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What prevents yeast infections. 10 Effective Ways to Prevent Yeast Infections: A Comprehensive Guide

by alexxlab

What causes yeast infections. How can you prevent yeast infections naturally. Which lifestyle changes help reduce the risk of vaginal candidiasis. When should you see a doctor about recurrent yeast infections.

Understanding Yeast Infections: Causes and Risk Factors

Yeast infections, medically known as candidal vulvovaginitis, are a common issue affecting many women. These infections occur due to an overgrowth of Candida, a naturally occurring fungus present in our bodies. While yeast infections can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, understanding their causes and risk factors is the first step in prevention.

Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing a yeast infection:

  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Weakened immune system
  • Antibiotic use
  • High-estrogen birth control
  • Use of douches or vaginal sprays

Did you know that approximately 75% of women will experience at least one yeast infection in their lifetime? This statistic underscores the importance of understanding prevention strategies.

The Importance of Proper Hygiene in Yeast Infection Prevention

Maintaining good hygiene practices is crucial in preventing yeast infections. However, it’s essential to strike a balance, as over-cleaning can disrupt the vagina’s natural balance.

Proper Wiping Technique

One simple yet effective hygiene practice is wiping from front to back after using the bathroom. This technique helps prevent the spread of bacteria from the anal area to the vagina, reducing the risk of infections.

Avoiding Douches and Scented Products

Douching and using scented feminine hygiene products can disrupt the vagina’s natural bacterial balance. These products can remove beneficial bacteria that help fight off infections, increasing the risk of yeast overgrowth.

Are scented tampons and pads safe to use? Generally, it’s best to avoid scented menstrual products as they can irritate the vaginal area and potentially increase the risk of infections.

Clothing Choices and Their Impact on Yeast Infection Risk

The clothing you wear, particularly underwear, can significantly affect your risk of developing a yeast infection. Making informed choices about your attire can help create an environment less conducive to yeast overgrowth.

Breathable Underwear

Opting for breathable, cotton underwear is one of the most effective ways to reduce yeast infection risk. Cotton allows for better air circulation, helping to keep the vaginal area dry and less hospitable to yeast growth.

Avoiding Tight Clothing

Tight-fitting clothing, such as skinny jeans or leggings, can trap heat and moisture, creating an ideal environment for yeast to thrive. Choosing looser-fitting options can help maintain proper air circulation and reduce infection risk.

How often should you change out of wet clothes? It’s best to change out of wet bathing suits or damp workout gear as soon as possible to prevent creating a moist environment that promotes yeast growth.

Dietary Considerations for Yeast Infection Prevention

Your diet can play a significant role in preventing yeast infections. Certain foods can help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your body, while others may increase the risk of yeast overgrowth.

Probiotics and Their Benefits

Consuming foods rich in probiotics, such as yogurt with active cultures, can help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your body. These beneficial bacteria can help prevent yeast overgrowth and reduce the risk of infections.

Limiting Sugar Intake

Yeast thrives on sugar, so limiting your intake of sugary foods and drinks can help reduce the risk of yeast overgrowth. This is particularly important for individuals with diabetes, who are already at a higher risk of yeast infections.

Can dietary changes alone prevent yeast infections? While dietary changes can certainly help, they should be combined with other prevention strategies for the best results.

Managing Medical Conditions to Reduce Yeast Infection Risk

Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of developing yeast infections. Managing these conditions effectively can help reduce this risk.

Diabetes Management

For individuals with diabetes, maintaining good blood sugar control is crucial in preventing yeast infections. High blood sugar levels can create an environment that promotes yeast growth.

Immune System Support

A weakened immune system can make you more susceptible to yeast infections. Taking steps to support your immune system, such as getting adequate sleep, managing stress, and eating a balanced diet, can help reduce your risk.

How does stress affect yeast infection risk? Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, potentially increasing your susceptibility to yeast infections.

The Role of Medications in Yeast Infection Prevention

While certain medications can increase the risk of yeast infections, others can help prevent them. Understanding the impact of different medications is crucial in managing your risk.

Antibiotic Use and Yeast Infections

Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of bacteria in your body, potentially leading to yeast overgrowth. If you need to take antibiotics, consider also taking a probiotic supplement to help maintain bacterial balance.

Birth Control and Yeast Infections

Some forms of birth control, particularly those with high estrogen levels, can increase the risk of yeast infections. If you’re prone to yeast infections, discuss alternative birth control options with your healthcare provider.

Is it safe to use over-the-counter antifungal treatments for yeast infection prevention? While these treatments can be effective for treating yeast infections, they should not be used for prevention without consulting a healthcare provider.

Natural Remedies and Lifestyle Changes for Yeast Infection Prevention

In addition to medical interventions, several natural remedies and lifestyle changes can help prevent yeast infections.

Maintaining a Healthy pH Balance

The vagina naturally maintains a slightly acidic pH, which helps prevent yeast overgrowth. Avoiding practices that can disrupt this balance, such as douching, can help prevent infections.

Regular Exercise and Its Benefits

Regular exercise can help boost your immune system and reduce stress, both of which can help prevent yeast infections. However, it’s important to change out of sweaty clothes promptly after working out.

Can apple cider vinegar help prevent yeast infections? While some people claim apple cider vinegar can help maintain vaginal pH balance, there’s limited scientific evidence to support this. It’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before trying any home remedies.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Yeast Infections

While prevention is key, it’s also important to know when to seek medical attention for yeast infections.

Recognizing Symptoms of Yeast Infections

Common symptoms of yeast infections include itching, burning, redness, and a thick, white discharge. If you experience these symptoms, especially if they’re severe or recurring, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider.

Dealing with Recurrent Yeast Infections

If you experience four or more yeast infections in a year, it’s considered recurrent. This may indicate an underlying health issue and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

How can you differentiate between a yeast infection and other vaginal infections? While symptoms can be similar, yeast infections typically cause a thick, white, odorless discharge, while other infections may cause different types of discharge or additional symptoms. A healthcare provider can provide an accurate diagnosis.

In conclusion, while yeast infections are common, there are numerous strategies you can employ to reduce your risk. From maintaining good hygiene and making informed clothing choices to managing underlying health conditions and being mindful of medication use, these preventive measures can significantly decrease your chances of developing a yeast infection. Remember, if you’re experiencing persistent or recurrent symptoms, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

10 Ways to Prevent Candidal Vulvovaginitis

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Neha Pathak, MD on September 20, 2021

If you’re like 75% of women, you’ll get at least one yeast infection during your lifetime. Half will get two or more.

You’re more likely to get one when you:

  • Are pregnant
  • Have diabetes
  • Have a weakened immune system
  • Take antibiotics
  • Use birth control with high doses of the hormone estrogen
  • Use douches or vaginal sprays

It may not be possible for all women to prevent yeast infections, but here’s what you can do to lower your odds.

  1. Wear breathable underwear. Cotton is your best choice. It doesn’t hold onto heat or moisture. It will help keep you dry.
  2. Keep things loose. Make sure your jeans, skirts, underwear, yoga pants, tights, pantyhose, etc. aren’t too snug. They can boost your body temperature and increase the amount of moisture around your private parts. That raises your chances for a yeast infection.
  3. Don’t douche. “Feminine hygiene products” like douches can disrupt the balance of bacteria in your vagina by removing some of the good bacteria that’s supposed to be there to fight off infections. And skip the scent in feminine products. This includes bubble baths, soaps, sprays, tampons, and pads.
  4. Avoid hot tubs and extra hot baths. Hot and damp are never your friends.
  5. Change out of wet clothes. Don’t sit in a wet bathing suit after you go swimming or damp workout gear after the gym. Change into dry clothes right away.
  6. In the bathroom, always wipe from front to back.
  7. When on your period, change your tampons, pads, and panty liners often.
  8. Manage your diabetes. If you have it, be sure to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels and keep them under control.
  9. Use antibiotics only when you have to. You don’t need them for conditions like a cold, because they don’t do anything against a virus. If you don’t have to, don’t take them.
  10. Eat yogurt that contains active cultures to add to the good bacteria that help your body control yeast.

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9 ways to prevent yeast infections

Learn how to prevent yeast infection with practices like better hydration, probiotic consumption, and vitamin supplementation

Yeast infection prevention | Risk factors | When to see a doctor

Yeast infections are a really common thing that no one really wants to talk about. Why? Well… women just don’t want to. It’s uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassing. Vaginal itching and discharge or pain during intercourse aren’t exactly dinner table topics. But the truth is- yeast infections really are very common. In fact, the CDC reports that they are the second most common type of vaginal infection in women and result in 1.4 million outpatient doctor visits every year. 

Why are yeast infections so common and where do they come from? Yeast infections are an overgrowth of a common fungus we all have on our skin known as Candida. It’s on our skin, in our mouth, in our pelvic region, and basically everywhere to some extent. Certain body conditions or changes may allow an overgrowth of this type of fungus, and that overgrowth in the vaginal area is known as vaginal candidiasis or vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Vaginal candidiasis can present with varying symptoms which may include vaginal itching or soreness, vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, or pain during urination. These symptoms of a yeast infection are typically mild, but if left untreated, can become severe and cause redness, irritation, swelling, and cracks in the vaginal wall. These symptoms can be indicative of other bacterial conditions or sexually transmitted infections as well, so it’s important to contact your health care provider to make sure it’s not something else.

While yeast infections are common and can occur in anyone, some people are more susceptible. Pregnant women and those who have diabetes are more likely to experience an overgrowth of vaginal yeast. Patients who take hormonal birth control pills, steroids, chemotherapy, or who have a weakened immune system may also be more susceptible. Patients who have recently taken a course of antibiotics are also very susceptible too as the normal bacterial and fungal balance of the body is normally upset by a course of antibiotics.

RELATED: Can men get yeast infections? 

9 ways to prevent yeast infections

There are a number of ways to prevent a yeast infection.

1. Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use

Antibiotics can kill off the healthy bacteria in the vagina, causing an overgrowth of yeast, thus leading to a yeast infection. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections, such as the common cold, flu, or COVID-19. It is important to only take antibiotics as directed by your doctor and only for the prescribed length of time. If you have a known history of yeast infections after antibiotic use, discuss yeast infection treatment options at the time you start the antibiotic therapy so that you will be prepared.

2. Wear cotton underwear

Loose-fitting, cotton underwear is most conducive to a healthy microbiome. Avoid garments that are tight and aren’t as breathable, as well as things like sweaty workout wear. These clothes can create a humid, damp area, which is the ideal environment for Candida overgrowth. Because of this, it is also important to change out of damp or sweaty clothes, like workout clothes or swimwear, quickly.

3. Avoid hot tubs and scalding hot baths

Hot water can foster Candida growth, due to the warm, moist environments. It can also harm the integrity of the skin, making you more prone to sensitive skin conditions.

4. Take probiotics or eat yogurt with probiotics 

Probiotics help balance the gastrointestinal and vaginal microflora. As well as treatment for yeast infections, probiotics are helpful in the prevention of yeast infections. They replace the good bacteria in the digestive tract and other parts of the body to restore balance. The best probiotic to take will be with those containing the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 bacteria. 

5. Practice good hygiene

Avoid behaviors that may lead to yeast infections, such as poor hygiene. When performing personal hygiene practices, avoid douching, scented vaginal washes or scented lotions, as well as perfumed sanitary products near the genitals, which can throw off the balance of the vagina’s microflora.

6. Avoid sugary and processed foods 

Yeast grows from sugar, so this can cause a surplus of yeast growth. This includes foods high in natural yeast as well such as bread, cheese, fruit, and alcoholic drinks. By not providing yeast its natural food and energy source, you are essentially starving it away.

7. Incorporate foods which are known to inhibit yeast

Eating at least a half cup of yogurt daily can help inhibit yeast overgrowth. Garlic is also a well known natural remedy to yeast, so incorporating that into your diet can be helpful. Cranberry juice or cranberry pill forms may also be helpful at preventing yeast infections. Apple cider vinegar has also been shown to prevent the growth of Candida.

8. Vitamin C strengthens the body’s natural immunity

Vitamin C is a good vitamin for anyone because it boosts your body’s immune system against many opportunistic infections, including Candida. Those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to yeast infection.

9. Stay hydrated

Drink enough water to maintain healthy skin membranes in the vaginal area, oral cavity, and elsewhere to prevent opportunistic infections of yeast, bacteria, and other organisms

What increases my risk of getting a yeast infection?

Chances are, a woman will get a vaginal yeast infection at some point in her lifetime. In fact, it is estimated that about 70% of women experience at least one in their life. Most of these, nine out of 10 in fact, will be due to a specific strain of Candida known as Candida albicans. Unfortunately, about 8% of women will have recurrent yeast infections, meaning they will continue to suffer from them repeatedly to some extent. It’s hard to track the exact incidence of vaginal yeast infections, because there are many over-the-counter treatments which are effective cures. Thus many of vaginal yeast infections are often under-reported because many women never go to the doctor to seek diagnosis or treatment.

There are some things that put you at a higher risk of getting yeast infections, whether just once or repeatedly. These can include but may not be limited to:

  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes Mellitus (high blood sugar)
  • Immunocompromised status (HIV/AIDS/post-transplant)
  • Broad-spectrum antibiotic use
  • Wearing tight clothing which does not allow good air flow to the pelvic area
  • Frequent shaving of the pelvic region
  • Sitting or being inactive for too long in wet clothing or wet bathing suits
  • Bad hygiene habits

There are some common myths around vaginal yeast infections as well. They are not a sexually transmitted infection or sexually transmitted disease, even though sexually active females are more likely to get them. Yeast infections can occur in other places such as the mouth or even in your bloodstream and be life threatening. Having a yeast infection does not mean you are “unclean,” but you may need to make adjustments in your hygiene routine and products.

When to see a doctor

Vaginal yeast infections, which may be referred to as Candida vulvovaginitis, can be managed by different types of healthcare practitioners including gynecologists, family care providers, primary care providers, or urgent care providers. Typically, they are treated with azole antifungal medications that are either OTC or prescriptions and symptoms resolve in just a few days. 

While yeast infections can be treated OTC many times, there are many scenarios where you should check in with your provider first to make sure treatment is appropriate and that the symptoms you are experiencing aren’t actually indicative of something else, like bacterial vaginosis for instance. This allows for your health care provider to give the best medical advice and best treatment plan. Be sure to disclose all health problems and previous treatments, including sexual health.

If you think your symptoms are consistent with a vaginal yeast infection, you should visit with your doctor if one of the following is also true before treating with an OTC product:

  • You are pregnant
  • You are breastfeeding
  • You are the victim of sexual trauma or abuse
  • This is the first time you have experienced these symptoms
  • You have recently completed treatment for a yeast infection and it has returned 

Your doctor may also need to screen for other diagnoses which have similar symptoms like the presence of foreign bodies, malignancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and the presence of harmful bacteria and bacterial infections. Complicated yeast infections or more severe infections which may have caused severe symptoms such as visible redness and swelling of the vulva, and cracking on the vaginal wall, may require longer treatment (one week or longer) with oral prescription drugs.

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