How to Get Rid of Yeast Infections |
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If you’re looking for information on getting rid of male yeast infections, go here: How to Get Rid of Male Yeast Infections.
1. What is a Yeast Infection?
A yeast infection is a very unpleasant condition that many women deal with daily. In fact, 75% of all women will have one in their lifetime, while 50% will have multiple yeast infections.
What Are the Symptoms of a Yeast Infection?
The signs and symptons of a yeast infection include itching and redness around the outer vagina (vulva), soreness, rash, and/or burning especially while urinating. Also, a cottage-cheese like discharge may be present. While these are the symptoms of a yeast infection, not all women or girls will experience all of them, but if severe itching is not present then you may be suffering from some other condition - see your doctor immediately.
2. Yeast Infection Causes and Prevention
A yeast infection is caused by the fungus Candida albicans which naturally occurs inside your body. Because of the naturally acidic environment of the vagina, the number of yeast is controlled. However, if the pH level drops, the prevalence of yeast may rise, causing a vaginal yeast infection.
What causes a vaginal yeast infection and how can it be prevented?
There are lots of things that can trigger a yeast infection, some of the most common being:
- Antibiotics (the leading cause of vaginal yeast infections)
- Period (menstruation)
- Contraceptives (birth control pills and condoms – nonoxynol-9 or a latex allergy)
- Steroids (often found in antibiotics)
- Pregnancy/Hormonal changes
- Diabetes
- Clothing that is too tight, non-cotton, dirty (traps heat and moisture)
- Sexual transmission
- Weakened immune system (due to HIV or Lyme disease)
- People with weakened immune systems are also more susceptible to thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth with symptoms including white, creamy patches in the on the tongue, in the throat or mouth.
- Allergic reactions to chemicals such as dyes, perfumes and inks.
Here are some tips for women to prevent the onset of a yeast infection:
- Wear natural-fiber clothing and underwear with a cotton lining.
Don’t wear tight clothing such as panty hose, tights, leggings, nylon underwear, and tight jeans.- If you are sexually active always use a condom.
- Don’t stay wet after bathing or swimming and don’t stay in a wet swimsuit for long periods of time.
- Use feminine sprays or deodorants sparingly - especially if experiencing symptoms.
3. Yeast Infection Cures and Treatments
If you suspect that you have a yeast infection, visit your doctor first. He or she can diagnose you and may prescribe Diflucan (fluconazole), a one-dose yeast infection drug available only by prescription.
Over the Counter Treatments for Yeast Infections
ALWAYS read the label and follow the directions carefully in order to safely get rid of your yeast infection.
There are several over the counter creams, including but not limited to:
- Femstat 3 (butoconazole nitrate)
- Gyne-Lotrimin (clotrimazole)
- Monistat 7 (miconazole)
- Vagistat (tioconazole)
What is the Remedy for a Yeast Infection?
The world wide web is full of home-brewed remedies and cures. Always consult you doctor prior to following the advise of arbitrary web sites. Following are some of the more popular yeast infection home remedies - feel free to add your families yeast infection home remedy using the form at the bottom of this page to share them with others:
- Yogurt - The bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus is naturally occurring in yogurt and is also found in healthy vaginas. This bacteria kills yeast by producing hydrogen peroxide. Here are a few ways to use it:
- ONLY use plain, no-sugar-added yogurt and be certain that it contains the live bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus.
- Apply yogurt to the outside and inside of the vagina.
- Make yogurt popsicles by either freezing it in a tampon applicator or in the fingers of rubber gloves, then insert into the vagina at the first sign of a yeast infection.
- Use a syringe with no needle.
- Apply once or twice a day until one day after the symptoms have subsided.
- You can also use acidophilus tablets found at your local health food supermarket.
- Garlic - Adding garlic to your diet will help kill yeast because it contains a natural anti-fungal substance.
- Cranberries – Eating cranberries will lower the pH of your urine causing a rise in vaginal acidity as it passes through the vagina. The yeast infected areas will be “washed clean”.
- This is a mild remedy and should be used at the first sign of an infection.
- In the case of a more serious infection, this method can be combined with other home remedies.
- Cranberry pills, which can be found at natural food stores, can be taken throughout the duration of a yeast infection as a supplement.
Getting Rid of Yeast Infection Itchiness
If the itching is driving you nutty then try one of these common remedies:
- Combine slippery elm powder and water to make a paste and then apply to the outside of your vagina.
Cool some aloe vera juice in the refrigerator, then soak a cotton pad in the juice and apply to your outer vagina.- Note: Slippery elm and aloe vera are only used to relieve itching and will not kill the yeast fungus (They will only relieve yeast infection symtoms). Do NOT use them internally.
4. Male Yeast Infections
Yes! Men can get yeast infections too, referred to as penile yeast infections. Men are less likely to get them, but it can happen. He may not be aware that he has one due to the fact that symptoms are not always present. However, the symptoms include a rash on the penis that is scaling, white and moist, and redness or itchiness beneath the foreskin. Lowered immunity is the main cause of genital yeast infections in men, but it is also possible to pass it from one partner to the other during sexual intercourse. Because of this, it is important for both partners to be treated if one is diagnosed as having a yeast infection.
Penile Yeast Infections
Man get yeast infections in the same way that women do - the most common causes of a yeast infection (male) are:
- Sexual Transmission
- Nonoxynol-9
- Diabetes
- Antibiotics/Steroids
The only guaranteed method in killing the yeast infection in men is to use a prescription medication such as Diflucan (fluconazole) and Nizoral (ketaconazole). For more information about male yeast infections, go here: How to Get Rid of Male Yeast Infections.
Remember, the best first step in curing any yeast infection is to consult your doctor.
Symptom Of Yeast Infection
Vaginal Yeast Infection
Home Remedy For Yeast Infection
Vaginal Itching
Resources:
Oh also, the most common symptom is itching, yet when I get an infection (and my doctor has confirmed they are yeast infections), I really don’t have horrible itching. Maybe a little itchy, but mostly it’s trouble peeing or burning when I pee, and…discomfort. It’s not really burning or itching, just this constant discomfort, that makes you not want to walk, or do anything, and you just feel all around icky…
My doctor says all bodies react differently to infection, and when i get a yeast infection, this is just how I feel. You might have different symptoms too, and you really should go to a doctor to make sure they’re yeast infections and not something more serious…
I’m 14 and i’ve had quite a few yeast infections, starting when I was around 10. I think it’s just my chemical balance, because my mum gets them too. But for all those girls out there that can’t tell their mom, for any reason (don’t want them to think you’re sexually active), it really is better to tell her and to get meds or something to specifically address the issue. Even if they do take you to the doctor, he will talk to you alone, and can’t tell your mom what you say. Doctor/Patient confidenciality.
As for those who aren’t going to tell, or ask for help, if you have any creme for athlete’s foot, the fungus stuff you can get on your toes, you can use that.
You’ll probably have some if someone in your family is big on sports. Like my brother plays soccer and he always gets it, so we have tons of the creme around the house. I checked the label on his stuff for jock itch and athlete’s foot, and the label on the stuff we have for yeast infections, and they both had the same exact active ingredient, 2% Miconazole nitrate.
So you might actually have the meds in your house and you just don’t know it. Just make sure that if you do have the creme, check the ingredients and make sure it has miconazole, and no more than 3%.
Otherwise the results might not be better than before you used it…
yikes.
Also cranberry juice does help, drink a lot of it =D
hey im 16 and im not sexually active i have lil bumps on my vagina and they are not from shaving i need help any clue whats goin on with me??
iya im a 16 year old girl and think i have a yeast infection i dont no what it is im itchy .. burny .. swollen .. and have alot of discharge latley and barley walk .. i told my mum she doesnt no what it is and im really scared .. but i am sexually active .. it first started when i had inercourse with a lad with no condom .. need helpp someone help me .. x
i am 15 year old girl, sexually active with only my boyfriend. recently, my vagina has been extremely itchy
it been like this for about 4 days now
im scared to tell my mom cus i dont want her to think im sexually active,
is there a way of makign it go away without her knowing it?
like household items i can use?
Hi, I just went to the Dr. and found out that I have a Yeast Infection. I am supposed to go pick up a prescription tomorrow to help get rid of it. My problem though is that I have a cottage cheesy discharge all the time and it smells foul after I have sex. I am not sure why, but I have had it for a few months now. I am wonderig what it is, please help? It does not itch and it is not red and irritated? It only smells and I always see a whitish-yellowish discharge in my underware. Please help me and let me know what will take this away? Is it something else????????
Thanks!
Hey guyss. Okay I’m really scared. Since I was like 9 my mum said that because I didn’t take care of my vagina that I had extra skin growing (on my vaginal lips) which I swear is bull because everyone has vaginal lips, mine stretch to about 2 inches at the most? If it helps for information, I started my period when I was 11? And for a few years now, I’ve had an itchy vagina, sometimes around my clit it reaallyy itches or my vaginal lips or something and then when I itch it, after it gets really uncomfortable, it doesn’t really hurt but it’s very uncomfortbale if that makes sense. It smells aswell. I remember once I put my hand down there and my cum smelt of onions? :S But usually it smells of like, not that “fish” smell that people say but like a cheese-ish smell maybe? It doesn’t always smell, like I got out the shower almost 2 hours ago and just checked now if it smelt and it doesn’t. in fact it smells a bit soapy-ish? Like just a natural smell. But for some reason in the afternoon I have a feeling it will smell. It itches now though. And my discharge is thick and yellowish-a few days ago, for up to a week or so, my discharge was actually like thick and brown? However, when I come it’s clear. Oh yeahh; I’m 15 now. Alsooo, I have noticed a reeeally tiny bump (can’t see it but can feel it) on the bottom left of my vagina hole (well the part where the willy goes in whatever it’s called) but yeah on the bottom left of that? Been there for 2 weeks or so I think? Just there-not itching or hurting or anything and it’s not getting any bigger. Soo my questions are:
What’s up with my vaginal lips?
x x x x
Have I got anything like thrush or something?
Are there any particular medicines out there for my symptoms?
What could the really small bump be?
And any other queeries I had that i listed in that story but haven’t put in a question-pleaase answer too
Oh yeahh by the wayy-There’s a wash called “Simply Delicate” from Avon (if you can’t buy from it because you’re not a member of it or whatever then get someone who you know to-my mum is and I order things through her) it really is veryy good. You can’t use it too much either because the formula’s so delicate.
Hope I helped and pleaase find an answer for all my questions pleeeassee!
it hurt and you want it gone the second you get it how the hell are you gona get rid of it by going on a diet you want it gone now its worse than labour i think. sex does help at the time i think its a relif of the icheyness but 10 times worse after.
im sitting here acheing like mad no bloody yogart and nearly in tears i need something now!! its so fustrating i cant spell at this moment in time either lol ive never felt so much icheyness in my life
oky so i went to the doc a few mos ago and i had a yeast infection they gave me the pills and it cleared up. but now ive got it again and iam not sure if its because of my period are if my boyfriend is the one thats carryin it also….
Just go and by the Monistat 7 before it gets too bad. This is a curse for women. None of those natual remedies work