subject: Women And Yeast Infections - Prevention [print this page] A yeast infection is a very annoying thing to have to deal with and causes a lot of discomfort. Symptoms like itching, burning and irritation worsen the longer the infection is untreated and all you want is relief. But just treating the symptoms is not going to solve the problem, you need to identify and deal with the root cause of the infection. By knowing these triggers you can take steps to prevent a yeast infection from happening again.
A yeast infection is the result of a fungus called Candida Albicans overgrowing on the body. It lives there normally at low numbers controlled by good bacteria but when an imbalance happens and the fungus is able to rapidly overgrow, it causes a yeast infection. Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection include but are not limited to redness, itching, burning, discomfort and swelling.
Yeast loves an environment that is warm and damp which is why the vagina is so prone. Help prevent infections by wearing clothes that allow the area to breathe i.e avoid tight clothing, wear cotton underwear that will allow air in, get out of wet clothing as soon as possible.
What you consume can have a big impact too. There are foods that can make you more susceptible such as eating a lot of sugar, as the fungus has a 'sweet tooth' and feeds on that. Refined and processed foods are also not good. Look for plain yogurt that contains Lactobacillus Acidophilus as this will keep the number of good bacteria in your body topped up, you could alternatively take probiotic supplements if you are not keen on yogurt.
Other things to avoid in order to prevent a yeast infection are antibiotics. These kill all bacteria in the body bad and good. Try to keep healthy with exercise, a good diet, fresh air and enough sleep. Also avoid using any perfumed products or sprays down there as these will upset the chemical balance, cause irritation and so trigger the overgrowth.
When washing use gentle soaps, not perfumed, and no sprays. Chemicals upset the vagina's natural flora. Spermicides like Nonoxinol used on some condoms should be avoided for the same reasons.
