Recurrent yeast infection

A disclaimer: I 27 am not saying you should not take what your doctor prescribes for you. I’m just saying that your best route to health is being an educated consumer, with medicine just as with anything else you buy. Now let’s talk some more about these medicines: Diflucan (Pill) The Diflucan pill, also known as fluconazole, recurrent yeast infection is a strong, single-dose pill that is used to kill off the yeast candida and other types of fungus. It is an oral drug, meaning that you take it internally rather than apply it topically. The funny thing is, although this treatment is supposed to be a one-dose treatment, it does not always cure a yeast infection in one recurrent yeast infection go. In fact, it is now fairly common for doctors to prescribe several days’ worth of the drug. I personally know of many women who have taken the pill only to have their infections recur within the recurrent yeast infection week. As far as side effects go, there is the possibility of having an allergic reaction to the drug. recurrent yeast infection And because it’s a pill that you swallow, it gets into your body’s system, so you may experience more side effects than if you had simply smeared a topical cream “down there.” Pros: • For some women, a single pill will suffice • No messy creams • It’s easy Cons: • Many women report a recurrence of the infection recurrent yeast infection after taking this pill • The possibility for allergic reactions exists 28 • A single pill may cost up to $15 or even $20 • Should not be used by pregnant women Nizoral (pill) Nizoral is another oral treatment, but this one is really strong. It will wipe out candida and other fungi, and therefore is often used in recurrent yeast infection conjunction with an antibiotic treatment regimen (which is known to increase susceptibility to yeast infections). On the downside, taking such a strong drug may not be kind to the rest of your body. Nizoral may adversely affect your liver and hinder your body’s ability to make natural steroids, like testosterone. Pros: • A powerful drug that will wipe out recurrent yeast infection the fungus • May be used along with antibiotics to help stave off an infection before it occurs • Not messy, like a cream would be Cons: • Since it’s taken by mouth, this drug will have systemic effects Gynazole Gynazole is another one-dose treatment, but this one is a strong cream rather than a pill. You use it recurrent yeast infection the same way you would use an OTC cream, but this one is meant to work faster and more effectively. The cream has a texture that enables it to adhere better to the vaginal walls so that there is less slippage and “oozing.” A dose of this treatment will set you back 20 bucks or less. 29 Gynazole contains recurrent yeast infection a drug known as butoconazole that is widely known to provoke adverse reactions in the people who use it as a topic treatment. Reactions vary and may not be all that serious, but stop and think about whether you really want to expose that delicate area to a commonly known irritant. Doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose of recurrent yeast infection using it? Pros: • One-dose will supposedly do the trick • The cream is less messy than OTC creams • No systemic effects as with oral treatment Cons: • It’s messy • As with other creams, contains oils that break down latex (used in many types of birth control) • Contains butoconazole, which may cause adverse reactions as a recurrent yeast infection side effect Terazol Terazol is an antifungal cream that contains the powerful drug terconazole and that is meant to wipe out candida albicans. It is so strong that is will likely wipe out other fungi, too.

As you may know from the countless TV commercials on this topic or from past experience, such medicine generally comes in the recurrent yeast infection form of a cream that is inserted with an applicator into the vagina, or a suppository that you place in your vagina and that then dissolves inside your body. In certain cases, particularly for recurring infections that don’t respond to the treatments above, doctors may prescribe an oral treatment, in the form of a pill that you swallow. 21 recurrent yeast infection To help relieve the symptoms that you are experiencing while waiting for those meds to kick in, you can also buy creams that are designed to help relieve the itching, burning, and inflammation. Option 2: Home and Traditional Remedies Now let’s talk briefly about the second route you can take, which involves bypassing most of the medical establishment’s prescriptions. recurrent yeast infection We’re going to talk a lot more about this in the section on my multi-step home remedy, so for now let me just say that doctors often treat just the symptoms and ignore the root cause of diseases. Maybe this is why so few doctors are able to make their patients’ vaginal infections go away for good! As many recurrent yeast infection women have discovered for themselves over the years, certain home remedies and lifestyle changes are actually vastly superior to prescriptions and OTC medicines when it comes to curing a yeast infection. In fact, in other parts of the world it is very common to use home remedies such as yogurt and tea tree oil to cure yeast infections. I recurrent yeast infection personally find that yogurt is a fantastic treatment, but let’s say just for the sake of argument that the results of yogurt and, say, Monistat are just about equal. Now, which would you rather flood your body with: natural, organic, delicious probiotic yogurt, or the powerful and potentially dangerous drugs that make up natural cure for yeast infection Monistat? recurrent yeast infection We’ll talk more about all of this later. Moreover, in the case of yeast infections, it’s not enough to inject a cream into your vagina and get the yeast under control there. It’s more important to understand why you developed a yeast infection in the first place. As I have discussed above, you should know that a yeast infection recurrent yeast infection can be a systemic infection that affects your entire body and its functions, and not just 22 your vagina. So treating just the vagina is not necessarily the way to cure yourself for good! However you decide to treat yourself, it’s important to remember that you should avoid sex while you have an active infection. Penetration can drive the recurrent yeast infection yeast cells deeper and deeper into the walls of the vagina, causing more irritation and prolonging the infection.

On the same note, steer clear of tampons and remember to keep the area as clean and as able to breathe as possible. That means changing feminine pads frequently (at least every 4 natural treatment for vaginitis hours), wearing clean recurrent yeast infection cotton underwear, and avoiding tight pants that stifle the area. 23 Over-the-Counter Treatment Products: Pros and Cons Over-the-counter, or OTC, treatments for yeast infections are incredibly common and are available in just about every drugstore or grocery store you go into. They are relatively inexpensive and widely available, so it’s no wonder that most women who think they have recurrent yeast infection a yeast infection run out and buy one of the many OTC options. It doesn’t help that the airwaves are inundated with television commercials of pretty women complaining about yeast infections, then holding up boxes of drugs for you to buy. And flip open the pages of any women’s magazine and you’ll see plenty of print ads, too. Those recurrent yeast infection companies want your money pretty badly, it seems! But buying an over-the-counter treatment is not always a good idea. First of all, if you have a vaginal infection that is not actually a yeast infection, trying to treat it with a yeast infection cream or suppository is not going to do you much good. Moreover, you could actually be recurrent yeast infection increasing your body’s resistance to these treatments, so that when you need them later on they won’t work as well. Treating yourself for a yeast infection when you don’t actually have a yeast infection is, well, just no good for your body at all. Moreover, OTC medicines are not meant for every woman. If you are under the age recurrent yeast infection of 12 or you are pregnant, avoid OTC medicines and consult your doctor about treatment options. The same goes if you are breastfeeding—drugs in your system may be secreted in your breast milk. This is true even if you are using a topic drug and not one that you take orally, because topical medicine is absorbed through the skin recurrent yeast infection and into the bloodstream. 24 Fungicidal creams are perhaps the most readily available OTC treatment options. Monistat is the best-known name, and you’ve probably seen their commercials on TV or in magazines. Monistat and other similar creams contain an antifungal drug called tioconazole. When you insert this antifungal cream into the affected area, it will go to work attacking recurrent yeast infection the yeast. Usually, creams come in a package with several applicators. You put the cream in the applicator and then insert the applicator into the vaginal area and apply the cream as directed. The cream will stay “up there” for some time. You must repeat this process anywhere from 1 to 10 times, depending on the kind of cream recurrent yeast infection you buy (1-day treatment, 3-day treatment, or 7-10-day treatment).

Also, the hormonal changes brought on by diabetes may also be a factor in the incidence of yeast infection. Antibiotics and Other Prescription Drugs 11 Antibiotics are meant to kill off certain elements in the body that are causing disease or discomfort. While antibiotics may be recommended to you recurrent yeast infection by a doctor, you should keep in mind that they kill off bacteria indiscriminantly, the good along with the bad. Since good bacteria actually help to keep yeast in check in a normal, healthy vagina, taking antibiotics can lead the way to a yeast infection. In fact, yeast infections are quite common in women who have recently had a recurrent yeast infection round of antibiotics. Even if you took antibiotics as a child and you are now a young adult, your body could still be “out of whack” as a result! Feminine Hygiene Products As you can probably imagine, douching too often or leaving a tampon in place for too long can wreak havoc on the delicate PH level of the recurrent yeast infection vaginal environment. chronic yeast infection The vagina has a natural acidity level that the body regulates on its own. You do not need to “clean” it out using douches or feminine sprays, and you should not do anything to compromise it. Remember, feminine hygiene companies are trying to make money by selling their products; don’t buy into the hype. recurrent yeast infection Your vagina, when kept healthy, will regulate itself and does not require external “cleansers.” Tight Clothing “Choking” your crotch with a tight pair of jeans or a pair of nylon stockings is a surefire recipe for a yeast infection. This is because tight clothing suffocates the vaginal area and does not allow it to breathe. This in turn results recurrent yeast infection in a change to the level of acidity “down there.” 12 On the same note, synthetic fabrics are not a good choice for underwear, because they trap the air against your body, not allowing it to circulate and breathe. Avoid synthetic underwear, nylons and pants, all of which can trigger an infection. If you must wear nylons on occasion, recurrent yeast infection just try not to wear them every day. Give your body a chance to breathe. This is especially important in the summertime, when the hot, humid air can make the situation down there even worse.

There are several common causes, and some of them are easier to deal with than others. The thing they all have in common recurrent yeast infection is that they derive from a change in the acidity of the vagina. As I mentioned earlier, the acidic environment is what normally keeps the yeast in check. So if something happens that changes that healthy level of acidity, yeast can really have a field day, multiplying without a limit and therefore causing an infection to occur. Certain causes recurrent yeast infection are natural events you have no control over. For example, menstruation, pregnancy, and diabetes can all lead to yeast infections. Steroids and birth control pills can also be a trigger; so can antibiotics, which disrupt the natural environment of the vagina by killing off good and bad cause of yeast infection bacteria. Other triggers have to do with things recurrent yeast infection you could easily change in your everyday life. Wetness or irritation around the genitals is a major factor, so you should always avoid wearing too-tight underwear and wet bathing suits, or using vaginal products (douches, sprays, etc.) that irritate the delicate vaginal area (much more on this later). In fact, something as seemingly harmless as taking a bubble bath recurrent yeast infection after a stressful day at work could actually be triggering your uncomfortable, itchy condition! 10 Now let’s discuss each of the major causes in greater detail. Pregnancy and Menstruation When your body goes through a massive change like pregnancy, or when it undergoes a monthly flux in hormone levels, your vagina does not escape unscathed! Pregnancy and your period recurrent yeast infection can both cause the level of acidity in your vagina to change, and that, as I’ve explained above, can trigger an infection to occur. Stress Anything that stresses your body—from the everyday stresses of your job, for example, to a lack of sleep to a poor diet to that irritating relative who’s coming over for dinner—can raise your chances recurrent yeast infection of developing an infection. This is because stress lowers the body’s resistance to infection and weakens the immune system. Therefore, getting plenty of sleep, having proper nutrition and staying calm can all help you avoid a yeast infection. Diabetes and Obesity There is some evidence to suggest that consuming foods high in sugar and drinking lots of alcohol can recurrent yeast infection trigger yeast infections due to the high sugar content in the urine. (And yeast overgrowth can actually be a cause of weight gain!)

If 7 the acidity decreases, however, an infection can develop and the yeast will start growing out of control. When yeast begins to multiply, a yeast infection, or candidiasis, begins. There are many reasons why recurrent yeast infection normal yeast may begin to multiply out of control—from moisture to lifestyle to disease to prescription drugs you may be taking to irritation—and we’ll get into those causes in greater detail in the next section. For now, however, just keep in mind that not all cause of vaginal yeast infection vulvar itches signal a yeast infection. Read through the recurrent yeast infection “Symptoms” section of this guide carefully to determine if you have this condition; and if you are unsure, as always, consult a physician. If you do have a yeast infection, you’ll probably be experiencing any or all of the following: • White discharge that is thick and “cottage-cheesey” • Itching around the vaginal area • Swelling or inflammation of recurrent yeast infection the area around the vagina • Pain during sex Perhaps this is your first time experiencing a yeast infection—but more likely it’s been an ongoing saga in your life. Many women will experience chronic yeast infections due to elements of their lifestyle that can trigger this nasty little condition. And even doctors are not always able to successful treat recurrent yeast infection infections on the first go. Yeast is very hardy and can be difficult to get under control, especially if you don’t do your best to remove any external triggers. Thankfully, we know a lot more about yeast infections today than we used to, and we also know that prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines 8 (which don’t always work) are recurrent yeast infection not our only options. The rest of this guide is devoted to helping you determine whether you’ve got an infection and, if so, how you can safely and effectively bring your body back to its healthy, energetic state. 9 What Causes a Yeast Infection? So now you know what differentiates a yeast infection from other vaginal infections—the presence of recurrent yeast infection too much yeast! But you may be wondering: if it is normal to have some yeast in the body at all times, then why does the body get out of whack sometimes and let that yeast grow out of control? In this section we’ll discuss the main reasons why yeast is likely to grow too quickly.

Eat lots recurrent yeast infection of leafy greens to keep your intestinal tract clean and in superior shape, and consume plenty of fruits and other veggies. Also, be sure to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, which is one of the easiest ways to maintain all of your body’s essential functions. 39 Foods to avoid: • Processed cereal, especially sweetened cereal • Soda recurrent yeast infection and sweetened fruit drinks • Honey and sugar • Products containing white flour • Salted, cured meat (sausage, bacon, etc.) • White rice, pasta, white bread • Fermented foods, like pickles • “Moldy” food, like bananas and mushrooms • Coffee and caffeinated tea Step 3: Strengthen Your Immune System It’s not just what you eat or what you apply recurrent yeast infection to your skin that can help stave off future infections. It also depends on your state of mind and whether or not you take the time to keep your whole body in good shape. Modern medicine so often fails to take into account the externals, such as whether you are getting enough sleep, how much stress is present in recurrent yeast infection your daily life, whether you exercise regularly, and so on. Well, I’m here as proof that all of these factors play a huge role in how healthy your body is—and, therefore, how susceptible you are to vaginal infections and other diseases. Yeast infections, especially when they recur, are a sign of a weak immune system, so you should not recurrent yeast infection stop at simply treating the symptoms. Instead, you have got to reassess your body’s health and its ability to ward off disease and further infections. You’ve got to make some changes so that you get your body yeast infection cure back into good shape. 40 Do yourself a favor and make your health a priority in your day to recurrent yeast infection day schedule. It’s so easy to slack off and let your body go, but if you do so you are really compromising your health in many ways. Eating lots of sugar does not just result in obesity; it also lets the yeast run rampant throughout your system, causing depression, blurred vision, irritability, skin conditions, slow healing of cuts and recurrent yeast infection scrapes, insomnia, and so on. Eat right, and exercise regularly, because these things will improve your health and reestablish a healthy, strong immune system. Establish a routine for yourself, and then stick to it. Pick a physical activity (or activities) that you truly love, so that you’ll feel inspired to do it. Vary things up to make it interesting: recurrent yeast infection try yoga one day, jogging the next, cycling the third day, and so on. You will also need to eat right and introduce vitamins and supplements into your diet. Why? Because otherwise it is nearly impossible to get all the nutrients that your body needs for you to nurse yourself back to health. So pay attention to the following recurrent yeast infection information about essential supplements. You can find them all at your local health food store: Essential fatty acids: One common misconception that lots of people have is that fats are bad for you and should be eliminated from a healthy diet. Not so! Certain fats are actually “lubricants” that keep the body’s systems functional, and so you’ve got to recurrent yeast infection make sure you’re getting enough of the essential fatty acids. I’m not talking about the kind of fat that comes in a candy bar, of course—I’m talking about the fats you get from fish, avocados, and supplements.

My best recommendation is to take the bull by the horns and prevent the infection at its root cause—your diet. You recurrent yeast infection need to change the way you eat in order to change the way your body is reacting. By eating healthy foods you will boost your body’s ability to stay healthy, and by avoiding “bad” foods you will be depriving yeast of the things they need to thrive and multiply. When you do that, voila—your infection will disappear! I’ve already recurrent yeast infection explained how wonderful yogurt is as a topical treatment. Well, it works wonderfully as a part of your anti-candida diet, too! So don’t just apply the yogurt topically—eat it, too! The same acidophilus that will help in a topic application will also aid on recolonizing your GI tract and reestablishing a good balance of bacteria and yeast. You can recurrent yeast infection also buy acidophilus in capsule form in health stores. If you don’t particularly like yogurt, it may be easier for you to swallow it in pill-form. Whichever vehicle you choose, rest assured that you are on your way to better health. In clinical trials, women who ate yogurt with acidophilus every day had a significantly lower incidence of recurring recurrent yeast infection yeast infections and a lower amount of candida in the body. Try eating at least a cup a day and see how it works for you. Another duel-purpose treatment is garlic. I mentioned above that garlic may be used as a suppository, but it’s also practically a miracle food and you should consume lots of it. Chop it up recurrent yeast infection in your salad, bake it and smear it into a veggie “dip,” eat it raw, make garlic soup—however you like to eat it, just eat it! 38 This tiny bulb is packed with so much great stuff, and it works amazingly well to stave off infection and fight fungi. If you suffer from frequent infections, make garlic part of recurrent yeast infection your regular diet and I guarantee that you will start to feel better. So now you see, you can actually eat your way to better health! Aside from yogurt, there are plenty of delicious, nutritious foods that will help your body get back to an optimal state of health and prevent the recurrence of disease. Foods to eat regularly: recurrent yeast infection • Cranberries • Onions • Oats • Fish • Lentils • Cottage cheese and unsweetened yogurt • Unsalted nuts • Brown rice • Brussel sprouts • Chicken • Eggs • Soy milk • Herbal teas and pure water Make these a part of your regular diet! Eat organically vaginal yeast infection whenever you can. In general, to beat your recurrent yeast infection infection you must maintain a healthy diet that is low in sugary food (which yeast thrives on) and low in breads (again, anything “yeasty” is a feast for the yeast in your body).

Simply buy ointment base and then gather up some chickweed. Squeeze the chickweed to produce juice, then mix the juice and ointment, stir well, and recurrent yeast infection apply to the affected areas. If you don’t want to make your own ointment, you can easily find chickweed ointment at the health food store. • Boric Acid Boric acid pills (available at health food stores or pharmacies), used as suppositories, can be a very powerful treatment for those particularly strong infections. Try using two capsules a day—and again, recurrent yeast infection make sure that they will easily dissolve inside your body. (Some women do have reactions to boric acid, so proceed with caution. Don’t overdo it!) • Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is systemic yeast infection widely used in other parts of the globe to fight off yeast infections, and it works great because of its antifungal properties. In recurrent yeast infection fact, tea tree oil is often used in the U.S. to successfully control athlete’s foot, dandruff and acne—why not try it “down there”? It works effectively but gently, and it actually smells wonderful and very refreshing. For the easiest possible method of treatment using tea tree oil, go to a health food store and purchase tea tree oil suppositories recurrent yeast infection to use instead of 36 those OTC or prescription drug suppositories. Or you can buy the oil itself and apply a few drops to a lubricated tampon, then insert as normal. • Colloidal Silver When consumed or applied topically, colloidal silver appears to have the effect of killing off parasites and one-celled organisms, including fungi and bacteria. It seems recurrent yeast infection to support the immune system and help repair damaged tissue. Colloidal silver may be used to treat yeast infections in the form of a douche. Mix the silver (1 tablespoon) with a full glass of water (8 ounces), then use the solution as a douche, to cleanse vaginal area. You will probably feel almost immediate relief from your symptoms. recurrent yeast infection Colloidal silver is a suspension that contains pure silver floating in pure water. The atoms of the silver are electrically charged so that they are suspended in the water and do not all clump up at the bottom. Colloidal silver is readily available on the internet and in health food stores. Look for high-grade formulations, made from an electro-colloidal recurrent yeast infection or non-chemical method of production. Also look for products that are slightly golden or yellow in color, and no darker. Avoid products that need to be shaken. * * * Okay, so now you’ve got the symptoms under control, and you’ve cured your vaginal infection—at least for the time being. Now it’s time to address the underlying cause….it’s time recurrent yeast infection to: Step 2: Adopt a Low-Carbohydrate Diet 37 Now, as I’ve already said, yeast doesn’t just live in the vagina. It also lives in the mouth and the digestive tract, and the trick in treating a yeast infection and preventing it from reoccurring is to get the excess yeast to die off and to reestablish the right balance. You recurrent yeast infection can’t just do this by treating your vagina topically!