Preventing a yeast infection
can become an obsession if you have been unfortunate enough to have had
several in the past. One thing that is important to remember is that
yeast can normally "live" in a woman's vagina.
It is not that a woman has been invaded by a foreign fungus, but in reality the normal balance of yeast and bacteria has become disrupted and there are too many yeast cells growing.
When the amount of yeast becomes too high, a woman often develops the classic symptoms of a yeast infection: irritation, itchiness, redness, thick white discharge and sometimes an odor like baking bread. Medication can treat the infection but to keep it gone and try to maintain the vagina in better balance, other changes need to be made.
What is yeast?
Yeast are not bacteria. They are part of the fungus family called Candida. The most common yeast infection is Candida albicans, though Candida non-albicans is becoming more common, due to excess use of drugstore yeast preparations.
Yeast can live in the vagina, but in extremely small amounts.
Role of lactobacillus in preventing yeast infections:
Lactobacillus are the "good" bacteria that live in the vagina and they maintain the normal environment. Lactobacillus does this by giving off hydrogen peroxide, the same stuff we use as an antiseptic to clean cuts which keep infections at bay.
I refer to lactobacillus as the police in a woman's vagina, because they make sure that the yeast and other "bad" bacteria don't get out of line.
Conditions that make yeast overgrow:
The vagina is supposed to have an acid environment. Acid is checked with special paper called ph paper. Normal vaginal acid level is supposed to be 3.2-4.5.
When the ph gets out of balance, the vagina is more susceptible to both yeast and bacterial infections. Lactobacillus counts become reduced and are unable to keep the vagina in balance.
Hormones, specifically estrogen levels affect susceptibility to infection. Pregnant women and woman on high estrogen dose birth control pills are more susceptible to yeast infections.
Sperm and menstrual blood are alkaline and can change the ph of the vagina. Combine that with the heat and moisture from tight clothes or wet bathing suits, then the lack of good airflow can all contribute to yeast infections.
Medication that treats yeast:
Vaginal yeast is often first treated with an oral anti-fungal called Diflucan. If Diflucan doesn't work or if the yeast overgrowth reoccurs too soon, then vaginal antifungals are often used, such as
Terazol.
Non-prescription antifungals tend to be more irritating, and unfortunately and because of excessive use of these products, strains of Candida that are not susceptible to these medications are becoming more common. Do not use these products unless you are sure you have a yeast infection. Seeing a gynecologist and having a culture sent will confirm if overgrowth of yeast or bacteria is present.
Boric acid suppositories are often used after medication treatment to return and maintain the acid environment in the vagina. Some women take them on and off for months and though they are an old fashion treatment, studies show they are just as effective as some of the antifungal medications in treating and preventing yeast infections.
What else you can do to prevent a yeast infection:
1. Eat yogurt or take oral probiotics with lactobacillus to rebuild the vaginal environment. If you are taking antibiotics for an infection elsewhere in your body, taking probiotics will help avoid a secondary vaginal yeast infection.
The oral probiotic supplement, Femdophillus by Jarrow, contains two of the strains of lactobacillus that studies have shown grow in the vagina. Other probiotics geared towards vaginal health are also useful.
2. Some women have tried putting yogurt in their vaginas to treat a yeast infection, but studies show that only certain strains of lactobacillus are present in the vagina.
These strains can develop in your body after eating yogurt. The lactobacillus in yogurt applied directly is not the proper strain, so while it may be soothing, it probably isn't replacing what's missing.
Some women have also tried inserting garlic cloves, tea tree oil suppositories or douching with diluted hydrogen peroxide; take great care not to use anything that might make your symptoms worse.
3. Eat a healthful diet. Avoid too much sugar, but don't make yourself crazy. There is no solid data that says a diet with minimal amounts of sugar directly contributes to yeast infections.
Frequent yeast infections can occur in those who have diabetes, due to overly high sugar levels in the body but that is because their bodies cannot metabolize the excess sugar. Some women find taking high doses of folic acid help prevent vaginal infections.
4. Get air down there! Wear only cotton underwear and always remove them when you go to sleep at night. Don't lounge in wet bathing suits, avoid tight pants and wear skirts without underwear if you feel like you are starting to have symptoms of a yeast infection.
5. Test your own ph with ph paper which can be purchased online. Normal vaginal ph is 3.8-4.5.
Semen has a ph of 7.2-8.0. Blood has a ph of 7.4. Some women use vaginal acidifiers such as "Rephresh," which returns the vaginal ph back to below 4.5 after having sex or before and after their period or they use boric acid suppositories.
6. Increased stress may contribute to yeast infections. Practice whatever techniques reduce stress in your life but remember, yeast overgrowth in not solely related to stress.
Even with the most conscientious attention, yeast infections can reoccur. Following some basic monitoring and modifications in your lifestyle will hopefully help to ward off a dreaded case of yeast overgrowth.
It is not that a woman has been invaded by a foreign fungus, but in reality the normal balance of yeast and bacteria has become disrupted and there are too many yeast cells growing.
When the amount of yeast becomes too high, a woman often develops the classic symptoms of a yeast infection: irritation, itchiness, redness, thick white discharge and sometimes an odor like baking bread. Medication can treat the infection but to keep it gone and try to maintain the vagina in better balance, other changes need to be made.
What is yeast?
Yeast are not bacteria. They are part of the fungus family called Candida. The most common yeast infection is Candida albicans, though Candida non-albicans is becoming more common, due to excess use of drugstore yeast preparations.
Yeast can live in the vagina, but in extremely small amounts.
Role of lactobacillus in preventing yeast infections:
Lactobacillus are the "good" bacteria that live in the vagina and they maintain the normal environment. Lactobacillus does this by giving off hydrogen peroxide, the same stuff we use as an antiseptic to clean cuts which keep infections at bay.
I refer to lactobacillus as the police in a woman's vagina, because they make sure that the yeast and other "bad" bacteria don't get out of line.
Conditions that make yeast overgrow:
The vagina is supposed to have an acid environment. Acid is checked with special paper called ph paper. Normal vaginal acid level is supposed to be 3.2-4.5.
When the ph gets out of balance, the vagina is more susceptible to both yeast and bacterial infections. Lactobacillus counts become reduced and are unable to keep the vagina in balance.
Hormones, specifically estrogen levels affect susceptibility to infection. Pregnant women and woman on high estrogen dose birth control pills are more susceptible to yeast infections.
Sperm and menstrual blood are alkaline and can change the ph of the vagina. Combine that with the heat and moisture from tight clothes or wet bathing suits, then the lack of good airflow can all contribute to yeast infections.
Medication that treats yeast:
Vaginal yeast is often first treated with an oral anti-fungal called Diflucan. If Diflucan doesn't work or if the yeast overgrowth reoccurs too soon, then vaginal antifungals are often used, such as
Terazol.
Non-prescription antifungals tend to be more irritating, and unfortunately and because of excessive use of these products, strains of Candida that are not susceptible to these medications are becoming more common. Do not use these products unless you are sure you have a yeast infection. Seeing a gynecologist and having a culture sent will confirm if overgrowth of yeast or bacteria is present.
Boric acid suppositories are often used after medication treatment to return and maintain the acid environment in the vagina. Some women take them on and off for months and though they are an old fashion treatment, studies show they are just as effective as some of the antifungal medications in treating and preventing yeast infections.
What else you can do to prevent a yeast infection:
1. Eat yogurt or take oral probiotics with lactobacillus to rebuild the vaginal environment. If you are taking antibiotics for an infection elsewhere in your body, taking probiotics will help avoid a secondary vaginal yeast infection.
The oral probiotic supplement, Femdophillus by Jarrow, contains two of the strains of lactobacillus that studies have shown grow in the vagina. Other probiotics geared towards vaginal health are also useful.
2. Some women have tried putting yogurt in their vaginas to treat a yeast infection, but studies show that only certain strains of lactobacillus are present in the vagina.
These strains can develop in your body after eating yogurt. The lactobacillus in yogurt applied directly is not the proper strain, so while it may be soothing, it probably isn't replacing what's missing.
Some women have also tried inserting garlic cloves, tea tree oil suppositories or douching with diluted hydrogen peroxide; take great care not to use anything that might make your symptoms worse.
3. Eat a healthful diet. Avoid too much sugar, but don't make yourself crazy. There is no solid data that says a diet with minimal amounts of sugar directly contributes to yeast infections.
Frequent yeast infections can occur in those who have diabetes, due to overly high sugar levels in the body but that is because their bodies cannot metabolize the excess sugar. Some women find taking high doses of folic acid help prevent vaginal infections.
4. Get air down there! Wear only cotton underwear and always remove them when you go to sleep at night. Don't lounge in wet bathing suits, avoid tight pants and wear skirts without underwear if you feel like you are starting to have symptoms of a yeast infection.
5. Test your own ph with ph paper which can be purchased online. Normal vaginal ph is 3.8-4.5.
Semen has a ph of 7.2-8.0. Blood has a ph of 7.4. Some women use vaginal acidifiers such as "Rephresh," which returns the vaginal ph back to below 4.5 after having sex or before and after their period or they use boric acid suppositories.
6. Increased stress may contribute to yeast infections. Practice whatever techniques reduce stress in your life but remember, yeast overgrowth in not solely related to stress.
Even with the most conscientious attention, yeast infections can reoccur. Following some basic monitoring and modifications in your lifestyle will hopefully help to ward off a dreaded case of yeast overgrowth.
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