subject: Frequent Yeast Infections - Causes And Prevention [print this page] When considering the causes of frequent (recurring) yeast infections, you need to understand the difference between the cause of the symptoms and the conditions that can actually 'trigger' your infections.
The actual cause is a yeast-like fungus named Candida Albicans. This is found quite naturally in our bodies, but normally doesn't cause us any great dramas, because of our body's beneficial bacteria that keeps the fungus from 'overgrowing' into a yeast infection.
Sometimes though, your beneficial bacteria can become overwhelmed if the flora is helped in some way, or, they become compromised, so that there just aren't enough of them to fight the Candida fungus. So, now we begin to see that there can be some underlying issues or conditions that can 'trigger' the actual yeast infection...
One of the most important triggers is the use / overuse of antibiotics. This is kind of obvious when you think about it. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria, and they can do this very effectively, but, they can also kill-of your good bacteria as well as bad bacteria.
Other triggers are things like; too much sugar in your diet feeding the fungus, pH changes in your vagina that favor the growth of Candida Albicans, hormonal changes (e.g. pregnancy), increased heat and moisture around your vagina, yeast infection transference during intercourse, and so on.
So, some key things to take on board are...
1. Avoid sugar and sugar in foods (e.g. fruit, processed foods, cakes, etc.) and drinks (e.g. fizzy, fruit juices, alcohol, etc.)
2. Wear only loose-fitting cotton underwear, so as not to trap moisture and raise the temperature too much. The fungus loves these sweaty conditions.
3. Don't use feminine sprays or scented soaps, douches, toilet paper, etc. Use plain, unscented products.
4. Stop intercourse until the infections has been completely cleared.
5. If you're taking antibiotics, see if your doctor can give you one that won't affect your good bacteria.
These are just four of a number of things you need to address if you are to prevent frequent yeast infections from destroying your health.
One thing to give serious consideration to, is the use of drug-based medications that you get over-the-counter, or, through prescription. In general, they tend to just get rid of the yeast infection symptoms, and not the underlying triggers that cause your yeast infection to flair-up in the first place.
So, even if they do eliminate your symptoms, unless you address the underlying causes / triggers, there is no guarantee that you won't suffer recurring / frequent yeast infections. And, they can have some nasty side effects too; which is why people are increasingly utilising the benefits of natural home remedies for yeast infections.
Typical home remedies that are proving very popular are things like the use of plain yogurt, honey, fresh garlic, raw apple cider vinegar, etc. But these have to be used in conjunction with the other issues that need addressing, like the five summarized above. It needs to be a totally holistic approach.
