Women and Yeast Infections

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

There are fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the monthly cycle.Hormone levels change dramatically at puberty, during pregnancy and at menopause.Hormone therapy and oral contraceptives also cause high levels of estrogen 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.Stress, being run down, times of weakened immunity all encourage the growth of yeast.

The symptoms of a female yeast infection can be:

A fishy or yeasty odor
Itching
Discharge
Pain during sex
Pain or burning when urinating

When under stress, women need to take very good care of themselves.Because the female body fluctuates hormonally, women need to learn how to relax and should eat well 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.

These days most doctors say that douching can do more harm than good.The balance of bacteria and organisms inside the vagina is upset by douching. You normally have small amounts of yeast and certain friendly bacteria in your vagina. But if friendly bacteria are wiped out by douching, your yeast levels can quickly get out of control. You may experience the symptoms of a yeast infection when the balance of the body is upset.

Hygiene products for women often have 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. You may get a yeast infection if your skin is inflamed already.

So avoid bubble baths and scented soaps, and choose unscented personal products.
Did you know the vagina cleans itself? Its natural discharges help protect you from harmful bacteria. So you should not use deodorants or wipes on your vaginal area.

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 with care after your shower and after swimming and exercising.
On the toilet, wipe from front to back, not back to front.
Allow some fresh air to your vagina! Avoid tight pants. Wear underwear made of cotton rather than nylon, which can trap dampness

Following these pointers will help in preventing yeast infections in females. By following the right program you can, in fact, become completely yeast free and feel energised, clear-thinking, and pain-free.