who swear by their vinegar drinks. Buy the health food store kind "with the mother."

[colby]

Butterflysaddle-
At the risk of getting disagreed with....I'm going to suggest to you that perhaps you would benefit from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and more protein in your diet.
When I was in my 20's I used to get lots of female problems including stubborn recurring yeast infections. My gynocologist kept giving me medicines and acidophilus etc, but it would keep coming back.
I went to a different gyno doctor- a very very OLD German woman doctor. After listening to my complaints she had me write down what I'd eaten for the past week as best I could. I had been eating mostly junk and processed convenience food. I was also smoking and drinking too much, which made things worse.

I've heard this, too - eating a diet heavy in yeasty bread (especially white bread) and sugars just feeds yeast infections, encouraging MORE yeast to grow than you normally want to have around, and feeding it with lots of sugar. I think I saw it on "You Are What You Eat" where she of course takes a super-radical approach of diet change for 6 or 8 weeks, but I think some subtle changes might be a little easier to stomach.