Where were you feeling the wiggling and tickling?

The fool proof test of a functioning immune system is that you don't get sick, period. You also should have good resistance to toxins and poisons if they do so happen to enter your system.

Also, I hate to say this, but the chances are VERY high that a potential partner you would find will also have candida, unless she is from some enlightened area of the world, has grown up with loving parents and natural foods, never got silver fillings or took Antibiotics etc. In this case her immune system would be good and you wouldn't have to worry anyway! Lol. If your partner does already have candida, you two can go on protocols together and support each other. It's a win win!

I'm NO EXPERT but, you touch on topics which I have some experience with. Take what you will and leave the rest.

There's no doubt most people don't realize they have candida until they have been sick for a long time. Onset is so gradual it's hard to notice: at least it was in my case and I was very sick for a decade not even realizing it. There are tests to diagnose candida: blood tests are accurate with antigens and stool for yeasts but, they do come with false negatives as well. Not sure how one could test the immune system if that's what you are asking.

I feel your pain about wanting someone special in your life and needing that physical connection which is a gift from God. I too haven't had a significant other in my life for 9 years and it's very hard - always thought I had time to get married and raise a family. Then the bottom feel out at 37 and now at 47 suspect I'll be lucky just to get healthy again. Let alone consider dating again but, the days of siring a kid might be lost forever. There's always adoption, which would be a blessing if I was healthy enough to adopt one day if able to find a mate. These are tough topics and probably are a strain for people in our state of health to even worry about. Just wanted you to know you are not alone, if that helps you cope at all. And remember, nothing is impossible to God. My widowed Aunt just got engaged in her 60's .....

Unfortunately, yes, candida can be transmitted sexually. I have to deal with the fact I unknowingly passed it to a former g/f who I will always love dearly. This eats away at me all the time since but, no one knew I was sick at the time. Mostly, people with normal/strong immune systems won't have issues from minor exposure but, the constant close exposure of a relationship/living together, start swapping body fluids and it changes the dynamic to one where I'd be surprised if it wasn't a sheer certainty. Though, many like to dismiss it for obvious reasons. Have read a blog where one couple passed it back and forth for decades.

It can even be transmitted inter species, like you said from man/animal. Though, no one will ever know with certainty who passed it to whom, my parrots vet charts are what finally led to my diagnosis. They had diagnostics which proved "rare yeast/rare fungus": not that they yeast/fungus was rare but, the concentration was above normal. It was heart breaking to have had to surrender them earlier this year since they both were in their late teens and highly bonded from being hand fed babies.

One member on another forum has many dogs and hasn't noted any problems: perhaps she hasn't thought about it either. Yet, she's constantly feeding them high quality organic foods and bakes her own dog treats based on an anti candida mind set. Have read where some people feed their dog extra virgin coconut oil daily and it has resulted in healthy mouth/gums and no doggy breath. Thought that was pretty amazing. I know I should be oil pulling at least twice a day but, just haven't gotten up to speed to commit to it just yet. Could use improvement with my gums which have heard oil pulling can accomplish.

I wish you nothing but, blessings with your condition.