Female Yeast Infections

How to stop vaginal yeast infections forever

Females are more susceptible than males to yeast infections as their hormonal levels fluctuate constantly, and this creates an environment in which yeast thrive.

Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate at different times of the monthly cycle. Hormonal levels change at puberty and during pregnancy. Oral contraceptives and hormone therapy also create high levels of estrogen and/or progesterone.

This is one of the reasons why women tend to get yeast infections during pregnancy and right before or after menstruation.

Female yeast infections are quite common. Three out of four women develop a vaginal yeast infection (also commonly known as candida, monilia or thrush) at some time in their lives. Not only do fluctuating hormonal levels encourage the growth of yeast, but so do stress and being run down, times of low immunity.

The symptoms of a female yeast infection can be:

A fishy or yeasty odor

Itching

Discharge

Painful sex

Painful urination

Women need to take particular care of themselves when stressed. It is the nature of the female body to fluctuate hormonally, so women need to learn to relax and eat well at all times to avoid female yeast infections.

You may think you need products like douches and deodorant sprays to keep your vagina healthy. But you need to think again.

Most doctors today advise against douching as it can do more harm than good. Douching upsets the careful balance of bacteria and organisms inside the vagina. It's normal to have small amounts of yeast and certain types of friendly bacteria in your vagina. But if friendly bacteria are wiped out by douching, your yeast levels can quickly get out of control. When this baance is out of whack, you may experience the symptoms of a yeast infection.

Feminine and hygiene products often come with perfumes, fragrances, and dyes. You can buy scented sprays, toilet paper, tampons and pads, soap, bubble bath, lotion, laundry detergent, and fabric softeners. But the same chemicals that colour or scent the products can also cause irritation in your vaginal area. And if your skin is already inflamed, you may get a yeast infection.

So choose unscented products, and avoid bubble baths and strong soaps.
Did you know the vagina is self-cleaning? Its natural discharges help protect you from harmful bacteria. That means it's better to leave your vagina alone.

Here are some more hygiene tips:

Wash the external part of your vagina with mild soap or even plain water. That's all you need to do to keep yourself clean.

Always dry yourself thoroughly after washing, swimming, or exercising.

On the toilet, wipe from front to back, not back to front.

Give your vagina some breathing space! Avoid tight pants. Wear underwear made of cotton rather than nylon, which can trap dampness.

Following these ideas will help prevent female yeast infections. To read more and get more knowledge about female yeast infections we recommend a wonderful comprehensive book by Linda Allen, Yeast Infection No More.

Linda also gives free consultations to everyone who follows the program in her book – just what you need to encourage you and keep you on track until you are permanently free of female yeast infections, and feel energised, clear-thinking, and pain-free.