Has anyone else had or know about this embarrassing problem?

[yellowmarie]

This is somewhat embarrassing but i wonder if anyone can help/advise or has had similar experiences? i have LUPUS SLE and PA and am on Biologics, Hydrocloxechloriquine (?) and Leflunamide. On the rare occasions my husband and i have sexual intercourse he gets terrible burning and pain for several days/weeks later and ends up on really strong anti-biotics. I know this is embarrassing but if anyone knows anything about why and what i could do to prevent it that would be amazing... sorry!

[PMRpro]

You are on a load of immunisuppressives and that often leads to vaginal thrush developing - it is unusual but possible for you to have thrush without any obvious symptoms. Or maybe bacterial vaginitis - also sometimes without symptoms. It is basically due to your microbiome being totally upset (the good bacteria that live in your body and keep it healthy).

bupa.co.uk/health-informati...

webmd.com/women/guide/what-...

Obviously men don't get BV - but they can develop urethritis

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

Whatever it is your partner is developing it is likely he is getting reinfected because you aren't being treated at the same time or not effectively. You probably both need swabs for cultures to identify what is causing it, both of you need to be treated at the same time to stop you reinfecting each other.

[yellowmarie in reply to PMRpro]

thank you so much, that makes total sense...

[svfarmer]

Just wondering if your husband wears a condom it may help you both out , worth a try x

[Florence91]

What makes you think this is your problem!? He needs to talk to his GP. Good luck

[harmony2]

ha ha! Florence91 has a point that it could be something else! however, if it happens every time you have sex ... Well, could be connected as well.PMRpro had a good reply in my view. Let me add my experience, which I think supports her points: I get a yeast infection monthly. With my Sjogren's Syndrome my vagina is horribly dry and so my normal flora is not what it should be to keep the balance correct. Also worth mentioning is that the yeast over-growth symptoms are not the same as years ago when I had normal vaginal fluids; i.e., no odour and no discharge; i.e., it is not as obvious but I do get burning with friction (wiping sometimes, even washing externally, but mostly sex). I did have an experience where my husband got a yeast infection (as diagnosed by GP) and had to treat himself with Canestan cream like I do.

I'm sad that I need it but I literally have a standing order for Canestan (which I just had to request month after month for a very long time until a blessing happened and it showed up on my repeat list. Yay.) To catch it when it begins (before it gets really out of control and I would need a Canestan pessary) I am more tuned in with the subtle symptoms now so I immediately start treating myself with the Canestan cream (2%) works best for me.

Also I'm on HRT and I can identify the timing it usually happens each month, though there can be other times I feel it a little. For me friction makes it much worse so better for both of us to avoid intercourse during that time.

Options: svfarmer 's condom idea is good. Other ways of enjoying each other are options when the symptoms are present. (I/we don't really want to miss those rare times I feel up to love making and being close that way.

Additional Note: I have also learned HRT increases the risk of vaginal yeast infection. I forgot the rational given but some change in the biochemistry fosters growth.