Washing your shorts

[Nanci]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

[Lise]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

Ha! I believe you are onto something!

The garlic cure is something my sister swears by.

My approach to yeast (and I treat a lot of this), is that it's a normal part of the ...um... environment down there. There are "good" bacteria, "bad" bacteria, and yeast. When the environment gets out of balance, we get infections (also when other people give us germs, we get infections, but this is not usually the case with yeast). Top culprits:

1. Overcleaning. Healthy lactobacilli (found in yogurt) keep yeast in check. Douching, over-washing can kill those. Let your body clean itself, don't be always washing out your inner parts.

2. Chemical sensitivities. Perfumes, deoderant, dyes. Use only "neutral" soaps. Only non-scented pads. Only white panties. Only scent and dye free laundry soaps. No drier sheets with panties. No bubble baths or bath oils.

3. Lack of air flow. No nylon panties, no tight pants (this is where the bike shorts may be a problem). Sleep without panties on.

4. Stress. Throws everything off.

5. High sugar diet, including alcohol as a sugar. Yeast loves sugar.

6. Diabetes, HIV.

7. Increased levels of female hormones--via contraception or pregnancy.

8. And finally, not everything that itches and smells is yeast. Sometimes it's bacteria out of balance, AKA bacterial vaginosis. No OTC treatment for that, and you can't (yet) diagnosis it yourself at home.

OK, looking at all of the above, figuring the average cyclist is pretty healthy in general and eats fairly well...you're on the saddle clothed in non-breathing fabric for hours at a time. Maybe intensely so for a relatively short part of the year. Hot, dark, moist place with no air flow. Ideal for yeast to grow. So, keep the shorts clean, don't overclean yourself, let there be airflow when you're not on the bike, try the garlic or OTC yeast treatments, get yourself checked out medically if you're having recurrent, frequent yeast infections. My $0.02 Lise

[pooks]

And make sure the yogurt is active culture!

I've heard of women douching with active culture buttermilk or unsweetened/flavored yogurt, too. But fortunately have never felt the need to do that. Eeeuw.

Farm wives knew to drink buttermilk for a yeast infection, though. My grandmother told me that and I didn't believe her!

[mimitabby]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

OMG!!

[Brandi]

I've got the solution!! Garlic butter chamois cream!!

and after you can make garlic bread! (sorry had too,couldn't control finger's on key's)

[Brandi]

I thought we were talking about bladder infections? Lol! What does uti stand for exactly?
I had lot's of yeast infections when I was young, And it turned out that my husband and i were passing it back and forth. The Dr could have told me this. It wasn't until like the 6th one that she figured out what was going on. Ahhh to be young again. Sigh! we should not have been having sex while I was on the mend.

[chickwhorips]

I thought we were talking about bladder infections? Lol! What does uti stand for exactly?

urinary tract infection = uti

for yeast infections i took some yogurt with live cultures in it, put it in a plastic tampon applicator and froze it. then insterted it twice a day for a few days. got rid of the yeast infection no problem. its a bit cold though, have to warn you of that one.

[SouthernBelle]

urinary tract infection = uti

for yeast infections i took some yogurt with live cultures in it, put it in a plastic tampon applicator and froze it. then insterted it twice a day for a few days. got rid of the yeast infection no problem. its a bit cold though, have to warn you of that one.

Actually that cold sounds rather nice right now.

[jeannierides]

My cycling shorts say to dry on low temps, so, like Denise, they go in the washer and dryer with everything else. NO Woolite, though. I was told that Woolite and Tide would break down the lycra and spandex in clothing, partly due to the fact that they both are petroleum based products.

[Bike Goddess]

I wash my shorts in Tide, AND I wear Andiamo underwear. Never had any problems with yeast infections and my shorts look fine. However, since I wear a liner, I don't have to wash every time I ride.

My cut on this is the same as when we couldn't get nylon underwear without cotton in the crotch. People had all kinds of problems as synthetics don't breathe. Hence germs flourish.

[SouthernBelle]

Boy, I'm gone for a couple of hours...

I haven't noticed any deteriation (SP?) in my shorts by drying them. Another thing did occur to me. Remember those detergents that are made to wash diapers? Aren't they made to kill the beasties????

As to the yeastie beasties, I practically live on yogurt. That's why I thought I might get a pass this year. I wear cotton undies, use no added sugar.

When I got home from the office I used my medicine, and happened to have some cream with tea tree oil. This helped tremendously.

Also I wore a long skirt today and went commando. Twas very liberating. Cool too.