Let’s face it, the most interaction most of us have had with yeast is when we try to bake bread. Also, admittedly, vagina health isn’t dinner table conversation. And when things go cray-cray down there, we aren’t entirely sure how to even go about fixing it. Look, a healthy vagina contains bacteria as well as yeast cells on the daily. But when too much yeast multiplies in the vagina, it causes an infection, swelling, and itching. Ugh. Which, from experience, can be the worst thing you can wish for someone! Yeast is a fungus that can live almost anywhere and it is found naturally in your body, but your immune system keeps it from growing out of control. Thank god for small mercies! Read on to find out all you need to know about protecting your hoo-ha.
If you are wondering how to find out if you have a yeast infection, here several symptoms that you need to watch out for:
- Pain while having sex
- Burning during urination
- Swelling around the vagina
- Vaginal itching
- Redness
- Soreness or rash down there
- Whitish-gray and clumpy vaginal discharge
They say that 3 out of every 4 women that you know have had a yeast infection in their lives. Here are several common ways in which you can get a yeast infection:
- Poor eating habits like eating a lot of sugar
- Lack of sleep and taking too much stress
- Weak immune system
- Hormonal imbalance near your menstrual cycle
- You may also want to see if your sexual partner has a yeast infection.
- Certain birth control pills may also increase your risk of getting a yeast infection.
Now that you know the symptoms and how you can get a yeast infection, this is how you can treat one:
1. Applying an anti-fungal cream to the infected area. But make sure your hands are clean while you’re doing it!
2. Having tablets prescribed by your doctor.
3. If you are not into using creams and want to avoid taking tablets then you can use these natural ingredients for these popular home remedies:
- Yogurt has good bacteria which can inhibit the growth of the yeast. Have it orally or inserted into the vagina… haha yep!
- Tea tree oil comes from the tea tree and it is used to kill fungus, bacteria, and viruses. Dilute it and apply it into your vagina.
However, make sure you consult a doctor before you indulge in these home remedies since it should not get in the way of any medication or cause other unintended side effects.
They say it is always better to be safe than sorry. So here’s what you can do to ensure your vagina is in the pink of health.
- Eat a well-balanced breakfast
- Wear natural fibres such as cotton, linen, or silk
- Avoid tight pants, pantyhose, tights, or leggings
- Wash your underwear in hot water
- Avoid sitting around in wet clothes
- Eating yogurt on the daily
- Replacing feminine products frequently, and avoid using fragrant tampons/pads
- Avoid sitting in hot tub for too long or very frequently
You may be tempted but don’t try and self-diagnose when it comes to your va-jay-jay. The infection will get worse if it is not treated well. But hey, we’ve got you covered on the information bit, so you know what to do!