ladies i need your help?

Question

ok is it possible to get a yeast infection if you've never had sex?

I get white chunky discharge like all the time and it smells.
i've tried summers eve i use it twice a day nothing i've tried helps does anyone know or have any advice.

p.s. im 18 and have never been to the obgyn.

Answer 1

Yes it possible to get a yeast infection if you're not sexually active as there are many causes for a yeast infection. Here's some handy info:

What Is It?
-Vaginal yeast infections, also called "Candida vaginal infections," typically are caused by the Candida albicans fungus. During a lifetime, 75 percent of all women are likely to have at least one vaginal Candida infection, and up to 45 percent have two or more. Women tend to be more likely to get to vaginal yeast infections if their bodies are under stress from poor diet, lack of sleep, illness, or when they are pregnant or taking antibiotics. Women with immune-suppressing diseases such as diabetes and HIV infection also are at increased risk.

Symptoms
The symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include:

-Vaginal itch or soreness
-Thick, white, cheeselike discharge
-"Burning" discomfort around the vaginal opening, especially if urine touches the area
-Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Diagnosis
-Your doctor will suspect an infection based on your symptoms. Your doctor will do a pelvic examination to look for inflammation and a white discharge in your vagina and around the vaginal opening. Your doctor may also take a sample of the vaginal discharge for quick examination under a microscope in the office or to send to a laboratory to test for yeast organisms, such as Candida fungi.

Expected Duration
-Proper treatment cures up to 90 percent of vaginal yeast infections within two weeks or less, often within a few days. A small number of people will have repeat infections. Usually, these will improve with repeated treatment. However, patients with unexplained, repeat episodes should be tested for diabetes or HIV — two conditions that can suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infections.

Prevention
To help prevent vaginal yeast infections, you can try the following suggestions:
-Keep the external genital area clean and dry.
-Avoid irritating soaps (including bubble bath), vaginal sprays and douches.
-Change tampons and sanitary napkins frequently.
-Wear loose cotton (rather than nylon) underwear that doesn't trap moisture.
-After swimming, change quickly into your dry clothing instead of sitting in your wet bathing suit for prolonged periods.
-Take antibiotics only when prescribed by your doctor, and never take them for longer than your doctor directs.
-If you are diabetic, try to keep tight control over your blood sugar levels.

Treatment
-Vaginal yeast infections can be treated with antifungal medicines that are inserted directly into the vagina as tablets, creams, ointments or suppositories. These medications include butoconazole (Femstat), clotrimazole (Clotrimaderm, Canesten), miconazole (Monistat, Monazole, Micozole), nystatin (several brand names), tioconazole (GyneCure) and terconazole (Terazole). A single dose of oral fluconazole (Diflucan Oral) also may be used, although this treatment is not recommended during pregnancy. Treatment of sex partners is not usually necessary, since most vaginal yeast infections are not transmitted sexually. However, if a male sex partner shows symptoms of Candida balanitis (redness, irritation and/or itching at the tip of the penis), he may need to be treated with an antifungal cream or ointment.

-Although many medications used to treat vaginal yeast infections are now available without a prescription, you should use these medications only for treating repeat infections, not for your first episode. Any woman who experiences symptoms of a vaginal infection for the first time should visit a doctor. This is important to be sure that the vaginal discharge and discomfort is caused by yeast and not sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis.

-About 5 percent of women with vaginal yeast infections develop recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), which is defined as four or more vaginal yeast infections in a one-year period. Although RVVC is more common in women who have diabetes or weakened immune systems, most women with RVVC have no underlying medical illness that would predispose them to recurrent Candida infections. Medical experts still are trying to determine the most effective way to treat RVVC. Currently, most doctors treat this problem with two weeks of oral medication, followed by up to six months of a lower maintenance dose.

When To Call a Professional
-Call your doctor whenever you have vaginal discomfort or an abnormal vaginal discharge, especially if you are pregnant.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Cottage cheese-like discharge is a symptom of a yeast infection. Douching makes it worse because it disrupts your natural balance. It's very common and nothing to worry about.

The best thing is to go to a gyno. Even a regular internist can check you out.

If you really don't want to do that, get an over-the-counter treatment for yeast infections. You'll find them in the feminine care aisle of pharmacies and supermarkets. Sometimes they are kept behind the checkout counter (especially where shoplifters are a problem) but not usually. One brand name is Monistat, but there are others, including cheaper store brands. Be sure you pick up a product that TREATS yeast infection, not one meant to prevent them.

It comes in a box that contains either little tubes of cream, or oval suppositories. They all work. Since your yeast infection sounds advanced, I'd go with one of the longer term treatments (3 or 5 day) and you might need to repeat it

Good luck! And no more douching. Let your body get back in a healthy balance and it will resist these infections.

Answer 3

Yes, you can get a yeast infection if you have recently taken antibiotics. You can treat yourself with an over the counter medicine such as Monistat. It's okay that you've never been to the obgyn since you're not sexually active, but if you were my daughter, I'd take you just to make sure you have a yeast infection and not an underlying medical condition. Maybe you should talk to your mother or an older woman who you trust to get advice. Good luck.

Answer 4

Yeast infections don't only come from having sex. Actually using the summers eve could be the culprit in your having the yeast infection so much. Don't use that anymore. Go to the doctor so he can diagnose your symptoms better but it sounds like a yeast infection. There are over the counter things that can be used to treat it or the doctor could perscribe you something.

Answer 5

Yeast infections are not a sexually related ailment. Extra moisture from sex can aggravate the condition or encourage yeast infections to occur. If you are diabetic, the extra sugar in your system promotes a greater environment for yeast infections and sometimes people diabetic or not or just more prone to these. You need to see an GYN (ask them to check your blood sugar as a precaution if you are not currently diabetic) to get set up for yearly health checks. An Over the Counter Yeast Infection medication should take care of your PROBABLE yeast infection, like I said get checked out to make sure and get established.

Answer 6

Yes you can get a yeast infection without sex. Even babies and toddlers get yeast infections. Go see your regular doc and get checked out and treated. Do not use those feminine products or douche as that can make things worse. Also since you are 18 you need a pap smear and pelvic exam so set those up that appointment too when you call for the other appointment.

Answer 7

Yeast infections are an imbalance of the good and bad bacteria inside your body. Can have them at a very young age and can be a virgin. You probably have one and any over the counter medication for them will take care of this. Also eat plenty of yogurt to keep the balance. However it is a must that you see a obgyn for many health reasons, cervical cancer can hit at a very young age and is completely curable if caught at this young age. Make appointment TODAY!!!!!

Answer 8

You can get a yeast infection even as a baby if that answers that part for you. As far as using Summers Eve or any kind of douche that actually will make things worse as it throws off the natural Ph balance of the vagina making it easier to get an infection especially if it is the scented kind.

Answer 9

You can get a yeast infection from antibiotics too, you dont have to have sex to get it. Its actually from having an overgrowth of bacteria thats already there. You can also get one from wearing thongs and sweating, wearing a wet bathing suit for too long... many things. But as an FYI I dont think that yeast infections are supposed to smell bad. Go to the drug store and get a 1 or 3 day treatment and if that doesnt work then go to the doc.

Answer 10

Yes you can have the infection even if you never had sex. Stop using feminine wash or douche, It would be much better if you go to the gynecology. If it is really a yeast or not then doctors can give you the right medication and the right antibiotic.

Answer 11

a yeast infection is simply sometimes just your ph balance not being right, easy thing to cause really. some women get them from wearing nylons or nylon underwear, cottons better. lay and soak in a hot tub with a 1/2 cup of vinegar, it corrects your ph, try it for a couple days, you'll feel better after the first one. it really works, if they're reoccuring bath like this every couple days. my doctor told me to do it. you should make sure though that there isn't something more wrong because a diabetic friend of mine gets them all the time i think from her blood sugars fluctuating. so get checked out if this continues for too long. just be sure to wear cotton panties and nothing too snug so you body can breathe, hope it goes away forever.