You Need Help: When a Yeast Infection is Cramping Your Sex Style

Welcome to You Need Help! Where you’ve got a problem and yo, we solve it. Or we at least try.


Q: Since coming out, discovering feminism, and meeting my girlfriend, I’ve worked hard to learn how to love my body and avoid being ashamed of my desires. For the last year or so, I’ve been super proud of my ladyparts and my sexuality and what my body can do, becoming a pretty outspoken sex-positive person. However, for the last 5-6 months I’ve gotten recurrent yeast infections (same day each month, on the dot) and it’s hard to feel excited and sexy when my vag is burning. I’ve tried every over-the-counter product, every home remedy, and every lifestyle and diet change, Diflucan prescription–nothing works. I’m going to the doctor soon, but in the meantime, I miss feeling confident in my body and sexuality. I would love any tips to boost my confidence and continue my sex-fiendish-ways during the week out of every month that I feel horrible, disgusting, unattractive, and yeasty. Please don’t tell me to eat plain yogurt, take vinegar baths, talk to a gyno, stuff garlic up there, have my gf brush her teeth before oral, try cranberry juice, try yoga, buy Monistat, wear only cotton, sleep naked, blow dry my vulva after showers, boil my towels, take probiotics, avoid scented soap or powder, and use condoms on my [100% silicone] toys or vegan hypoallergenic non-flavored lube – I already have tried all those things. The physical problem is something I’m consulting my doctor about after these treatment failures. This is more of an emotional, sexual and body-confidence problem. I couldn’t think of a better place to ask.

A: Hello, radiant sunflower. How are you doing today? Are you wearing loose-fitting underoos and pants? Are you managing the itch? In all seriousness though, I’ve been there. In fact, as you may have heard, a lot of us in the Autostraddle family sympathize with your situation. I had a recurring yeast issue for about a year and it happened, of course, at the very beginning of a very sexy relationship (also my current relationship). Surprisingly, to me at the time, the constant presence of yeasty beasties did not put my partner off. It did mean we had to think ahead a bit about how to keep things safe and comfy, though.

Depending on how your body is responding, you may have an itching or burning sensation, a very tender and sore vulva, atypical discharge or odor. There are lots of ways that yeast declares its presence. And yeah, when your body does things that society has deemed gross or weird, (especially when it comes to our private parts, that we are already culturally shamed about) it can snuff out your sexual self esteem.

From a very young age, we all get the cultural message that our private parts are naughty. For people with vaginas this is especially true and the message is that vaginas are dirty, that they smell bad, that they are not to be touched, and that they do uncontrollably gross stuff like bleed. So it makes sense that when your vagina actually is doing something that makes you feel unclean, gross, and out of control, those feelings of shame and dirtiness can come rushing back.

First off, yeast infections are really, really, really common. 75% of people with vaginas will have one in their lifetime. Chronic yeast infections (defined as four or more in a year) are also pretty common. You are definitely not alone. It sounds like you have done lots of Googling and doctoring and treating and are working that out for yourself, so I won’t go into treatment or causes. I’m sure you have a lot of info already.

Let’s get down to business. The business of getting down to business with an itchy vag. It is actually very safe to do so as long as you are using barrier methods to protect your partner and are engaging in sex that feels good. You deserve to feel good. There is nothing gross about you. You just may need to change how you’re doing it during the week you have an infection.

Knowing that you are safe and sanitary, so you don’t give your infection to your partner, can go a long way to relaxing into sexual pleasure. Stock up on gloves, so your partner can change them as necessary and touch you without having to run to the bathroom to use antibacterial soap in between positions. Dental dams (or non-microwaveable saran wrap) are good to have on hand. I know a lot of people are like, eww, dental dams, but dental dams are great! And if you are self-conscious about smell or texture of discharge, they create a nice, clean barrier. Put lube directly on your genitals before applying a dental dam to make it feel “wetter” through the dam. If you are using toys or your partner has a penis that they use for sex, of course keep condoms on hand. You don’t want to give your yeast infection to your partner and, if you are using barrier methods for safer sex, you won’t have to worry about it and can just enjoy the moment.

Take your time more, if you are feeling self-conscious about sex with a yeast infection. Don’t assume that sex will feel the same or include the same activities as it does when you are yeast-free. Before you get into bed, explain to your partner what is off limits or what you want to try, how you want to approach sex. Maybe you don’t want your genitals touched at all. Maybe you don’t plan to get off and just want to focus on your partner’s pleasure. Maybe there are certain things you typically do that are painful and you want to modify them. Take a lot of time warming up, getting into the mood. Sex, in general, and especially when you are having vaginal discomfort, will feel a lot better if you are wet and turned on before you get started.

So let’s talk about things to try in bed. Obviously, a yeast infection can make vaginal penetration uncomfortable or even painful. And, of course, if penetration doesn’t feel good, your partner can still engage in direct clitoral stimulation with fingers or tongue (with a dental dam). However, if you want the feeling of penetration, but the toys or things you enjoy (like fisting) are too intense with a yeast infection, try using something smaller. Your partner’s hands, covered with a glove, can feel really great. With fingers, there is a lot more control over depth, pressure, girth, etc. A gloved hand also feels really nice and slippery when lubricated and could even be soothing to your burning itch. Of course, stop if it doesn’t feel good.

If penetrative sex is too uncomfortable, physically or emotionally, you can do lots of other sexy stuff with a partner. One thing that we did when I was having recurring and painful infection issues was a sexy photo shoot with me as the subject and my partner as the photographer. I actually just came across these NSFW photos in a box this past weekend and I still love them. If you aren’t having the body confidence that you’d usually have, wearing your favorite sexy undergarments (or not) and posing for your partner can be really validating and fun. And you’ll have some sexy boudoir photos! Don’t assume that it will lead to sex. Don’t worry about sex. Just have fun together, snap some sexy pics, and see where it goes.

The same goes for role-playing or for engaging in kinky play that doesn’t involve penetrative sex. If you like a good spanking, go for it! If you’d like to do a role play where you focus on servicing your partner, that could be really fun and sexy. A sexy scene doesn’t have to end with sex and if you do want to get off, but don’t want to be touched, there are other ways.

If being touched by your partner while you have a yeast infection makes you squirmish, but you want to get off with them, you could engage in mutual masturbation, watching each other get yourselves off. Obviously, this can be totally hot. Or you could ask your partner to do what I call “assisted masturbation.” This is like mutual masturbation in that only you are touching your genitals, but your partner can touch you anywhere above the waist in ways that turn you on. They can kiss you, nibble your neck, pull your hair, whisper in your ear, spank you, dry hump you from behind, whatever helps you get turned on. The sexual focus is 100% on you. Then, if your partner wants, you can return the favor by getting them off or helping them get off.

Lastly, don’t forget about the butt. When your vulva is sensitive, it can be a great time to have fantastic anal sex. Or play with toys like safe butt plugs.

I hope this gives you some ideas to make your itchy week a little hotter and not in a burning painful way. At the end of the day, it all comes down to you deciding and believing that you are still sexy when you have a yeast infection. And if you decide that you really just don’t want to have sex that week, well that is OK, too. You’re not a bad feminist or bad queer girl for not wanting to do it all day, every day. You are a sexy, attractive, and fantastic person with a vagina that itches sometimes (which is totally normal and common) and don’t let anyone tell you any differently.


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KaeLyn

KaeLyn is a 40-year-old hard femme bisexual dino mom. You can typically find her binge-watching TV, standing somewhere with a mic or a sign in her hand, over-caffeinating herself, or just generally doing too many things at once. She lives in Upstate NY with her spouse, a baby T. rex, a scaredy cat, an elderly betta fish, and two rascally rabbits. You can buy her debut book, Girls Resist! A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution if you want to, if you feel like it, if that's a thing that interests you or whatever.

KaeLyn has written 230 articles for us.

14 Comments

  1. this is such a good answer kaelyn! When i was dealing with a similar problem it never occurred to me to try and feel sexy, my #1 priority was avoiding my partner until it went away. props to the asker for wanting more out of life than that!

    • Right! I feel like this person’s girlfriend is super lucky to have such a sex-positive and open partner!

  2. I experienced chronic yeast infections for a whole year after I started having (hetero) sex. Once I came out to myself a couple years later I realized it was my body’s way of saying, “hey dummy, this is wrong for you!”. Now, occasionally I’ll get a yeast infection after a experiencing a new sexy partner. For me, yeast infections aren’t just a physical thing either. When I start to feel the symptoms, I take a look at my emotional state and address it if it’s less than awesome–It’s my body telling me it’s time to take care of myself.

    I stopped wearing underwear after I recovered from my last one and haven’t put it back on since then! It’s really helped…plus it feels pretty freaking sexy (sexy fun-times partner agrees)!

    I use this Vitanica Yeast Arrest suppositories for treatment and prevention as well. They’ve got boric acid and shea butter. If I feel even a little bit symptomatic I’ll use it for a day or two and symptoms are gone!

    https://www.vitanica.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=22005—–YEAST-ARRE

    You can probably find them in health food stores. They’re on amazon as well.

    Good luck!

  3. Not so much for the OP, because I’m sure she and her doctor are getting this sorted and it’s not what she asked, but for anyone reading who is suffering regular chronic yeast infections, it’s worth asking about a prescription of Diflucan (fluconazole), which is a pill you take once a month. I was prescribed a six month course of this after suffering from clockwork yeasty times, and it not only prevented me from getting the yeast infections while I took it, it actually prevented them from recurring after I’d stopped taking it as well. It is so worth it, and it sounds like maybe it’s not getting prescribed to a lot of women who could really benefit. And I wanna say how impressed I am by the OP and by KaeLyn for opening my eyes to the fact that sex and yeast can coincide, because yeah, I always automatically recoiled. I love the positivity and experimental attitude and just general drive to love your body in all of its different conditions.

    • Thanks especially to the OP! I just responded to a really great and thoughtful question.

      Diflucan didn’t work for me, but I’ve heard others praise it, so I think trying all avenues is the thing to do when you have recurring or chronic yeast. :)

      I don’t know why mine stopped other than I found a way to treat the symptoms and eventually my body just decided it didn’t want to have chronic yeast anymore, I guess. It happened when I made a major dietary change and I still wonder if that was part of it. WHO KNOWS.

  4. Great article. I’m a doctor and I just wanted to make a point- thrush/yeast infections are not a sexually transmitted infection and aren’t particularly contagious unless your partner has a compromised immune system so being paranoid about barrier protection is probably unnecessary. Vaginas naturally have candida yeast strains as part of healthy flora, but they can overgrow and become problematic for various reasons like taking antibiotics and having a rundown immune system due to stress/pregnancy/periods or other causes. So you don’t really “catch” it in that way.

    • Thanks, Katherine! I really appreciate the medical advice! Especially since a lot of doctors advocate no sex during a yeast infection.

      It’s definitely not common to get a yeast infection through penile-vaginal intercourse (though possible). Also, obviously, yeast infections and thrush are highly treatable. Good advice.

      From what I understand (and correct me, please, if I’m wrong), there hasn’t been much research on whether yeast infections are easily spread vagina-to-vagina. I think putting a condom on a dildo is easier than stressing about what material is it and whether you can thoroughly boil it, etc. But yeah, it may be unnecessary to worry too much about barrier methods if you are in a monogamous relationship and know each other’s STI status. I think if it makes someone feel more comfortable, then it doesn’t hurt. And definitely for untested or non-monogamous partners because all that irritation can open up scratches and tears that might make a person more susceptible to STI’s.

      Thanks for your comment!

      • Hey KaeLyn,
        Definitely if people feel happier and more comfortable using barrier protection I’m all for it. And you’re right, I was in the mind frame of considering a monogamous relationship, if you don’t know your partner’s STI status then thrush could increase your chance of contracting other infections. That being said I think your article is great in encouraging people to relax and allow themselves to feel and act in a sexual way if they want to, and I was thinking that stress about infecting your partner might get in the way of that. So just wanted to reassure that the risk is likely quite low (although as you say, not properly studied ugh heteronormativity)

        • #ughheteronormativity is so real!

          Thanks so much for your thoughtful advice and comments. It’s much appreciated! :)

  5. Great article! One more tip: When I don’t feel comfortable having my genitals touched I just top my partner. You can have great sex without even taking your pants off when you put the focus on the other person. Of course this doesn’t work with every relationship dynamic, but I thought it’s worth mentioning.

  6. I suffered from recurrent “yeast infections” for two years… i’d advise to make sure it’s not cytolytic vaginosis or lactobacillosis (an overgrowth of the good stuff that has the same itchy symptoms, same day every month). some doctors say this doesn’t exist but when i followed the treatment (10 minute diluted baking soda sitz bath when symptomatic) i was cured of something i suffered with after monistat (found out i’m allergic to that the hard way), probiotics, 3 rx of clotrimazole, then 6 months of diflucan failed me…. so yeah get some baking soda OT Genasis style. these overgrowths are not tested for unless you ask for it and insurance may not cover special tests either so just try the sitz bath when you have symptoms since it’s cheap and you’ll know in minutes due to immediate relief! some people might have this+YI and need to do two treatments so do go to your Dr to be sure. hope this helps someone out there!

  7. This is a great article!
    I have a question. If I want to have penetration sex with burning/itching sensation, but it’s extremely painful, how do I make it less painful? It feels my vagina is being torn apart!
    I’ve been having this itching/burning nonstop for 6 months and NOTHING THE DOCTOR DOES IS WORKING. I’m all out of options and realize I will have to live with this forever, but if I have it forever I NEED to be able to have penetration sex in order to survive. I don’t like other kinds of sex play with my current partner.

    • I don’t know what your doctor has tried yet, but I would suggest a few things that could be helpful- 1) ask for a referral for a gynaecologist who is specialised in vulval disorders +/- pelvic pain 2) seek assistance from a pelvic physiotherapist 3) seek a second opinion from a primary care doctor who is interested in women’s health- sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can make a big difference 4) consider if anything may be aggravating the area- e.g. don’t use any soaps or soap alternatives to wash (water only), use hypoallergenic washing powder, cotton undies, natural lubricants e.g. olive oil. Worth a try!

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