Dear Nikol,
I keep getting yeast infections and I don’t know why. I went to my doc and she said to change my soap. I did but it didn’t seem to do anything. Going to the doctor is expensive, but I will have to go back.
For now, though, this is seriously cramping my sex life. My boyfriend of two years doesn’t have any problem with period sex and he says he doesn’t mind yeast infection sex, but before we go cheesing up the hotdog I want to be sure that I won’t give him anything. Can I greenlight the sex, or do I have to wait for those few days a month when I’m not slathering my girl parts with medicine?
– Horny but Hesitant
Dear Horny but Hesitant,
Sorry, dear, but you have to wait. There are a few reasons for this, and they’re both pretty important.
Reason one is that you can pass the yeast infection to your boyfriend. Men most often get yeast infections in their mouths (thrush) and sometimes they can get a yeast infection on their penis, which exhibits no symptoms. But I gotta tell you, a yeast infection on a penis that it symptomatic is a nasty thing.
Then there’s your own swimsuit area to think about. Sex can irritate the hell out of a yeasty vag cav. The itching and the burning are bad enough on their own, but once you penetrate and agitate you may end up in more misery than an orgasm is worth. Also, you run the risk of re-infecting yourself by passing the yeast to him. You already have enough working against you. It’s not a risk you should take.
Let’s talk for a minute about yeast infections, though. You shouldn’t have to suffer with them so frequently. Your doctor was smart to suggest you stop soaping things up. If you haven’t already started using a mild laundry detergent, do that, too. Also, make sure you wear breathable panties and if you are used to wearing tight pants, you need to knock it off. Yeast naturally happens, and if given a warm enough environment it multiplies. Another thing yeast feeds off of is sugar. If you regularly use a lube that contains glycerine, you are sugaring your vagina. Read up more about all of the possible causes of yeast infections, and just like someone doing an elimination diet to figure out what they’re allergic to, eliminate the things on the list that apply to you.
Now let’s move on to how you can get some release. I’ve already nixed penetration, so steer clear of that. Don’t let your boyfriend go down on you, either. He can stimulate you in other ways, though. You can go down on him, and he can wash his hands and use them. He should also wash them after. You can also use a vibrator, but make sure you clean it thoroughly after each use. Sex shops sell mild soaps for sex toys.
So, while you are getting to the bottom of your overly yeasty body, you can still fool around. And remember that while doctors are expensive, places like Planned Parenthood are available for you and they use a sliding scale on fees.
– Nikol
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Questions? If you have a question for Nikol, you can reach her confidentially at lovesexetc@milwaukeemagazine.com.Your anonymity will be protected.
