What Is a Yeast Infection and What Can You Do About It?
A yeast infection is an infection of the vagina and usually affects adult women. It is an infection that results from a chemical imbalance in the vagina where fungus grows and multiplies quickly resulting in extreme itchiness, white, clumpy discharge, and even pain. If you have a yeast infection, you should have it treated by your gynecologist. There are things you can do to help prevent these types of infections and help to treat them at home as well. Read on for helpful tips.
Preventing Yeast Infections
Preventing yeast infections can be done by keeping your vaginal area clean and dry. Be sure to shower daily and shower or bathe after having intercourse. Change your underwear often, especially after working out, as sweat can cause yeast and bacteria to grow.
Be sure to wipe from front to back, as wiping in the other direction can lead to infections. Also be sure to wash your hands often to prevent spreading bacteria to your vaginal area.
Drinking plenty of water can also help keep you hydrated and can flush toxins from the body. Sometimes the things you eat or drink may lead to infections throughout the body. An infection in the body may travel and result in a yeast infection or other type of vaginal infection. Drinking water can help flush these toxins out.
How to Treat a Yeast Infection
Treating a yeast infection should include a trip to the gynecologist. Your gynecologist can give you proper medication or topical ointments to help clear up the infection and to be sure there isn't something else going on, other than a yeast infection.
You can treat the infection at home as well by using a vaginal wash to help clean your vagina and remove bacteria. There are a number of different washes on the market today to help with this.
Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can also help relieve any pain associated with a yeast infection, and an over-the-counter vaginal itch cream can help alleviate itchiness caused by the infection. Be sure to approve the ointment with your gynecologist before using it.
In the meantime, you may want to wear comfortable underwear and clothing and stay away from tight-fitting pants until the infection clears up. You will also want to abstain from sexual intercourse until your infection clears up to prevent spreading the bacteria to your partner and to prevent worsening your infection.
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