Suffering From a Yeast Infection: How to Fight Back

Yeast infections are a common ailment, affecting the sexual wellness and wellbeing of millions of women every year. They tend to recur as well, and can make having a normal sex life quite difficult and uncomfortable.

 

One of the reasons that yeast infections are so common is that most of us take antibiotics at some point in our lives (and most of us at several points in our lives). Antibiotics are designed to kill off the bad bacteria that is causing an infection in our bodies, but unfortunately, in so doing, they also kill off the good bacteria in the gut and the good bacteria in the vagina. You might find that if you are on a course of antibiotics, a bout of thrush soon follows. It’s always a good idea to see your doctor, though, as self-diagnosed yeast infections can turn out to be other things.

 

There are some very simple steps that you can take to help you steer clear of a yeast infection. Don’t use feminine hygiene sprays and don’t wash your vaginal area with any kind of perfumed soaps. Steer clear of perfumed sanitary pads, tampons and bubble bath too, as these seem to negatively affect the balance of acid in the vagina, leading to a thrush infection.

 

Wear cotton pants and avoid tight-fitting clothing too, as well as remembering to wipe from front to back, and you will also significantly reduce the number of yeast infections that you suffer from. Yeast thrives in warm, wet environments, so make sure you stay cool and dry ‘down below’.

 

If you are on the birth control pill, you could also find yourself more susceptible to thrush. Researchers have now found that certain types of birth control may cause a susceptibility to thrush as well.

Categories: Birth Control, infection, Infections, nbsp, steer clear, thrush, vagina, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

Getting Rid of Yeast Infections: Alternative Therapies

A yeast infection is considered a sexual wellness problem, but there are many ways in which you can contract such an infection. The fungus Candida albicans is always present in your vagina, but a variety of factors can cause this fungus to overproduce and cause a yeast infection. Causes of yeast infections include antibiotics, birth control pills, wearing tight undergarments, and a suppressed immune system, and complementary wellness therapies emphasise eliminating these causes to treat the yeast infection, rather than eliminating the fungus. But which therapy is best for your wellbeing?

 

1. Nutritional Therapy: The foundation of nutritional therapy is dietary changes and supplements, and this is no less the case when it comes to treating and preventing yeast infections. Certain foods can contribute to a yeast infection, either by encouraging the growth of the Candida albicans or by taxing your body’s immune system. Therefore, if you have a yeast infection, you may want to avoid the following foods until it clears up, and eat them in limited amounts thereafter:

 

• Sugars (including honey, fruit juices, and maple syrup)


• Artificial sweeteners


• Cheese


• Dried fruit


• Alcohol


• Mushrooms


• Meat, poultry, and milk (which can have traces of antibiotics in them)

 

You can also keep fungal growth in check by consuming items that can introduce “good” bacteria into your body. Live yoghurt and the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and certain species of Bifidobacterium, which can be taken orally or used as a douche, can all prevent yeast infections – just be wary of artificially sweetened yoghurt. Other great antifungal foods include garlic, and anything containing caprylic acid, grapefruit seed extract, and undecenoic acid.

 

 

2. Herbal Medicine: There are several herbs which can bring your fungus levels back down to a healthy point, while others can strengthen your immune system. As well as being a folk-favourite for treating athlete’s foot, the bark of the pau d’arco tree is an excellent treatment for vaginal yeast infections – with the research to back it up. Studies have shown that the lapachol found in the bark is what works to fight infections, and you can consume this herb easily in the form of capsules, extract, or tea. Goldenseal is one of the most commonly used herbs for its immune-boosting properties, but you should not use it if you’re pregnant. Other herbal remedies for yeast infections include calendula, echinacea (purple coneflower), German chamomile, ginger, rosemary, tea tree and thyme.

 

 

3. Homeopathy: Using highly diluted doses of a natural substance that would produce the same infection symptoms if given in full strength to a healthy person, homeopathic medicine can stimulate your body to overpower the yeast infection. After asking you about your symptoms and general state of your emotional and physical wellness, your homeopath will give you an individualised remedy. Before attending your meeting, make sure you know the answers to the following questions:

 

1. Is there any vaginal discharge, and what is its colour, consistency, and smell?


2. Does walking or lying down increase the amount of discharge?


3. Is there any discomfort around your vagina?


4. Do you find it difficult or uncomfortable to urinate?

 

Once your practitioner is equipped with this information, he or she will prescribe the right remedy. This may be in the form of borax veneta, calcarea carbonica, kreosotum, mercurius solubilis, pulsatilla nigricans or sepia. For the most common symptoms of yeast infections, medical experts have formulated combination remedies that are available over the counter. However, because these remedies lack the individualisation that you usually get in homeopathy, they are considered less effective.

Categories: candida albicans, homeopathy, Infections, infections include, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, nutritional therapies, nutritional therapy, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

Yeast Infections: How To Cure Them With Home Remedies

The symptoms of vaginitis affect most women at some point in their lives – the itching, burning pain, and discharge that comes with a yeast infection are uncomfortable and undesirable no matter what age you are unfortunate enough to develop this infection. Yeast infections are caused by organisms which inhabit the vagina – one of the most common causes is the fungus Candida albicans. Yeast infections can be successfully treated at home, but it’s still advisable what you speak to your GP to ensure that it is actually a yeast infection. There are a number of reasons why you may be experiencing your symptoms, so you should check before taking any medication or trying any remedies. But, if you’ve checked with your GP, or have had a yeast infection in the past and are sure that you’ve developed it again, these remedies may be useful to you. The first rule of thumb is to ensure that you keep the genital area dry and loose so that air can circulate. Yeast organisms like warm, moist conditions so by wearing fabrics that don’t breathe, you’re giving them the perfect environment to thrive. You should dry the vaginal area well after showering or bathing, then opt for a breathable fabric such as cotton underwear and loose trousers or a skirt to let the area breathe.

Practicing good hygiene is also important as yeast infections produce secretions when they are irritated. Yeast can also be passed on through sexual activity and through things like shared baths, so avoid bathing together or sharing towels. Try to wash your clothing in hot water too, to destroy the yeast organisms on your clothes. You can also add a cup of vinegar to the cycle to kill the yeast. Not only can alcohol and chemicals in certain body washes cause irritation, but they can also pH balance to the vagina, which gives the yeast chance to flourish. Routine douching isn’t wise if you don’t have vaginal symptoms, but it can help to balance the pH balance if you have a yeast infection. Live yoghurt can cool your symptoms and restore the friendly microorganisms in the vaginal area. Eating yoghurt can help, but you can also insert one to two tablespoons into the vagina and externally to the areas that are affected. As an alternative, you can also use a lactobacillus tablet vaginally once a day and douching with vinegar twice a day for two days.

 

Studies have also shown that boric acid is a safe way to treat yeast infections. If your doctor agrees that it is a good idea, you could try using a boric acid capsule as a suppository if you experience a flare-up of symptoms. However, if you’re pregnant then you should skip this. The most common treatment is an over-the-counter fungal cream which removes the yeast infection quickly and effectively. Both miconazole and clotrimazole are effective in treating this problem and are readily available in pharmacies and many supermarkets. Follow the instructions on the packet, and complete the full course of medication even if your symptoms seem to have disappeared as the infection may still be present. If you regularly get yeast infections around the time of your period, you may find it useful to use an antifungal cream a few days before and after your period, as a preventative. Lastly, cranberry juice can be useful as the acidity in the juice can kill any bacteria in your urethra and create an inhospitable environment for the bacteria.

Categories: Bacteria, boric acid, infection, Infections, ph balance, vaginal area, women's health, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections, yeast organisms

Feeling Uncomfortable? A Yeast Infection Could be to Blame

Yeast infections are a common sexual health hazard, affecting the wellness and wellbeing of both men and women all over the world. Women are most commonly affected by the condition – in fact, around 75 percent of all women will have a yeast infection such as thrush during the course of their lifetime, and around 45 percent of women will have at least two or more yeast infections.

 

In the United States, vaginal yeast infections are the second most common cause of reportedly abnormal vaginal discharge. The first most common cause is bacterial vaginosis.

 

Yeast infections are particularly common during pregnancy, perhaps due to the chemical changes which occur in the vagina during pregnancy. During this time, there is basically more sugar in the vagina for the bacteria spores to feed on.

 

Around five percent of the women who have vaginal yeast infections develop recurrent infections, which is known as vulvogainal candidiasis, which is defined as having four or more episodes of thrush in a one year period. Most women who suffer from this do not have any underlying medical conditions which make them more likely to get the condition.

 

During episodes of thrush, women experience thick or clotted discharge which may have a slight odour. Whilst vaginal discharge is normal, it is usually clear or cloudy and should be non-irritating. Thrush and other yeast infections cause itching and inflammation and can be quite uncomfortable.

 

One way to avoid getting a yeast infection is to avoid washing the vagina with perfumed soaps, or using perfumed deodorants or even bubble bath as this can upset the normal Ph. and bacteria balance in the vagina.

 

Many vaginal yeast infections can clear up without any treatment, however, there are cases when it can develop into something more serious, so you should make sure that you treat any and all episodes of vaginal yeast infection.

Categories: Infections, nbsp, thrush, vagina, vaginal, vaginal discharge, vaginal yeast, Women, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

Natural Ways to Help You Beat Your Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are unpleasant and uncomfortable, but are actually one of the most common sexual health problems affecting women. They affect your wellness and wellbeing through itching, discomfort and the release of a thick, white discharge.

 

All of these uncomfortable symptoms are caused by a fungal infection called Candida, which is the biological name for thrush. Candida flourishes in warm, moist areas and this means that unfortunately the vagina is the perfect environment for it. Normally, other microorganisms in the body help to keep Candida in check, but when there is an imbalance, then this is when a yeast infection occurs.

 

There are many herbal remedies that can help to relieve the symptoms of thrush, and some simple things that you can do, too (such as cutting down on fruit) in order to help make you more comfortable and reduce the chances of it recurring.

 

Yeast thrives on sugars, so depriving your body of sugar whilst suffering from an attack of thrush can help to reduce it. Cut down on fruit and instead eat plenty of vegetables, which boost your immunity through their nutrients. Echinacea can also help to improve your immune system.

 

Many herbs can also be used to help fight against yeast – things like Calendula, goldenseal, cedar, myrrh and rosemary all have antifungal properties. If you make up strong infusions of these herbs, you can use them either internally on the vagina or externally to help soothe the burning and itching caused by thrush.

 

Garlic is also great at fighting against yeast and fungus, and is particularly good at fighting against Candida and stopping it from growing. If you can tolerate it, try to chew or swallow at least one clove of raw garlic every day. You can mince it if you prefer and sprinkle it over a salad.

Categories: candida, infection, Natural, nbsp, thrush, yeast, yeast infection

How to Spot The Warning Signs of Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are kind of – to use a technical term – an icky part of sexual health, but one that’s easily taken care of. However, it’s far better to protect your wellbeing against yeast infections through a few simple steps. Let’s take a look at how you can stop yeast infections and, if that doesn’t work, spot the signs that your wellness has been affected.

 

Also known as candidiasis, a yeast infection is caused by a fungus called candida albicans. It usually occurs in warm, moist parts of your body, like your mouth and moist areas of your skin. When you have a vaginal yeast infection, it is known as vulvovaginal candidiasis. There are several reasons as to why candida can overgrow; stress, pregnancy, and illnesses that affect the immune system may allow yeast to multiply, as can certain medicines including birth control pills and steroids. If you take antibiotics for other conditions, the medicine might kill the good bacteria responsible for keeping the growth of candida in the vagina in check. You may also be at a greater risk of yeast infection if your blood sugar level is high, as occurs in people with poorly-controlled diabetes.

 

If you do have a yeast infection, it will probably be the most obvious right before your period, as the menstrual cycle causes hormonal changes. Tight clothing and underwear, or clothes made of materials like nylon that trap heat and moisture, might make it more likely for you to have a yeast infection, as this is the kind of environment that yeast thrives in. This is also the case for scented sanitary products and douching, so avoid these if you think they’re giving you a yeast infection. Although yeast infections may spread from one sexual partner to the other, it’s a rarity and, as such, is not considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). However, if your partner does show symptoms, he or she may have to be treated.

 

The common signs and symptoms of yeast infections include:

• Itching and irritation in your vagina


• Redness, swelling, or itching in your vulva (which are the folds of skin outside your vagina)


• A thick, white discharge. This is usually odourless, but may smell like bread or yeast.


• Pain or burning when urinating or during sex

 

If any of these symptoms are affecting you, you should speak to your doctor. Some of these symptoms are similar to those you might find with an STI, but your doctor can give you the right diagnosis so that you can be treated appropriately. The test may involve your doctor taking a urine sample — to rule out a urinary tract infection — and swab some discharge from your vagina to examine under a microscope. Treatment for vaginal yeast infections usually involve a pill to swallow, or a cream, tablet or suppository to put in your vagina. Make sure that you abstain from sex until the infection has cleared up, as the medications for vaginal yeast infections can weaken condoms and diaphragms.

 

However, why let it get to that stage when you can prevent a yeast infection?

 

1. Dress right: What you wear can enable yeast infections to grow, so avoid wet bathing suits, tight jeans, and stretchy exercise gear. Nylon underwear, pantyhose, and other synthetic materials that trap moisture also make yeast infections more likely.

 

2. Watch out for beauty products: There are some dyes and perfumes in soaps, bath gels, lotions, sanitary products, and laundry detergents that some women react to, and this irritation can cause yeast infections to grow. Steer clear of perfumed products and to use mild and fragrance-free products when possible

Categories: infection, Infections, nbsp, prevention, sanitary products, Symptoms, vagina, vaginal yeast, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

The Hidden Culprits: Why You Keep Getting Yeast Infections

Isn’t it just sod’s law that you first become aware of sexual health issues when you’re out and about? It’s often when you’re in a meeting or out running errands that you suddenly experience an uncontrollable itch…down there…and you know exactly what your wellness has been affected by: a dreaded yeast infection. Gynaecologist Rebecca Booth, MD, co-founder of the VENeffect skincare line, explains, ‘Wherever there is sugar or carbohydrates (which the body has), the yeast will feed on that. We don’t ever entirely rid our bodies of yeast. What we do is we keep it in check.’ There are well-known causes of yeast infections; antibiotics, douches, weak immune systems or tight clothes made from barely breathable fabrics. However, some other, hidden causes may also be preventing you from keeping yeast in check:

 

1. Low oestrogen: Oestrogen feeds acidophilus, keeping yeast at bay, but right before your period, your levels of oestrogen levels dip and this enables yeast to grow. Booth notes, ‘A lot of women will say that they get symptoms right around their period that later go away.’ If this sounds all-too familiar, Booth suggests doubling up on probiotic supplements in the week before your period, as well as avoiding sugar or extra carbs and eating more yoghurt. Booth comments, ‘I think prevention is best, rather than treatment. We need to think of keeping ourselves in balance so we’re not symptomatic.’

 

2. Too much sugar: Booth’s mantra goes, ‘Wherever there’s sugar, there’s yeast.’ This means that your obvious offenders, such as sugary snacks, invite yeast into the picture, but you also need to be wary of consuming lots fruit, juice or high-carb foods. These seemingly healthy foods can also cause your blood sugar to spike, especially in the morning when your blood sugar is low. Booth warns, ‘The kind of morning diet that causes a jump in blood sugar can stimulate the yeast to take over.’ This is especially true if you have coffee alongside your sugary breakfast: ‘When you combine caffeine with sugar, the yeast basically has a party and takes over.’ So, what should you eat instead? Booth recommends, ‘Anything to stabilise blood sugar so as not to feed the yeast.’

 

3. Pantyliners: According to Booth, ‘Pantyliners cause a low-grade irritation that can decrease the skin’s immunity. When our defences go down, we get more symptomatic.’ The same goes for scented or synthetic tampons, especially if your tissue is ultra-sensitive. Moreover, the synthetic fibres in pantyliners block airflow, and yeast loves environments with little air. Therefore, you’re much better off wearing cotton underwear with no liners, and using an unscented, cotton tampon if you tend to get frequent infections.

 

4. Vaginal eczema: Eczema is characterised by scaly, itchy rashes that tend to crop up on your arms or legs, but did you know that it can also show up on your vulva and vaginal tissues? When this happens, Booth details that it ‘causes chronic inflammation and irritation, so some people can develop yeast infections.’ If you find that this is the case, Booth advises that you speak with your gynaecologist about treating the vaginal eczema. Once the eczema is treated, the yeast issue should clear up as a result.

 

5. Spermicidal condoms: Nonoxynol-9 is the active ingredient you’ll find in most spermicides, and it’s not the gentlest substance. Booth explains, ‘If the spermicide is irritating for the woman, then that will disturb her vaginal immunity and allow [yeast] to take advantage.’ This is also true of spermicide creams, jellies, foams, gels, films and suppositories, as well as diaphragms, which are usually paired with spermicidal creams, jelly or gels that can cause irritation. Again, talk to your gynaecologist about alternatives, such as Durex condoms.

Categories: Blood Sugar, booth, keeping yeast, Low Oestrogen, nbsp, Pantyliners, Sugar, vaginal, vaginal eczema, yeast, Yeast Infections