my crotch has been injured from riding

[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.

[butterflysaddle]

You ladies are great with the advice!

I always wear clean shorts and always wear the padded shorts (mountain or road bike rides). I eat so many fruits and veggies, some would be disgusted to learn I like shredded carrots cooked in with my oatmeal. I could use more protein, though. I don't eat beef at all.

Do you guys think I should try Monistat and Chamois Butter or one over the other? I'm afraid the Chamois butter will hold in moisture making me more likely to get a yeast infection in the first place.

[Crankin]

Monistat and Chamois Butt'r have 2 different purposes. The Butt'r is for lubrication, to reduce friction. I would not recommend putting it on your girly parts; there are lots of threads about this.. I put it on my rear or in the crease of my legs. However, i have replaced it with Body Glide.
Monistat is for curing yeast infections. Are you talking about the cream that you can use on the "outside?" I use that AFTER a ride, when i am freshly showered, only if I am having a particular problem. You shouldn't be using the Monistat that is used internally every time you ride!
In the spring, I have sometimes have this issue. I get a UTI from riding a lot, ramping up my miles. Then, the cure for that gives me a yeast infection. Last year I had a BVI (the worst), too.
So, this year, I upped my yogurt intake in March. I had to use the external Monistat cream for a week or so; I thought i had an infection, but I went to the doc and it was just "itching." I am hyper vigilant about getting right out of my shorts; I ride with a group once a week and I always bring shorts to change into if there is a lunch at the end. No one else does, which surprises me. I wash my shorts in hot water and hang to dry. Things have been much better.
And I second the suggestion that it might be hormonally based.

[butterflysaddle]

I read somewhere you can prevent yeast infections on rides by using Monistat externally as a sort of lubricant. I've also read that some people use it internally, one dose, after a long ride. Are any of these a good idea?

[uforgot]

Hi Butterflysaddle and welcome to the forum. I noticed that this is the only place you have posted. Why don't you go over to the Getting to Know You Thread and introduce yourself to us! It's a great forum with lots of good advice in many areas.

[butterflysaddle]

Hi Butterflysaddle and welcome to the forum. I noticed that this is the only place you have posted. Why don't you go over to the Getting to Know You Thread and introduce yourself to us! It's a great forum with lots of good advice in many areas.

Sorry! Where's the getting to know you thread? I'm not seeing it. Only "new riders"???

[uforgot]

Sorry! Where's the getting to know you thread? I'm not seeing it. Only "new riders"???

No need to apologize! It's the sticky at the top of the Open topic (Cycling-Related) thread.

[sgtiger]

butterflysaddle, welcome to TE.

I personally wouldn't use Monistat as a preventative or a ride lubricant. Using it frequently will lead to the yeast strains you carry becoming resistant to it and becoming meaner and nastier. So that when you actually have a full blown infection, the over-the-counter treatments will be ineffective.

I'd go with the chamois cream unless you're allergic to any of the ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, consider a personal lube or diaper rash cream. They will cut down on chaffing. In my experience, I have less problems with vaginal infections when there is enough lubrication down there whether it's my own natural stuff or outside help. The other thing is to not use any harsh soaps that strip all the natural lubricating oils on your skin. Maybe try a mild lotion cleanser when you bathe and right after your rides. If a showering facility won't be available at the end of your ride, you could try carrying baby wipes and clean change of clothes to get out of your shorts.

[HappyTexasMom]

I read somewhere you can prevent yeast infections on rides by using Monistat externally as a sort of lubricant.

Be aware that Monistat makes different products. One is to treat a yeast infection. Another is sold in the same area of the store (or at least that's how I've seen it), but it's sold for external use to reduce chafing.

This is the stuff for chafing:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp139254_3...powder_gel.htm

Incidentally, I first heard about the anti-chafing stuff on a mineral makeup board...a lot of people over there use it as a makeup primer. I've only used it for that a couple of times, but I can see that it would be good for chafing...it glides on very smooth and not greasy at all (hard to explain). I'm not sure if it's meant to use close to girl bits, though, you'd have to read the label to be sure.

[cylegoddess]

Ive used plain apple cider vinegar, mixed with warm water as a douche( Only on the very rare occasions I have had yeasties bothering me, a douching isnt too good for you.)
It can sting, so make sure you dilute it. It clears any yeast infection up overnight. Monastat doesnt work for me.

[KnottedYet]

I used to get a lot of UTIs.

Switching to a saddle that fit (so I wasn't "sitting" on soft tissues or jamming and abrading them) and getting rid of chamois (again, not jamming anything into the soft tissues and, most importantly, not sitting on sopping wet fabric) solved it.

I have very wide sit-bones and sweat like crazy. My body cried out for proper support and quick-drying breathable thin fabric, so this was the solution for me. These days I can do a 50 or 60 mile ride with no chamois on an unpadded saddle and be happier than I used to be after doing a 20 mile ride with padded shorts on a padded saddle. (Brooks B67 saddle $105 and UnderArmour compression shorts $25)

If you can figure out the cause, you will find a solution. Everyone is unique. Don't be afraid to try something that seems counter-intuitive. Hang in there!

[Triskeliongirl]

2 things to consider are saddle height and width.

I was having a terrible time on my terry butterfly, because it wasn't wide enough for my sit bones, so even with the cut-out, my soft tissues were supporting my body not my sit bones. Then, I had it a tad too high, so those tissues were getting sawed at with each pedal stroke. Not pretty.

For me, the solution was a Brookes Finesse Saddle, adsjuted so the nose is level, but that means the rear is quite a bit higher.

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Other stuff that has been mentioned like diet and hygeine is important too. For me, I got way less UTIs once I got my blood sugar under control. If you have sugar in your urine, that will encourage bacterial growth. I do swear by chamois butter, and even though I am pre-menopausal (or peri) estrogen levels do decline with age so I find it helps to use a vaginal estrogen cream once a week. Ask your doc to check your estrogen levels, and see if your soft tissues show signs of weakening estrogen.

[beccaB]

Back in the 80's it seems to me, that every time I went in the bike store the chamois shorts had real chamois in them, meaning the kind of sheepskin that comes from real sheep. I haven't seen any of those recently, and I wonder if it would help? I don't even know if those are made anymore, or if it would be prohibitively expensive. It seems like a natural material would alleviate some female issues. Also, I try to not get any soap directly onto that area when I shower, just because it might get irritating. I did a century yesterday, and I used chamois buttr for the first time. I think I am probably less chafed than I might have been, but I still fell like someone dragged me through the sand! Not on any real important parts, but where my underwear seams are hitting it today.

[OakLeaf]

There's a reason they don't use natural chamois any more, and it's not just the painstaking care it requires. That stuff was awful for chafing.

Shorts designed for indoor cycling usually have a pretty minimalist chamois. I really like my ancient Terry shorts with the fuzzy cloth pad. Lots of people prefer "spinning" shorts for their outdoor rides, too - the only drawback is that the inseams tend to be shorter, too.

[tulip]

I spent years in wool cycling shorts with real chamois. It was horrible. The chamois dries out and feels like cardboard covered with sandpaper. It takes alot of care to keep it supple and I can't remember what I did nor didn't do, but the result was terrible.

Like everybody else said: Cleanliness (but don't use antibacterial soaps and don't overwash), getting out of your shorts right away, and having a the right fit and right saddle are the most important. Also stay away from sugar (hard one for me, as I have a huge sweet tooth), drink lots of water, not just sports drinks, and of course general very good nutrition.