Prevent a Vaginal Yeast Infection the first time

Over 75 percent of women can tell you from experience just how nasty and painful a vaginal yeast infection can be. They will describe to you the itchy, burning sensation that can only be relieved by messy remedies, and some can even tell you how easy it is to transfer it sexually and create an even bigger problem. What they may not know is that there are many things they could've done to prevent their vaginal yeast infection the first time; read on to learn how you can avoid this painful problem.

What is a vaginal yeast infection?

In order to know how to prevent a vaginal yeast infection the first time, you must first understand what a vaginal yeast infection is. Candida albicans is the main species of yeast that inhabit a healthy vagina. There are other less common strains of yeast along with a multitude of friendly bacteria that also live in the vagina and help to keep it clean. At some point in most women's lives, something happens to trigger an imbalance of the yeast/bacteria ratio, and the overgrowth of yeast results in a vaginal yeast infection. The vaginal yeast infection is characterized by an intense itching and burning sensation, and a lumpy, whitish discharge. It is not severe or debilitating, and it certainly is treatable, but as always, prevention is the best cure.

What triggers a vaginal yeast infection?

You should understand causes of yeast overgrowth include:

• Antibiotics
• Birth control pills
• Suppressed immune system (including HIV)
• Too-tight pants or wearing a wet swimsuit too long
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Steroids
• High refined sugar intake
• Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle

Prevent a vaginal yeast infection the first time

Now that you know what contributes to yeast overgrowth, there are certain measures you can take that may help you prevent it:

• Keep the external vaginal area clean and dry
• Do not use irritating soaps, sprays or douches
• Wear loose cotton underwear and pants that allow ventilation
• Don't stay in a wet swimsuit too long
• If you are diabetic, monitor your blood sugar levels carefully
• Avoid taking antibiotics. If you must take them, follow your health practitioner's directions precisely.

I tried prevention, but something is going on down there. Following these steps will help you prevent a vaginal yeast infection the first time, but you should understand that some factors may be beyond your control. If you take all the precautions and you still get a vaginal yeast infection, it may be an indication of something more serious, like pregnancy or a weakened immune system. You should also be aware that the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections can look very similar to other types of infections, so it's possible that your problem is something else entirely. You should always see your doctor for diagnosis and discussion of treatment for your symptoms. (1) http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10999.html#prevent (2)http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/general_health/wh_yeast.htm