Yeast Infection

Vaginal yeast infection is very common, so home remedies for yeast infection are increasingly popular. Three-quarters of all women will get vaginal thrush at some stage in their lives. Although the lucky ones only suffer one attack of, many get it several times a year. While thrush is not life-threatening, it can cause a lot of distress.

• Thrush is not a sexually transmitted disease. It is important to differentiate from other (e.g. bacterial) vaginal infections.
• Women may be more susceptible to vaginal Candida infection if they are pregnant, or have diabetes.
• The use of antibiotics or birth control pills can promote Candida infections. So can frequent douching.

Read more about the causes and symptoms of vaginal thrush.

Sign and symptom:

• Itching and/or soreness in and around the entrance to the vagina. Vaginal itching.

• Thick, whitish vaginal discharge with a texture like soft or cottage cheese. Vaginal discharge does not smell unpleasant.

• Burning discomfort around the vaginal opening, especially if urine touches the area.

• Swelling of the labia.

• Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Read about natural treatments of vaginal Candida infection.

DIET TIPS

Starve the fungi, avoiding sugars, alcohol, refined foods, junk and preserved food, which feed the Candida albicans organism.

Eat plenty of garlic, at least two whole cloves a day. Eat a good portion of live, plain (no sugar) yogurt daily, to maintain the balance of beneficial probiotic bacteria in the gut, which help to prevent the spread of Candida infection. All the B vitamins are important too, eat wholemeal bread, brown rice, sunflower seeds, lentils. Get extra zinc from eggs, sardines, pumpkin seeds.
Vitamin B complex, zinc and selen dietary supplements are also useful in the yeast infection cure.

While there is no simple solution to prevent thrush, there are a number of things you can do to prevent getting it so frequently.

• Avoid wearing tights, underwear not made of cotton, leggings, Lycra shorts and tight jeans or trousers. Do not wear underpants at night.

• Wash and wipe the genital area from front to back. This may help prevent getting bacteria and yeast from the rectal area into the vagina. You can wet a couple of clean cotton wool balls in water and use to wipe once and then throw them away.

• Use sanitary pads rather than tampons during a period.

• Avoid perfumed soaps, genital sprays, colored or perfumed toilet paper, deodorant pads or tampons, bubble baths and any other irritants such as disinfectants.

• Use intim soaps with acidic pH on the genital area.

• Change your laundry detergent or fabric softener if you think it may be irritating your genital area.

• Avoid hot tubs.

• Do not douche.

• Bath or shower daily and pat your genital area dry.

• If prescribed an antibiotic, remind your doctor that you tend to get thrush. If the antibiotic course is essential, start taking Probiotic supplements, eat plenty of garlic and use live yogurt or Lactobacillus acidophilus capsules into the vagina as preventives.

When should I call the doctor?

If you are a woman who has been treated for vaginal yeast infections before, you are probably familiar with the symptoms and can treat them on your own. Otherwise, always see a doctor to rule out other vaginal infection, such as a sexually transmitted disease. You should also get medical advice if you have an unpleasant or bloody discharge, which smells strongly or have symptoms that have not cleared up after a week of treatment.

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