I have had a yeast infection consistently for just over a year now. I have seen quite a few doctors for it. I have been prescribed Lotrisone cream, Terazol suppositories and Diflucan tablets. I have been tested for all STDs (including HIV) and diabetes, and all tests were fine. However, I am still plagued with this yeast infection. I asked my doctor if it was possible that my boyfriend and I could be passing it back and forth. He has had the occasional "jock itch," but no other symptoms. The doctor said that it wasn't likely, and she didn't offer any solutions. I am at the end of my rope! Can you offer some advice?

Anna

While yeast infections are not sexually transmitted diseases, they sometimes may be passed back and forth between partners. Also, not too long ago, there was a very interesting report in the medical literature about women who had persistent, difficult-to-treat yeast infections -- turns out they or their husbands were bakers and they were infected with the same yeast strains used in making bread rise!

If your partner has symptoms of a yeast infection as well, I do recommend treating you both at the same time. He can contact his doctor for a prescription, but in general, either topical over-the-counter creams or a course of Diflucan should be effective. You should abstain from intercourse until both of you have completed treatment. If it has not been done already, I would suggest you have specific yeast cultures performed -- your infections may not be yeast at all, or they may be from a strain of yeast that is not sensitive to the usual treatments. If symptoms persist, especially if they are predominantly external, I also recommend a biopsy to look for other skin conditions that could cause similar symptoms.

A treatment that may be effective (this is an old one that is starting to find favor again) is the use of gentian violet; this blue dye is painted on the vagina once a week for four weeks. Boric acid capsules may also be effective when placed in the vagina twice a day. Eating eight ounces of yogurt with active cultures or taking Lactobacillus acidophilus daily has also been shown to help in some studies. If symptoms occur right around the menstrual period, then taking Diflucan for one to three days every month may stave off a full-blown infection. You should discuss these treatment options with your doctor. He/she may have some other helpful suggestions.

If you continue to have problems, you may want to seek referral to a special vaginitis clinic. These are associated with a few major medical centers throughout the country and are geared to diagnosis and treatment of difficult cases; you can ask your gynecologist for a referral to one in your area.