Quote Originally Posted by Nanci
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