I thought I had a yeast infection, but an antifungal cream didn’t help. I’m careful about washing but I’m still itchy—and getting crankier by the minute.
From what you’re saying, you might not have a yeast infection at all—and all that scrubbing you’re doing might be making things worse. It all comes down to chemistry. Your private parts are comfortable only when they’re slightly acidic, but soap is what’s called a base in chemistry class—meaning that it’s the opposite of acid on the pH scale. So scouring yourself with soap can wipe out a lot of the acid-loving bacteria and fungi that normally keep it healthy—and let other less-friendly microbes move in. If the mix gets really off-kilter, you can end up with burning, itching, odor, or even pain with intercourse, says Miriam Graham, a physical therapist in Maryland who specializes in sexual health. A yeast infection is one way this can happen, but other kinds of overgrowth are possible—and some won’t respond to antifungal cream.
What to do? Use a pH-neutral soap (such as Cetaphil) when you wash, Miriam says—and don’t overdo it. “Focus on rinsing the area, not washing it,” she says. You want to lather up and wash around the area—then let water rinse the soap across your most private parts.
And if you have itching or burning, Miriam offers one thing to try before you reach for antifungal creams: Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and warm water. In the shower, before you turn on the water, squeeze the cotton ball to let the liquid run over your nether region, bathing it thoroughly. “Apple cider vinegar is slightly acidic, so this should feel like tingly and soothing,” Miriam says. If you do have a yeast overgrowth, this apple cider vinegar bath won’t hurt. And if you have a less stubborn kind of overgrowth, it might be able to balance things out and get rid of the itch—without a bit of messy cream.
—Miriam Graham’s Rockville, Maryland, physical therapy practice, Restore Motion, offers pelvic floor classes for women with pain, incontinence, and other common problems.
