Why won’t my yeast infection go away?

[everythingthatshimmers]

I developed a yeast infection 6 months ago, according to my culture results it was a c. albicans infection. After treatment with fluconazole, my symptoms did not resolve and I was re-swabbed and found to have c. glabrata. I’ve been to two different gynecologists since that time and have tried several different treatments (terconazole, fluconazole, Nystatin, boric acid) but the infection will not go away. I’ve been told that my infection is treatment resistant and this type of yeast is a colonizer and may not completely resolve. Has anyone else experienced this? Are there any other treatments available? Should I seek a third opinion?

[specialmom]

Ugh, sorry about a chronic yeast infection. A short term one that goes away is bad enough.  I found this article that really digs deep into the subject with some ideas. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0215/p697.html  First, I will just ask this which is do you have a regular partner that you have unprotected sex with?  If so, treating them as well is important. Yeast can go back and forth.  The article states that there can be underlying reasons why someone has a vaginal ph that makes yeast overgrowth happen so frequently.  It's a big list and you should look through.  Managing these gives you the best chance of being yeast free eventually.  Ultimately, some women had to take long term anti fungal medication to break the pattern.  If you don't trust your doctors, then a third opinion would make sense but it is hard sometimes just starting over.  Going through it all again.  If you like either you have seen, you could also be that squeaky wheel that keeps coming back for help.  To not be ignored.  What has been their suggestion to deal with this if they think it is colonizing yeast?  

I'd get a complete work up of your hormones because if these are out of balance, it can affect things. Are you on birth control which can also affect things?

[everythingthatshimmers]

Thank you for your response! I read the article you linked and will ask my doctor about one of the topical treatments mentioned, I think I’ve tried the other things that were mentioned for the treatment-resistant infection that I have.

I should mention that this is the first and only yeast infection I’ve ever had. I don’t consider it recurrent because it doesn’t seem as if my symptoms have ever completely gone away and I haven’t had any clear cultures since it started. I’m now being swabbed every 4 wks. Both fortunately and unfortunately, I have no visible external signs of infection which is wonderful except that I’ve had a hard time convincing my doctors that there is still indeed a problem. They’re convinced it’s resolved until the culture results come back. There are times when I believe this has delayed treatment. I have a long-term partner and have been told that he does not need to see his doctor since yeast isn’t typically sexually-transmitted. I will ask about this again though, thank you for that input.

I am not on birth control. I’ve been told by multiple doctors there’s no reason to check my hormones because I have no signs of an imbalance although I do have persistent acne (in my 30s).

The only thing I’ve been told is that if it’s colonizing yeast we’ll focus on keeping the colony count low and managing symptoms. I’m on long-term boric acid capsules now, I don’t know what or if there are any other options.