Yeast infections are more common than most women know. Our vaginas don’t like a lot of things. They’re very picky and they need us to treat them with care. As common as yeast infections are, they are also pretty easy to cure and go away within a few days of taking the proper medication. However, sometimes this infection comes back and for some women, they just never stop. Keep reading to find out why that could be happening.
What Are Yeast Infections
Yeast infections or vulvovaginal candidiasis are fungal infections that appear on the vagina. They are usually caused by an increase in bacteria in the vagina. The vagina has bacteria naturally but when it surpasses its normal level, several things could happen, one of them being a yeast infection. Some symptoms of a yeast infection are itchiness, burning, redness discharge and swelling of the vulva. Mayo Clinic shares that vaginal yeast infections affect up to 3 out of 4 women at some point in their lifetimes. Many women experience at least two episodes.
How Do Yeast Infections Occur
Yeast infections, as mentioned above occur when the average level of yeast or candida in the vagina has grown to a point where it can no longer be controlled. If your ph balance is thrown off course, it can affect the bacteria in your vagina and cause a yeast infection. Also, if you consume too much antibiotics, it can take away the healthy bacteria in your vagina, which sets off an imbalance, which could ultimately cause a yeast infection.
Why Do I Keep Having Yeast Infections?
Recurring yeast infections are those that happen four or more times within a year- Mayoclinic. Here are possible reasons why you’ve been having recurring yeast infections;
- The Initial Yeast Infection You Treated Was Never Fully Healed
Sometimes, whether or not you finish your medications, the yeast infection remains. Your symptoms may go away which gives the illusion that the yeast infection is gone. The truth is it never really leaves so the infection you think, “left” and came back never actually did. See your doctor for further medications.
- You Are Sexually Active But Not Careful Enough
Yeast infections are not sexually transmitted infections BUT they can transfer from one sexual partner to the other. You can avoid this by using dental dams and condoms. If you must have unprotected sex, you and your partner or partners should get tested and if you’re all free of the infection, make sure to wash up after sex (DO NOT DOUCHE).
- Moisture And Dampness
Did someone say wet? Did you hear that? That’s the yeast infection jumping for joy in your vagina. If you’re always wet, sweating and sitting in wet clothing, that could be why you’re always having yeast infections. Dry up as often as you can, and wear cotton underwear and light clothing.
- Resilient Strains Of Yeast
There are some yeast infections that don’t go away with normal, everyday, over-the-counter medications. Some of them are a bit more resilient. They linger and torment you. They may be rare but they exist. If your yeast infection won’t go away, even after completing multiple treatments, you may have to see your doctor to recommend an alternate treatment plan.
- High Blood Sugar
Women with diabetes, especially those that don’t watch their sugar levels are at a higher risk for yeast infections. “Even if you don’t have diabetes, bingeing on carbohydrates can set up conditions that yeast thrive in.” Michael T. Murray, ND, author of Chronic Candidiasis: Your Natural Guide To healing With Diet, Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Exercise, and Other Natural Methods.
- A Weak Immune System
If you have a disease that attacks the immune system like HIV, leukaemia and so on. You are more likely to have recurrent yeast infections. If you take steroids or medications that suppress your immune system for whatever reason, this could also be why you keep having yeast infections.
- Inconsistent Good Hygiene Practices
If you don’t clean your vulva and vagina regularly, that could be the reason why your yeast infection won’t go away. Clean up often and always change wet underwear.
- Antibiotics
Although some antibiotics can be used to cure some yeast infections, antibiotics could also cause yeast infections. Antibiotics kill off bad bacteria in the body, yes but they could also kill off good bacteria as well. It’s not biased, it doesn’t select. Frequent use of antibiotics could cause you to have constant yeast infections. Take probiotics after or alongside the antibiotics you’re taking. This will help bring back the good bacteria that fight yeast infections. Kecia Gaither, MD, an OB-GYN, and director of perinatal services at NYC health+Hospitals, says the probiotic strain lactobacillus is really good at restoring balance in the vagina.
- Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are a lot of hormonal changes which disrupt the ph balance in the vagina. Kimberly Langdon, MD, an OB-GYN with Medzino, a telehealth provider shares that it also disrupts the level of estrogen and progesterone which influence the growth of candida yeast. Pregnant women also have higher levels of sugar in the secretions that come out of their vaginas which feeds yeast infections.
- You Do Not Have A Yeast Infection
Some infections could mimic the symptoms of a yeast infection. Symptoms like burning, itching or swelling of the vagina. Some infections that could pass for a yeast infection are bacterial vaginosis, STIs, ureaplasma, skin allergies and so on. It isn’t always easy to differentiate which is which so if you’ve treated a yeast infection and it returns, see your doctor for further tests. It may just be something else.
What To Do About Chronic Yeast Infections
First things first, see your doctor and follow all their instructions. However, you need to do a lot more than just follow your doctor’s instructions. You need to make a few lifestyle changes.
- Never leave your prescribed medications unfinished. Take everything, even after the symptoms disappear.
- Never douche. This can only help unhealthy bacteria grow and reach places in your body you don’t want them to.
- Wear breathable and loose underwear, like cotton panties. Your vagina needs room to breathe. Tight clothing and underwear only give room for the yeast to grow because there’s no room for moisture to dry up.
- If you’re sexually active, get tested regularly and have your partner or partners get tested, so you can avoid passing it back and forth.
- Also, always change out of damp clothes or swimsuits. Never, ever linger in them.
- Practice excellent hygiene. Change your pads, panty liner and tampons as often as you can.
- As most women know, do not wash the insides of your vagina with soap. You should also not wash the outside of your vulva with scented soaps. Avoid any scented product. This includes sanitary pads, panty liners, shower gels, bubble baths and so on.
For more answers to questions surrounding the vagina, check out the rest of our articles on vaginal health