OB/GYN Discussion Thread

Look, I don’t want to be rude, but let’s be real—this isn't actually about medical expertise. We all know what we're really asking here: which gynecologist is the best in bed?
So please, by all means, keep those "recommendations" coming. We all know exactly what's going on.

Hey there.
Someone suggested I check out Dr. Marton at her private practice over on Hebrang Street. I’ll book an appointment and just see what happens...
best,

Hey ladies, I've been dealing with some pelvic pain. I’m feeling a bit better today, but I’m still pretty worried because I’m having this weird brown discharge—nothing like I've ever experienced before. It happened maybe two or three times today.
So, I called my doctor and explained everything, and she basically brushed it off, saying it's probably just some kind of inflammation. She told me to come in next Tuesday since they're all on vacation this weekend.🙄 😕 😕
Honestly, I'm spiraling a bit... I think I'll just head to a different clinic tomorrow!

Hey everyone!
Since I won’t be able to make it into my OB-GYN’s office for the next few days, I’m looking for some first-aid advice from you all.
I did a little digging online, and honestly, the symptoms I've been dealing with for the last couple of days match up almost perfectly with what I’m about to paste below. Unfortunately, I just can't get to a doctor right now, so please—I am begging for any tips on how to manage this discomfort until I can actually get an appointment.
Is there anything over-the-counter at a local pharmacy—maybe some kind of wash or cream, like Canesten or something similar—that could take the edge off these symptoms?
Again, I’m terrified of self-medicating without a professional opinion, so I’m just asking for recommendations for something mild, just enough to help me get through the next few days. 🙂

Here is the description I found online.
A Candida infection is also known as vaginal candidiasis or moniliasis.

Symptoms
Fungal infections present as uncomfortable itching in the genital area, accompanied by increased discharge that is white, thick, cottage cheese-like, and has a distinct sweet smell. The vulva and surrounding area may appear red, irritated, swollen, and painful. Small cracks in the mucous membrane can occur on the vulva. All of these symptoms tend to worsen if you scratch too much. Intercourse can be painful. You might also feel stinging or burning during urination because the urine irritates the inflamed tissue. A Candida infection is also referred to as vaginal candidiasis or moniliasis. link

I would really appreciate any help.
P.S. I didn't post this in the Health section for one specific reason—I scrolled through the last ten pages of that sub and couldn't find anything even remotely similar, plus people don't seem to respond as quickly over there.

Maybe head over to the pharmacy and pick up some Plimycol or Canesten cream—and I think those vaginal suppositories too, though I can't recall the exact name. You should be able to grab them over the counter without a prescription. For washing, just grab some Hygiea; they carry it at CVS.

You can pick up the full Canesten kit—cream and wipes—at any local pharmacy. They package them together now, I guess.

Maybe try some chamomile tea or even just using chamomile compresses? I have no idea why, but my aunt over at the pharmacy insisted it works better than all those boric acids and other chemical concoctions they sell. And obviously, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Nystatin cream and Geonistin vaginal suppositories.

Thanks for all the input.
But honestly? Every single time I see my doctor, all I get is: ":Everything looks perfectly fine, you’re good to go." It’s infuriating! I truly have no clue what half of you are talking about, and frankly, it scares the hell out of me to just start popping pills or applying creams when I don't even know what they are.
The whole reason I've become this... this version of myself... was just to deal with the symptoms. Whether that actual diagnosis is right? That’s for the gynecologist to decide.
You guys keep bringing up stuff like:
- Plimicol or Canesten cream
- Vaginal suppositories
- Hygiea
- The full Canesten and suppository combo
- Chamomile
- Nistatin cream
- Geonistin suppositories
Out of that entire list, the only things I actually recognize are Hygiea and chamomile. I've heard whispers about the rest, sure, but I have zero idea when or why you'd use them—and more importantly, is it even safe to use any of this if you don't have a definitive answer for what's wrong?
I actually considered doing chamomile rinses, but then I stumbled upon that advice saying: "don't wash the vulva or vagina with soaps." So now I'm stuck.
I can't get back to the clinic for a few more days. The stuff I *do* recognize is explicitly listed as something I shouldn't be using, and everything else you're suggesting—this Canesten, these suppositories?—it's all totally foreign to me. 😢

Here’s my take: you should totally drop that question over on Dr. Harni’s forum page. Seriously, go for it! I'm ready to go! Send over the posts you need me to rework. I'll keep that high-energy, punchy, and super casual vibe consistent for you. Just drop the text whenever you're set!

I wouldn't recommend using pads—honestly, with a *Candida albicans* infection, all that extra moisture just acts like fuel for the fungus to go wild, you know?

Look, Candida isn't exactly the end of the world... most people actually have it hanging out in their healthy flora already. It’s only a real headache when it turns pathogenic—basically when it starts multiplying like crazy for no reason. What usually triggers that sudden bloom can be anything from a round of antibiotics (which basically nukes all the good bacteria, leaving your mucosal lining totally defenseless) to a weakened immune system, or even something like diabetes—since glucose in the urine is like a five-star buffet for these little organisms.
That Canesten cream you mentioned? That's a fungicide, meaning it actually kills the fungus, and you can just grab it over the counter at any CVS or Walgreens without a prescription. The active ingredient is clotrimazole, if that means anything to you, and I can't really see how it would hurt you unless something else is going on. The main thing is to keep the area dry, apply a thin layer of the Canesten 2-3 times a day, and you'll probably feel like a brand new person in a week or so—maybe even sooner. The only catch is if you're dealing with something more serious, like metabolic issues or a compromised immune system, then local treatment is just a band-aid for the symptoms. As for chamomile... it might help soothe the irritation, sure, but it's not going to kill the actual fungus. Also, watch your diet: cut back on the sugar, drink plenty of water (but skip the sugary stuff, even natural juices—just temporarily, anyway), and try to eat some yogurt if you can.

I'm obviously not a doctor—don't take my word as gospel—but all this is pretty standard advice. Besides, you don't necessarily need to rush to a gynecologist for this kind of thing; just head to your primary care physician. They'll give you the real deal and a proper treatment plan if it actually turns out to be Candida.

Honestly, there isn't a woman out there who hasn't dealt with this at some point... It’s really nothing to be scared of or stressed about, and I think all those tips mentioned above are actually solid advice.

But here’s one more little suggestion from me: if you happen to be feeling extra sensitive right now, my best advice is to skip all those scented intimate washes for a few days and just stick to using clean water.
Sometimes those soaps can actually make irritation or itching a whole lot worse.

I know with some of these infections, partners might need to use cream too... because there's a chance he passed it to you

not sure if that applies to Candida...

Maybe you should try using some Canesten vaginal suppositories and cream to help clear up everything surrounding $9.75 if my intuition serves me correctly 😳

Kyle White2 said:I know that with some of these infections, the partner really ought to be using the cream too... since there's always that chance they passed it over to you in the first place.

I suppose I'm not entirely sure if that applies to Candida...

Well, yeah—it's true. Even with Candida, the partner should probably be applying the cream at the exact same time. 😳

It’s kind of like dealing with fungus, where you just end up wasting antibiotics. I guess you shouldn't mess around because you could end up being unable to have kids. Also, definitely don't keep things damp—like with rinsing and stuff—since that might actually make the fungus worse. I'm not sure if Monistat would work, and neither would Nystatin, since that's a major antibiotic.
I guess that’s why you always go straight to the gynecologist!

Austin Chavez76, what are you even talking about? Candida and yeast infections are fungi, period. Honestly, one of the biggest reasons women deal with this is because of antibiotics. You really need to dig into the details at this link here.

Austin Chavez76, seriously, what are you even talking about? 😕 Candida is a fungus—period. Taking antibiotics all the time actually *triggers* those massive yeast overgrowths because the meds wipe out all the good bacteria in your system... leaving you totally defenseless. Antibiotics don't kill fungi, they just clear the way for them to take over...

For your daily supplement—which you’ll need to swap out pretty frequently—just add about seven drops of pure lavender essential oil. You can pick some up at the local farmer's market at that little boutique shop, I think it's called Saxo, right across from the Dubrovnik Cafe. It’ll definitely help soothe the symptoms! Now, look, it isn't going to magically cure Candida if that's what you're dealing with, but lavender works wonders as a preventative measure. Think of it this way: once you're getting things sorted out with conventional medicine, let lavender be your go-to for maintenance and staying ahead of the curve. Trust me on this one; it's tried and true. My sister is actually a PharmD and a certified aromatherapist, and I've personally tested this method myself!
good luck😉

Maybe you guys don't know this since I dealt with it during my pregnancy, so I know what my doctor told me... it’s a type of thing most women have; it shows up for some and not for others, but generally, almost everyone carries Candida. We're basically born with it. Sometimes it never bothers you, sometimes it's triggered by other fungal issues, and sometimes it pops up during pregnancy because of shifts in pH and all those hormonal fluctuations that happen when you're expecting. My doctor gave me Nystatin cream, but he also mentioned putting me on an antibiotic since that's what actually kills this specific strain. He did say that for some women who have had this before—those who tried various creams or pills—antibiotics usually don't do much. But for women who haven't dealt with it before (which was me, neither before nor after), antibiotics are often the best way to wipe it out. I took the antibiotic for three days, and it cleared right up. I'm not sure how it works in other countries, but here in the States, especially when it shows up during pregnancy, doctors use antibiotics because it can be really dangerous for the baby during those first 20 weeks. There's also an oral antibiotic for common yeast infections that works faster than creams; you just swallow it, so it doesn't mess with things the way the usual stuff does. Maybe you weren't told this, but that's how it was explained to me, and I remember it vividly because it was just awful...
thank God—I haven't had anything like it since, and hopefully, I never will again.