My Mikey rocks!
He's the type of husband who is unafraid to tackle the sanitary aisle of the supermarket and is not fazed by anything vagina-related (I guess he has to be, being married to me).
I’ve recently taken several courses of antibiotics, and when I woke at 3am this morning with itching, scratching and burning, I immediately knew it was thrush.
Icky subject, I know. But it's really common and it will probably affect all of us at some stage, men included*.
When I woke Mikey to tell him my vagina was on fire (and I knew we were out of non-fruity yoghurt), I asked if he would go to the pharmacy for me.
"Sure baby, of course. First thing in the morning."
And with that, he rolled over, went straight back to sleep and started snoring. I've forgiven him for the snoring as he is buying me lady treatments and he's not embarrassed to do so.
Yes, my husband truly is a special man.
Mikey described his lady-product hunt as “uncomfortable,” but he survived and lives to tell the tale. I asked him to get me one of each product, so I could make an informed decision at home. The pharmacy assistant thought it was complete overkill, but Mikey was under strict instruction, and he knows not to mess with my lady bits.
Now that the treatment is working its magic and my vagina has stepped away from the spotlight, I thought it timely to remind us all how to avoid vaginal thrush in the future. And the list goes something like this:
- Wear cotton briefs and avoid wearing tight-fitting panty hose and synthetic underwear.
- Wipe your bottom from front to back after going to the toilet. This will prevent the spread of Candida albicans from the anus to the vagina.
- Avoid using perfumed soap to wash the genital area.
- Avoid using bath additives, douches or vaginal deodorants in the genital area.
- Avoid using perfumed toilet papers and menstrual products.
- Wash regularly but do not wash and dry yourself harshly.
- Sugar (including fructose) feeds Candida, so you should avoid sugary foods, fresh fruit and alcohol.
- Consider changing your clothes-washing detergent and don’t use fabric softeners.
So tell me, would your partner go to the pharmacy and fetch your lady products for you? Or is this totally out of the question?
Until next time, love your lady bits! SJx
*Thrush treatment for women is stored behind the counter, so there's no avoiding the chat with the pharmacist. Men, however, can use the anti-fungal cream off the shelf (usually in the foot treatment department). It's labeled as treating tinea, but it can also be used on the penis and surrounding areas. Always check with your GP if unsure.
