Dear london86, I am sorry to hear that you are suffering with this - it can be really horrible and frustrating, so we can try and help prevent you getting so many episodes.
The most important thing to do first is to get a proper diagnosis - have you had these episodes diagnosed by a doctor? I would advise you go to your GP, or a sexual health clinic. (You can find a local clinic here:
http://www.nhs.uk/service-search). Please explain to them that you are having recurrent symptoms, and that you really want to get to the bottom of what is happening, and ask to have an examination, and some tests. I would also recommend getting tested for STIs too (sexually transmitted infections), as the symptoms of thrush, BV, and STIs can all be very similar, so please get a full check-up!
Once you have a definitive diagnosis, here are some tips:
Thrush:
- Get a test for diabetes, as this can make you more prone to outbreaks of thrush.
- If you ever take antibiotics, then this can upset the balance of natural bacteria, so mention to your doctor that you are prone to thrush if you are ever prescribed antibiotics.
- Try and wear loose cotton underwear, especially in the summer heat! Avoid tight clothing, or anything that will make you sweat. Sitting in wet swimming costumes is also a no-no!
- Lastly, although vaginal thrush isn't an STI as such, it can be passed to partners during sex, so I would recommend avoiding sexual contact until the infection clears up, to avoid re-infecting each other.
BV
- Wash your genital area only with water and gentle unperfumed products. Do not wash inside, or use any vaginal deodorants etc.
- Use a gentle detergent to wash your clothes.
- If you have a coil in place for contraception, talk to your doctor about this and mention you are getting frequent episodes of BV.
Let us know if you have further questions. I hope some of this helps!