in hiv, do frequent yeast infections usually occur in the beginning of the disease process or during the late stages? also what are the characteristics of hiv-related yeast infections.

I've seen someone post on here before saying that yeast infections dont occur til later in the disease.

Yeast infections can occur to anyone, with or without HIV. They can occur at anytime, but generally occur because the HIV has attacked your body, making it hard for your body to regulate the bacteria,making it easier for yeast to grow. From my understanding, yeast infections are often difficult to treat and re-occur often in HIV infected women.

yeast infections of the mouth and vagina are one of the most common problems seen in hiv infected individuals. This will not happen right after exposure of course. It just depends on how long it takes your immune system to get worn down by the virus. If you are infected it is very likely problems with thrush and yeast will eventually occur even before other hiv related complications appear. But then again the general population has problems with yeast so I wouldnt worry unless that yeats infection doesn't go away with treatment or is extremely aggressive.

Well this is freaking me out because I had a Y.I that has been VERY persistant for the past three months. I also tested negative at three months past possible exposure. I got tested again 5 months and I am supposed to get the results in a few days. Don't understand why I am having this problem with the Y.I's but I tested negative while I was having this problems, so wouldn't that mean NO hiv? Very scared to get my results, couldn't handle a positive after a negative.

First of all, a yeast infection is NOT a primary symptom. What I mean is, a persistant yeast infection is NOT one of the ARS symptoms, and when it DOES occur in HIV, it is usually later in the infection, as your immune system is unable to keep a healthy balance cause it is damaged by the disease.


As for your test, i dont know what your risk was, or even if there was one. But a 3 month test is 95% conclusive. Most people shoe positive by 6 weeks. Its HIGHLEY unlikley that you would test positve now, but IF you had a high risk for exposure, it is recommended you test again.

As for the yeast infection, they are VERY VERY common, and some womens bodies have trouble restoring the balance. The yeast infection doesnt have anything to do with your test. Its probably nothing. Keep us updated on your test. And, just curious, what was your exposure?



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Good Luck and Be Safe

My risk was unprotected vaginal sex. About 6 x's. Very Stupid, but it is done now. I tested negative using the new ora-quick rapid test, it is FDA approved, so I figure it's correct, and it was 13 weeks past exposure. I am freaking out though because this yeast infection will not go away. I have taken medicine for it and still it's here and I can't help thinking that my test was wrong and that they screwed up or something. I do not have any other reason for the yeast- no antibiotics, tight clothes, not diabetic, and all those other possible "causes". They said I will get the results in a few days.

"My risk was unprotected vaginal sex. About 6 x's. Very Stupid, but it is done now. I tested negative using the new ora-quick rapid test, it is FDA approved, so I figure it's correct, and it was 13 weeks past exposure."

I dont have much info on this test, but FDA approved is a good thing. I dont know its rate of false positives, or negatives. you did the right thing by waiting 13 weeks.

"I am freaking out though because this yeast infection will not go away. I have taken medicine for it and still it's here and I can't help thinking that my test was wrong and that they screwed up or something."

Its unlikley they would screw it up. Have you been to a Dr. for the infection? There are a few diffrent things that can cause yeast infection like symptoms. So if it hasnt been diagnosed yet, you should see a Dr.

"I do not have any other reason for the yeast- no antibiotics, tight clothes, not diabetic, and all those other possible "causes". They said I will get the results in a few"

Men can carry yeast on their penises. Kind of weird, but its true. Maybe your body is reacting to that. Maybe it threw off the balance and this is how it came about. Something else to consider would be other STDs. Have you been tested for those?

Keep us posted on your results, dont let fear take hold! A 13 week negative is VERY reassuring!

Thank you Maybe helpful. It has been tested (cultured) and no yeast was found, but this was at the time it was tested and I was already on a difflucan pill. I am thinking that maybe the difflucan subsided it and therefore there was not enough to produce a positive yeast result. Then it turns up positive for chalmydia, so I think, good this is why it is not going away. ( although all the symptoms point towards yeast ). So I take zithromax, and nothing happens. Still feel the same, like it is yeast. So they did another culture along with the hiv test and that is what I am waiting on. Will let you know... I think.

Please do not worry this kind of yeast infection (if thats what it is) would not occur at five months after exposure. Please let us know how your test goes.

Hmmm... you didn't mention if you were on birth control pills. I use to get yeast infections all the time and that was the cause of it. They also say stress can cause a yeast infection. I don't want to scare you on this one but I heard that MANY people confuse a herpes infection for YI. I would get that checked out right away

yeast infections happen all the time for a variety of reasons, the vast majority of which don't involve hiv or a sexually transmitted disease. it is very possible that a non-specific microbe of some sort could be passed during sex (especially if it frequent), that the increase in vaginal fluids affected the culture of the vagina, etc...also maybe you are eating enough yogurt. did you take any antibiotics lately? so many causes, too many to think of.

I am actually on ortho cyclen and last year i was on ortho tri cyclen. Everytime I get on the pill I get reccurrent yeast infection. However, the literature says that yeast infections from the pills are unlikely because of the low dosages these days. That is why i was freaked out about hiv. I actually have YI now and I have been on Ortho for 2 months now.

I had posted basically the same question some time ago. I have had a YI for 3 months now. It seems to go away with treatment but comes back the week before my period. I had unprotected sex 1 time 2 mnths before first outbreak with yeast. Dr. did HIV test which was negative. When YI came back I saw another dr. Said I had cervisitis and I was recently tested for chlam. (don't have results yet) Gave me diflucan and doxycyclin for infection. Seems to be improving. I also thought that YI wouldn't be sign of HIV so early on. But I can't help but think my HIV test was done too soon and was false neg. because why else wouldn't YI go away. But if you actually had HIV wouldn't you have many other symptoms besides YI? If your body can't fight off yeast wouldn't it be unable to fight off common cold, stomach viruses etc. I'm exposed to illness all the time (work with small children) and haven't caught any of their viruses recently. I am very confused about all this too!!!!

An HIV test that is conducted 3 months, 90 days PAST last possible exposure is conclusive, unless you were with a KNOWN HIV positive person. If your test was run AFTER 3 months, it is conclusive. Yeast infections are very common. Its basically just an imbalance of yeast in your system. It is a VERY delicate balance, and can be thrown of quite easily. It could be any number of things, and it sounds like your Dr. is doing the eight thing by looking into a few options.

"But if you actually had HIV wouldn't you have many other symptoms besides YI?"

No. Everyone is diffrent, and HIV can cause any munber of things in diffrent people. There are no set of symptoms. Although re-occurent and resistant YIs are a symptom, there are MANY others, but not all occur. Some people dont have any. But PLEASE remember, HIV is not diagnosed by symptoms, but rather from the test. ANd if you tested OUT of the window period, your in the clear.

"If your body can't fight off yeast wouldn't it be unable to fight off common cold, stomach viruses etc."

Its not about fighting off the yeast. Yeast lives in your body naturally, in balance with everything else. Sometimes the slightest thing will throw it off. In HIV, its the depletion of the immune system that throws it off. So, fighting off other diseases doesnt have anythign to do with the yeast.

Your confusion is valid, but theres no reason to be fearful. If youve had a test AFTER 3 months of possible exposure, no matter WHAT your symptoms, your in the clear.

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Good Luck and Be Safe

I know you have been tested for diabetes, but have you been tested for hypoglycemia?

I have not been tested for diabetes yet but the dr recommended it. But I do believe I am hypoglycemic. I was tested a few months ago with extremely low blood sugar. I have since bought a test kit and have tested early morning and mid afternoon in the low 40's. (No wonder I had been feeling so faint!! duh!!) But I have been keeping it under control by eating small amounts constantly. I have been following a 'diabetic diet' somewhat, too. I try to stay away from alot of carbs and sugars. How would having low blood sugar cause yeast..wouldn't it be higher sugar? But I DO drink quite a bit on the weekends. I did think that maybe having such low sugar and getting that extreme boost of alcohol sugar could be affecting it. Has anyone else had this problem?

[This message has been edited by scaredmom (edited 10-30-2003).]