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19-y-o battling a
recurring infection
Dear
Counsellor:
I'm
a 19-year-old female who has a serious problem
that I think requires urgent help. At age
16, I started to notice a discharge that
came with a bad odour and it itched. When
I visited a clinic they told me I had a
yeast infection which I figured I got from
having unprotected sex. I told the person
who gave it to me but he said it couldn't
have been him because men don't have it.
I told him it had to be him because nothing
was wrong with me until I had unprotected
sex with him. It was my first time going
without protection. I also did an HIV test
which came back negative.
I
was treated but somehow it didn't help.
I went to another clinic and told the doctor
about the problem. There, they didn't run
any test; they just told me it was a yeast
infection. They also said if I was taking
any other medication it could trigger it
again. They made me do another HIV test
and urine test also. Again, I was HIV negative
but I had bacteria 1 in my urine. I got
treated for that also.
I
still have the problem now, except that
the discharge no longer itches. Sometimes
it smells and there are times when it feels
watery. Could I still have a yeast infection
or could it be another infection such as
bacteria vaginosis? What do you think?
-
Concerned Teen
Dear
Friend:
I
am a mental-health doctor, not a medical
doctor, therefore, I am not the best person
to advise you. I would suggest you get a
medical doctor's opinion.
Having
said that, however, it does suggest you
could have some other infection, hence seeing
a doctor is a great idea. Yeast infections
are also known as candida. Candidiasis is
an infection caused by a group of microscopic
fungi or yeast, and there are more than
20 species. The truth is, you can develop
a yeast infection around dentures, under
the breasts, vagina and lower abdomen, nail
beds and beneath skin folds. Yeast infections
tend to become more common with increased
age but can occur at any age and are known
to cause vaginal odours.
Many
women suffering from yeast infections resort
to the remedies found in a drugstore: creams,
suppositories and other 'medical' remedies.
The problem with these is that they tend
to help for only a short time before the
yeast comes back with a vengeance. There
are, however, remedies which even some medical
doctors say are more effective in combating
this evil menace.
Try
garlic
Garlic
is a big enemy of yeast! This is one of
the most effective home remedies found for
instant relief. Inserting one garlic tab
or a garlic clove into the vagina every
few hours or as needed provides soothing
relief. If you use garlic tabs, be sure
the ingredients are natural and pure. Of
course, garlic can be taken orally, as well.
If you don't mind the smell, you can press
a whole garlic clove and drink it down quickly
with water. Many women report that this
is very effective. Do it as often as necessary.
Garlic
is one of nature's amazing 'drugs' that
has a number of other health benefits, including
lowering blood pressure and reducing bad
cholesterol. Try it and see how it works
for you but remember to go see a medical
doctor for another opinion. Hope this helps!
Counsellor
dearcounsellor@hotmail.com
Write
to Dear Counsellor Rev.Stephen-Claude Hyatt
at Youth Link, The Gleaner Company, 7 North
Street, Kingston; Fax: 922-6223; e-mail
lifestyle@gleanerjm
or dearcounsellor@hotmail.com
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