Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
The most common reason that a "yeast infection" recurs or does not respond to treatment is that it is an incorrect diagnosis.
Every woman has
vaginal discharge daily, and the amount and quality of the discharge varies with your menstrual cycle. It is normal to have some wetness on your underwear daily. Right after your period, the discharge is clear and it increases in amount until mid-cycle, when it may get more runny and a glob of mucus may come out (due to ovulation). Then once ovulation is over, your discharge gets thicker and whiter until you get your menstrual cycle, when the process resets again. The discharge should be clear to white, and have no odor (odor can be a symptom of infection).
The reason your symptoms do not change when you are treated for a yeast infection is that you probably do not have a yeast infection at all. The fact that you have had this discharge for most of your life points away from infection as a possible cause.
Yeast infections cause discharge which is typically white, thick and chunky, along with
vaginal irritation,
redness and itching. If you have no other symptoms, then your discharge is probably normal for you, and does not represent any type of infection.
One of the ways you can help to keep your vagina healthy and feel drier is to wear breathable, cotton underwear, avoid tight-fitting clothing, and trying not to use panty liners. Panty liners have a plastic backing and trap sweat near your vagina, making you actually feel more wet.
So again, in summary, it is unlikely you have yeast infections at all, and the pattern of discharge you describe is consistent with normal physiologic changes.
I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today and that this information was reassuring.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown