Yeast infection (Candida albicans) can occur in any part of the body such as underarms, between toes, etc. in both men and women. In women yeast infection is very common in vagina, so common that 75% of women have it at some time in their lives. Yeast infection is not serious disease but it is very uncomfortable.
Yeast are minute organisms (candida fungus) that live in small numbers on human body. The problem arises when their number grows. The acidity of the vagina prevents yeast from growing. If the acidity of the vagina decreases, then too many yeast grow, causing vaginal infection. The acidity of the vagina can be changed due to menstruation period, pregnancy, diabetes or birth control pills. A fungus called Candida albicans causes vaginal yeast infections.
Symptoms of Yeast Infection
- Itching and burning in the vagina.
- Swelling, itching, and burning around the vulva (the skin that surrounds your vagina).
- A white thick vaginal discharge that is mostly odorless.
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Soreness & rash on outer lips of the vagina.
- Burning during urination.
Causes of Yeast Infection
- Lowered immunity
- Poor nutrition
- Physical and mental stress.
- Use of some antibiotics
- Birth control pills
- Menstrual periods
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
How to Avoid Yeast Infection?
- Wear loose cotton underwear or panties (no synthetic-fiber clothes). Don't wear panty hose, leggings, and tight jeans every day.
- Don't use deodorant sanitary pads or tampons and feminine hygiene sprays, or bubble bath, especially if you feel an infection.
- Change out of wet clothes as soon as possible. Before changing, use your blow dryer on a low to dry your genital area.
- Wipe from front to back after every use of the toilet. This may prevent reaching the bacteria from rectum to your vagina.
- Do not keep your stomach empty for a long time.
Home Remedy of Yeast Infection
If you have itchiness or burning in the vagina or around vulva, you should talk to your doctor to be sure that a yeast infection is the cause. The symptoms of a yeast infection are also the symptoms of HIV & STDs infections. Someof the remedies may give you quick relief.
For Yeast Infection in vagina
- Dip a tampon in plain yogurt (curd, yoghurt) containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, and insert into the vagina twice a day until your symptoms clear up. Repeat this until one day after the symptoms disappear for complete cure.
- Eat daily 1 cup of yogurt containing live bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus (or acidophilus capsules) for 6 months to treat your infection.
- Peel a fresh clove of garlic and make a little tampon by wrapping it in cheesecloth and tying with unwaxed dental floss. You may leave a bit of floss to pull it out afterward. Insert it in vagina and leave there for several hours, say overnight, and remove it in the morning. For severe infection, try this in the morning and during night both. Repeat this until one day after the symptoms disappear. This treatment works.
- Pour a few drops of Teatree oil (available from natural health stores) on a lubricated tampon & insert into the vagina to get relief.
- Insert 1 or 2 capsules of boric acid into the vagina and keep it there overnight for several nights. For some women the boric acid may cause burning and discomfort for the first few days.
- Dissolve 1 Tbsp of potassium sorbate in 1 cup water. Insert a tampon into the vagina and pour this solution inside to be absorbed by the tampon. Keep it there overnight. Repeat this for several nights.
- Add 1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar in 2 cups of water and put 1 garlic clove in it. Let it stand for some time and use this for douching.
- For other parts of the Body: Apply fresh garlic paste directly on the affected part of the body.
Read more about Cure your Yeast Infection In 3 Days
When to Consult a Doctor for Yeast Infection
Contact your doctor if you have the following:
- Fever, pain in stomach, or a discharge with foul smell.
- No improvement within three days.
- Vagina yeast infection reoccurs in 2 months.
