A question about silicone based lubes and...

[Cirrus]

(not for the faint of heart) yeast infections.

That's right guys and girls...I got another one. My current partner is the ONLY one I've had this problem with, but he's also the only consistant partner I've had while on the Pill (I had one other, but it was only about 5 encounters in the span of about 10 days).

I talked to my Nurse Practitioner, and sparing the gory details, she suspects it's lack of lubrication due to being on the Pill. Since going off of it isn't really an option...I'm on it for medical reasons, and contraception is just a nice side effect, we need to get a little creative here.

We've used...Eros? I think it's called, for anal play as someone suggested in my Fear of Anal thread (thanks...works great!!!) Anyway, it's one of the silicone based lubricants. But we're wondering, is it safe for vaginal intercourse? Of course there's a chance that I may be allergic to it, but we want to give it a go. The bottle says "for external use only" or some happy crappy, but it's freakin' LUBE for god's sake. What on earth would you need to lubricate externally?

If anyone has tried it, can you advise? And did it work better than say, KY or Astroglide (neither of which has prevented problems for us)?

 

[NemoAlia]

I use, when necessary, I.D. Millennium. It's another silicone-based lube -- one that is safe to use vaginally, unless you're allergic. It definitely works better than KY or Astroglide. (That is to say, it lasts longer and it's waterproof.) Moreover, it seems to me that there's more sensation, since it's not as thick as KY is between you and your partner.

 

[NemoAlia]

Oh... and about the yeast infections: Since you've only recently begun playing around with anal sex (I'm assuming), there's a possibility the anal play might be the thing causing the yeast infections. Is there a chance that your vagina is coming into contact with something (finger, penis, toy, rubber ducky... whatever) that has been in your ass? That's a surefire way of developing a yeast infection, at least for me. Soap and water usually lower the risk, though, as long as you wash before the vaginal play.

 

[Cirrus]

Yeah, but if it's waterproof, how do you clean it off of yourself?

 

[Cirrus]

Oh... and about the yeast infections: Since you've only recently begun playing around with anal sex (I'm assuming), there's a possibility the anal play might be the thing causing the yeast infections. Is there a chance that your vagina is coming into contact with something (finger, penis, toy, rubber ducky... whatever) that has been in your ass? That's a surefire way of developing a yeast infection, at least for me. Soap and water usually lower the risk, though, as long as you wash before the vaginal play.

Yes, I'm new to anal, but we've had this problem before we started any kind of anal play. Actually we've improved. I used to get BV on top of a yeast infection, but since we've eliminated anti-bacterial soap in the pre-coital courtesy wash, it's only yeast now.

Dear lord has it come to the point where I'm relieved to have a yeast infection?

 

[NemoAlia]

Soap, water, and lots of rubbing -- err, scrubbing. But careful: it can make the tub slippery.

 

[Kitte]

I use eros for women everywhere!!! I love the stuff, when wet Platinum stopped providing my sex shop with full size bottles I started buying the eros and I use it all the time for vaginal and anal sex. For the yeastys try eating more yogurt and possibly an L. Acidophilous supplement.

 

[NemoAlia]

Have you, um, thought about skipping the "pre-coital courtesy wash," at least for yourself? While it's important that his penis is clean (for obvious reasons, not the least of which is your urinary tract), you might be washing away some of your much-needed moisture that no artificial lubricant can replace.

 

[Cirrus]

I usually don't wash unless it's a "less than opportune" time of the month or I've been working out/sweating. Even when I do wash, it's a Summer's Eve feminine wipe.

Oh...and WHAT natural moisture? I have none. Nada. Zip. Actually, He was the one to discover the most recent infection. You know that telltale discharge you're supposed to get? Well, I had it, but I don't even have the moisture to wash it out so I could see it and know I had an infection...it just stayed inside.

Luckily it was only his hand that found it and we hadn't really done anything yet. Anything else would have just been terrible.

 

[NemoAlia]

Hmmm... are you drinking enough water?

P.S. Are you having enough naughty thoughts?

 

[Rubyfruit]

I'm with Nemo on this one. ID is my favorite lube. I have the large, pump bottle of it.

 

[cymbidia]

Dear lord has it come to the point where I'm relieved to have a yeast infection?

I'm really really sorry, Cirrus, but i've come back to this thread three or four times just to read this line again.

It cracks me up every time and sure puts my fretting about my three period-induced zits into perspective!

 

[NemoAlia]

For the yeastys try eating more yogurt and possibly an L. Acidophilous supplement.

Or maybe you could get your partner to multi-task: eat his midnight yogurt snack while performing oral sex.

(To those who are better informed than I am: Would this actually work?)

 

[P. B. Walker]

I'm with Nemo on this one. ID is my favorite lube. I have the large, pump bottle of it.

High five!! lol... I use the same type and bottle... gotta love that pump ... haha.

PBW

 

[Rubyfruit]

I fucking love that pump!

How much better can it get than one-handed lube dispensing?

 

[Cirrus]

cym, not to worry. It is kind of amusing, once I read it again.

Just out of curiosity, has anyone else ever gotten a frequent-sex-induced yeast infection, or am I just weird?

 

[P. B. Walker]

I fucking love that pump!

How much better can it get than one-handed lube dispensing?

haha... especially since when I use lube I *always* have one hand busy already... if ya know what I mean.


I don't think you are weird at all Cirrus. I have heard about other women getting infections from all sorts of things, ranging from the lube, to the condom, to the cologne he was wearing, and even to the toothpaste he used before he went down on her (that one shocked me). Just remember the female *area* down there is in a delicate balance and there are a few things that can just totally throw it out of whack.

Hope you figure it out... Now back to your regular fucking... <winks>

PBW

 

[lost]

Or maybe you could get your partner to multi-task: eat his midnight yogurt snack while performing oral sex.

(To those who are better informed than I am: Would this actually work?)

Yes a yougart insert is an "natural" remedy for yeast infections.

Cirrus
It sounds like you body is "out of whack" adding L. Acidophilous is a great idea. You may want to heak it out with a local natropath.

 

[morninggirl5]

I usually don't wash unless it's a "less than opportune" time of the month or I've been working out/sweating. Even when I do wash, it's a Summer's Eve feminine wipe.

Oh...and WHAT natural moisture? I have none. Nada. Zip. Actually, He was the one to discover the most recent infection. You know that telltale discharge you're supposed to get? Well, I had it, but I don't even have the moisture to wash it out so I could see it and know I had an infection...it just stayed inside.

Luckily it was only his hand that found it and we hadn't really done anything yet. Anything else would have just been terrible.

When i had a problem with frequent yeast infections, i was advised to only wash with ivory soap and warm water. The gyn said that anything else could exacerbate the yeast infection problem.

 

[boz]

A rather personal question, Cirrus, but how old are you?

The reason that I ask is that lack of lubrication often accompanies pre-menopausal changes. Elsewhere I remember Replens being recommended for general moisture improvement for the pre-menopausal situation; it might help you even if it's only the pill that's causing the lack of moisture.

And, yeast infections are supposedly very easy to catch from anything, and easy to re-catch as well. The re-catching aspect often means taking showers instead of baths (because the infection can survive in the bathtub and return). You mention a washcloth; to help avoid the retuning yeast infection, that cloth should be unused and not having been used since last laundry.