Tips For Preventing Vaginal Yeast Infections Using Natural Methods
No one likes a yeast infection
No one likes a yeast infection. Preventing vaginal yeast infections is something that many women would do if they knew how. Since three out of every four women will suffer from at least one infection in her lifetime, these are good tips to have.Antibiotics are a major cause of yeast infections. The medicine not only gets rid of bad bacteria, it also eliminates the good. These tend to keep yeast in check, so once they are gone, the yeast will multiply and take over. Warm moist areas are where yeast prefers to grow.
A good way to ensure that antibiotics won't cause a flare up is to eat yogurt each day. This will help replenish the good bacteria and they will flourish, keeping everything else from causing problems. In fact, it's a good practice to eat yogurt on a regular basis for just that reason, even when not taking medicine.
Keeping the crotch area clean and dry is always a good idea, but you'll have better results if you skip perfumed soaps and powders. These tend to cause irritations and can be bad for you. Instead, wash with plain soap, being sure to clean everything and dry thoroughly before dressing. Wearing loose clothing to allow for plenty of circulation is also helpful.
If you're looking to prevent issues, try cotton underwear, since it keeps the crotch free of moisture. It also allows the skin to breathe which is important as yeast likes warm, moist places. Avoid douches, because these can cause more problems by getting rid of protective mucus.
After going to the bathroom, you should always wipe from front to back. The intestines carry a lot of yeast and even if there is nothing visible, wiping toward the front can cause a serious infection.
If you are intimate with a lover, be sure to avoid anything that causes vaginal irritation. Latex is usually the worst for this. You can avoid problems by looking for silicon or other types of materials in condoms, toys and such. Lubricants should be water based, since oil based can also cause infections to take hold. If you notice that anything causes an irritation, make note and avoid it.
Diet can also be very important in stopping infections from even getting started. Eating a lot of sugar is just feeding the yeast. Women who suffer from recurring infections have discovered that by cutting sugar out of their diet, they can control the issue. You don't have to completely cut it out, even reducing it will help.
Interested in preventing vaginal yeast infections? Then you'll need to follow the tips given here. Skip the sugar, eat healthily and have lots of yogurt, nuts and fresh vegetables. You can also wear cotton clothes to help prevent problems. The looser the better. Stay clean and dry, as well, to ensure best results.
by: Jill Thompson