Recurring yeast infections

Hello I am new to Mayo Clinic Connect and to this support group. Right now I am also dealing with a recurring vaginal yeast infection. Off and on last year (2025) I would feel itchiness and develop redness in my groin area, I thought it was just a rash possibly due to sweat or irritation since I had a physically demanding and stressful job. I would just use hydrocortisone for the itchiness and rash which would come and go which could have already been a sign of a potential yeast infection.

Prior to getting the yeast infection, I traveled out of the country last year in 2025 and about 3-4 weeks later, I became very ill from my stomach and ended up testing positive for campylobacter bacteria. As a result, I was put on antibiotics for a week for the bacteria. After that, I felt fine for a little while, then the itching and rash returned. I was given ointments like hydrocortisone, but was not effective.

In December 2025, I continued to experience itchiness and redness in my groin area and went to see my primary doctor who took a vaginal swab to test for yeast. A couple days later, tested positive for Candida. At the same time, I started having digestive issues and constipation. I was prescribed one pill of Diflucan 150 mg which worked for 7-9 days but the yeast came back. I also tried Kenalog and antifungal cream Clotrimazole which work temporarily for the itchiness and rash but as soon I end the treatment, the itchiness returns along with off and on rash.

Come January 2026, I get tested again and test positive for Candida. I was prescribed Diflucan once again which did not do anything. Followed up with doctor, then was prescribed another round of Diflucan, still nothing. Got referred to OBGYN and saw an NP who took another swap which tested positive for Candida. Took another dose of Diflucan, no results. Last month (February) went back to OBGYN and saw a doctor who took sample to be sent to lab to grow out bacteria and find out which specific yeast I had for proper treatment and medicine.

Took 2 weeks to find out results and I tested positive for 2 yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida dubliniesis. OB said both yeasts are sensitive to Diflucan and was prescribed 3 doses of Diflucan for 3 days and no effect. This month (March) went back to OBGYN to get tested again and I remain positive for Candida. I have already taken 6 doses of Diflucan and I am feeling very frustrated, angry, hopeless, depressed, and exhausted. It has been over 3 months dealing with this. OB prescribed Diflucan again, this time instructing to take 3 doses for 3 days then 1 dose once a week for 6 months. I have not started this treatment because I am concerned about taking more of this medication for a prolonged time since it has not been working and it is hard on the liver. I want to discuss with OB if this treatment plan is even going to work or if this treatment has worked for other patients.

On top of the yeast, I have been having digestive issues and constipation which I think is no coincidence since these issues began around the same time. Recently had consult with GI and based off my symptoms, NP suspects potential of IBS. I did not have any digestive issues or issues with my bowels prior to getting the yeast infection. And so far the labs that have been performed are all normal.

Overall, I have tried almost everything from modifying my diet, showering with just water for vaginal area, ointments/creams, Diflucan, staying hydrated, exercise, vitamins, probiotics (which I continue to take), cotton underwear, to going commando for bedtime. My mental health recently has just plummeted and I am trying to live my normal life and stay afloat which has been very difficult. I don't want this to continue to consume my personal life.

@mariec260 I've been in a similar situation. Have you tried the Candida Diet strictly for a few months? How old are you? Do you need to be on vaginal estrogen? Low estrogen also leads to yeast infections and general vaginal itchiness.

After being on a Z pak for just a week in 2011, and despite taking Diflucan, I had oral thrush for a year. A gastroenterologist was useless. I found a functional medicine doctor who prescribed oral Nystatin tablets for eight weeks with the Candida Diet and I was cured.

I'm in a similar situation to you and will be rechecked this week to see if yeast is gone.

I feel for you. It's such a painful and uncomfortable situation.

Hello I am new to Mayo Clinic Connect and to this support group. Right now I am also dealing with a recurring vaginal yeast infection. Off and on last year (2025) I would feel itchiness and develop redness in my groin area, I thought it was just a rash possibly due to sweat or irritation since I had a physically demanding and stressful job. I would just use hydrocortisone for the itchiness and rash which would come and go which could have already been a sign of a potential yeast infection.

Prior to getting the yeast infection, I traveled out of the country last year in 2025 and about 3-4 weeks later, I became very ill from my stomach and ended up testing positive for campylobacter bacteria. As a result, I was put on antibiotics for a week for the bacteria. After that, I felt fine for a little while, then the itching and rash returned. I was given ointments like hydrocortisone, but was not effective.

In December 2025, I continued to experience itchiness and redness in my groin area and went to see my primary doctor who took a vaginal swab to test for yeast. A couple days later, tested positive for Candida. At the same time, I started having digestive issues and constipation. I was prescribed one pill of Diflucan 150 mg which worked for 7-9 days but the yeast came back. I also tried Kenalog and antifungal cream Clotrimazole which work temporarily for the itchiness and rash but as soon I end the treatment, the itchiness returns along with off and on rash.

Come January 2026, I get tested again and test positive for Candida. I was prescribed Diflucan once again which did not do anything. Followed up with doctor, then was prescribed another round of Diflucan, still nothing. Got referred to OBGYN and saw an NP who took another swap which tested positive for Candida. Took another dose of Diflucan, no results. Last month (February) went back to OBGYN and saw a doctor who took sample to be sent to lab to grow out bacteria and find out which specific yeast I had for proper treatment and medicine.

Took 2 weeks to find out results and I tested positive for 2 yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida dubliniesis. OB said both yeasts are sensitive to Diflucan and was prescribed 3 doses of Diflucan for 3 days and no effect. This month (March) went back to OBGYN to get tested again and I remain positive for Candida. I have already taken 6 doses of Diflucan and I am feeling very frustrated, angry, hopeless, depressed, and exhausted. It has been over 3 months dealing with this. OB prescribed Diflucan again, this time instructing to take 3 doses for 3 days then 1 dose once a week for 6 months. I have not started this treatment because I am concerned about taking more of this medication for a prolonged time since it has not been working and it is hard on the liver. I want to discuss with OB if this treatment plan is even going to work or if this treatment has worked for other patients.

On top of the yeast, I have been having digestive issues and constipation which I think is no coincidence since these issues began around the same time. Recently had consult with GI and based off my symptoms, NP suspects potential of IBS. I did not have any digestive issues or issues with my bowels prior to getting the yeast infection. And so far the labs that have been performed are all normal.

Overall, I have tried almost everything from modifying my diet, showering with just water for vaginal area, ointments/creams, Diflucan, staying hydrated, exercise, vitamins, probiotics (which I continue to take), cotton underwear, to going commando for bedtime. My mental health recently has just plummeted and I am trying to live my normal life and stay afloat which has been very difficult. I don't want this to continue to consume my personal life.

@blueskies1530 I am sorry to hear that you are also dealing with this. I have not tried the Candida Diet yet. I have an appointment this week for a consultation with a nutritionist. I am 28 years old. How old are you? How long have you been dealing with this issue?

What kind of tests did the gastroenterologist do? Were you tested for SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and/or SIFO (Small intestinal fungal overgrowth)?

Since I am also experiencing GI issues I was advised to stay away from or avoid certain foods. I am not sure if I mentioned it or not in my previous comment, but when I first tested positive for Candida and started with digestive issues for the first time, I was nauseous, had very little to no appetite (had to force myself to eat), had fatigue, weakness, abdominal & pelvic pain, and vaginal itchiness. In the past 3 months I lost about 17-20 pounds which is why I am concerned about changing to an even stricter diet. My appetite has improved but is still not fully back to normal.

I did a series of tests/procedures; physically & internally everything was normal. Primary doctor first suspected potentially GERD or IBS. Had consultation with GI and advised to take pepcid before breakfast and dinner, avoid certain foods, and try eating 5-6 small meals instead of 3 large meals. Still haven't been diagnosed or given any answers.

Here's a summary:
-I was diagnosed with IBS-C at 18. I omitted foods and improved.
-I was treated for Intestinal Candidiasis in my 30s by a functional med doc. Gastro doc was useless. I took Nystatin tablets and did the Candida Diet for eight weeks. I felt like a newborn babe. I had become overweight due to increased hunger, had frequent oral thrush, insomnia and was itchy all over but miraculously my vagina was fine the whole time. All of this was caused by a Z Pack I took a year earlier. I hadn't had antibiotics in ten years until that Z Pack.
-Fast forward to 2025 and I undergo a total hysterectomy due to pain and non-stop bleeding. Hormones get depleted and have to be replenished. In Jan, I had a reaction to a vaginal hormone. Tried to self-treat but only made it worse. Then shortly thereafter needed two very minor surgeries. I should've held off on the antibiotics but I took them as a prophylactic. Then I developed C Diff because the antibiotic I took is the #1 med to cause it. I didn't know that. I had unbelievable bouts of diarrhea up until it was non-stop then GP called in med to stop what he assumed must be c diff. I'm one week out from finishing that antibiotic and after all that, about eight weeks, have been left with a vagina that can't handle anything with alcohol in it. It's a pain because I need consistent hormonal moisture.
-I'm going this week for -pelvic floor PT. I hope my PT can relax my vagina and get my bowels going again.
-For moisture without any alcohol, there are Key E vitamin e vaginal suppositories on Amazon. They've never triggered a yeast infection for me. No sugars, no alcohol in them.
-After my hysterectomy my obgyn said my sigmoid colon was one of the largest he'd seen and I should get that checked out. But a patient has to recover from surgery first. And now I have to be about eight weeks out from finishing C Diff medicine and made need my stools rechecked before I can have a colonoscopy.

You're too young to be dealing with chronic vaginal symptoms. I'm not familiar with SIBO.

@mariec260 , I can relate as I had recurring yeast infections for years . In retrospect, I can now recount what helped and what I think induced them.

Have you had your blood sugar checked? Either multiple random finger sticks or an A1c? High blood sugar can cause yeast infections. Once I got my blood sugar in good control, they left. I haven’t had one in years.

Also, if you are sexually active, a partner can have it and not realize it. See if they can be treated.

I took Diflucan at times, but I actually, found Terazol cream the most effective treatment. It’s still by prescription.

I would also explore probiotics to take orally.