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How Can I Get Rid of a Yeast Infection?

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
I have had a yeast infection throughout my entire pregnancy. My doctor has tested me for STD's and all are negative. He has prescribed metro gel to me. I have used this every few months. I am now on my 32 week and am using this prescription every other week.

Is there something stronger I can use or something I can change or do differently to help?

ANSWER

Metrogel will not cure a yeast infection; it's for a bacterial infection and can actually cause a yeast infection. Have you tried Diflucan™ (the yeast pill)?

There are also over the counter yeast preparations and a heavy duty vaginal cream (Terazol) that might be appropriate. If all these fail, borax washes help some women and the yeast can be cultured to see what will kill it.

Other things you can do for yourself include:

  • Eliminating sugars as much as possible (no soda or juices)
  • Only two fruits and two dairies per day
  • Eating more vegetables and proteins

Good luck!

-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.

Comments

UGH

Submitted by Adelvise on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 11:46.

Yeast infections are the worst! I got one with both my pregnancy's. My doctor told me it was because my hormones were changing so I was more susceptible to them.

For sure cut back on sugars. That seems to help. I used an over the counter medication too. It worked great. My nurse said to get one that was a 3 day one or greater. Don't use the 1 day kind. :)

I went to a natural

Submitted by smandryk on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 09:27.

I went to a natural practitioner. She mentioned that in the shower avoid washing with soaps as they encourage yeast growth. Try rinsing off in the shower with Vineger to help restore the PH of the area and plain yogurt with no sugar added as mentioned above.

I have suffered from yeast

Submitted by holmes101901 on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 18:29.

I have suffered from yeast infections since I was a young girl.

In recent years I started using acidophilus pills from the natural/holistic pharmacy (not the same as buying the pills at say...Safeway). There are many ways to use them. You can ingest them (help keep your intestines under control), you can break the pill and use the powder either internally or externally (or both). I have used them all these ways and this is the best way for me to rid myself of a yeast infection. The pills are expensive but last for a long time if kept refrigerated. If I even feel a slight yeast infection coming on I start taking the pills to ward it off before it gets out of hand.

Also, the last comment mentioned drying the vaginal area completely after showering, I have found the best way to do so is using a hairdryer, it helps immensely. One last thing, if you can't use Monistat (I can't very often, it burns) you can try using a natural/organic plain yogurt with active cultures to help with the external itching.

Hope you feel better soon!

Hi, I had a yeast infection a

Submitted by teddybear88 on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 20:18.

Hi, I had a yeast infection a couple of weeks after I found out I was pregnant. They told me to go get an over the counter medication.

I got Monistat 3 day internal and external cream, but before I put them on, I took a bath with Aveeno Oatmeal bath. It helped me after that.

Plus you want to make sure you wipe your vaginal area quickly after a shower and bath, rather you have an infection or not. Moisture is one of the causes of the infection. Also wipe yourself dry after urinating too. When using the Monistat, only put the tube halfway in and not all the way. I hope this will help you.

Cynthia Flynn

Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.