Alternative Treatment Methods For Vaginal Yeast Infections: Using Plain Yogurt

Treatments available in discount and drug stores for vaginal yeast infections can be messy and expensive. Even if you buy off brand treatments, you’re still paying $10 or more per treatment.



More and more women are turning to alternative treatment methods and home remedies. Some women find it difficult to justify killing a bacterial infection with use of more medication. Sometimes medication just doesn’t do it.

People in the medical field just do not take vaginal yeast infections seriously and consider them to be a very minor irritation

For some women who experience recurring vaginal yeast infections, they are not a minor irritation. If you are getting a yeast infection four or more times a year, you’re getting chronic infections. This may be because the treatments you are using aren’t completely getting rid of the infection. I once went to the doctor for a yeast infection and paid over $20 for one pill which was supposed to kill the infection. The doctor told me that if the pill didn’t work, I should buy an over-the-counter treatment and use it. Since then, I have not gone to the doctor for a yeast infection treatment. Why bother if I’m just going to have to spend additional money on an over-the-counter treatment?

Let’s face it, it’s not in the best interest of the doctors or the manufacturers of the treatments for the treatment to be 100% effective. They definitely don’t want you to find out that you can treat your yeast infection naturally because we spend a lot of money on their products. If you get a yeast infection once a month, you’re spending a week out of each month treating an infection and are spending anywhere from $10 to $20 for treatment. That’s $120 to $240 a year! That’s insane!

Yogurt naturally fights yeast infections. You can eat a serving of plain yogurt every day to help prevent recurring yeast infections. If you already have a yeast infection and would like to attempt to treat it naturally, purchase a carton of plain yogurt. The yogurt should be plain with no added sugar or fruit. One reason we get yeast infections is because of the additional sugar our bodies create sometimes (which is why diabetics and pregnant women often suffer from vaginal yeast infections more than others). The yogurt should have active cultures (read the outside of the container).

Yogurt can be used as a topical treatment much like the ointments and lotions that come in the yeast infection treatment kits. Some women dip a tampon in plain yogurt and insert into the vagina, but I personally feel this is a very bad idea. One of the reasons women sometimes get yeast infections is because using a tampon can create small cuts and tears that bacteria can get into.

You can place a small amount of the yogurt into cheese cloth and insert this into your vaginal opening overnight. This option may not seem very appealing either. Personally, I would obtain a cheap yeast infection kit that comes with the disposable applicator tubes (or save them from the last time) and use it to insert the yogurt into your vagina just like you would insert medicated cream. Make sure you are thoroughly washing and disinfecting the applicator tube if you are saving it to use again. If the yogurt irritates instead of makes you feel better, discontinue use.

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Vaginal yeast infection: Cause and Treatment

Yeast infection is common in women. Most women contract it from the time they hit puberty till the time they go through menopause. In fact most women suffer from recurring bouts of yeast infection.

Yeast is a fungus that is naturally present on the skin of our body. It grows well in dark and damp corners of our skin and thrives on sweat. Controlled level of yeast, also known as Candida albicans, is tolerable for humans. However, when this level is not maintained, and the fungus is allowed to multiply unsupervised, one is affected with the infection.

Vaginal yeast infection is known as vaginitis. However, women can also suffer from the infection in their vulva. This is known as vulvitis. In some cases the infection can start at the vagina and spread to the vulva. In such cases the condition is known as vulvovaginitis.

Looking out for signs of Candidiasis

The symptoms of vaginal yeast infection are quite similar to that of certain sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, the patient may not even realize that she has the infection until diagnosed by the medical expert. However, there are some telltale signs of Candidiasis, as yeast infection is scientifically known.

Redness of the skin where the infection has affected is common. Itchiness accompanied with localized pain is also usual. Sometimes, this pain can aggravate if the woman has sex while suffering from yeast infection. In fact, in such cases, she is responsible for transmitting the infection to the partner.

Sometimes, there is a white discharge in the vaginal area which resembles cottage cheese. If the discharge is odorless then you have yeast infection. However, if it is accompanied with a strange smell, then you probably have an STD.

Cause and detection

The easiest way to detect yeast infection is to test tissue samples from the suspected area of affliction in the laboratory.

If treatment is not prompt chances of the fungus multiplying out of control are greater. This can also enter the bloodstream, a condition known as Systemic Candida. This is responsible for weakening the immune system.

Vaginal yeast infection can occur due to a variety of reasons. One of the most common ones is the regular intake of antibiotics or other immunosuppressant drugs to treat other diseases. Antibiotics leave harmful antibodies in the system which destroys the good bacteria responsible for keeping the level of yeast in the body under control. This results in the multiplication of the fungus, causing the infection.

Excessive consumption of complex glucose, carbohydrates and Trans fat food items can introduce new strains of yeast into the body which can cause Candidiasis. In fact any food item containing yeast should be avoided if you are suffering from yeast infection.

Treatment

Treating yeast infection can be simple if you are regular with it. Although topical as well as oral medication is available for it, they usually treat the symptom and not the cause. This results in recurrence of yeast infection in individuals. Natural treatment is more effective since it concentrates on the root cause.

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Can You Prevent A Yeast Infection By The Clothing You Wear

A yeast infection is something that most women dread. Unfortunately, yeast infections can be a very normal part of many women’s lives.


It’s important to understand that some people are just prone to yeast infections. There are a lot of things that you can do in order to prevent yeast infections, however, by following just a few simple steps.

What you wear, how you wear it and how you clean your clothes can make a big difference in the number of yeast infections you get each year

Most women hope to never get a yeast infection and once they do get it, it’s an experience they won’t forget (and hope to never have to endure again). You can lower your chances of getting a yeast infection by making a few simple lifestyle changes.

Make sure that you’re keeping your vaginal area clean and washing it thoroughly each time you bathe. Do not use perfumed soaps or soaps which may irritate the skin in your vaginal area. It’s also very important that you’re thoroughly drying your vaginal area before getting dressed after you’ve bathed.

You should be wearing cotton underwear as well as pantyhose with a cotton crotch (if you must wear pantyhose at all – avoid it if at all possible). Avoid sharing towels and washcloths with other people.

If you’re not doing so already, wash all undergarments separate than the rest of the wash. Use a scent-free detergent and wash in hot water. Do not use fabric softener on your undergarments. If you do get a yeast infection, boil all of your underwear for 10 to 15 minutes or run through the sanitary cycle of your washer if it has one before wearing them again.

Make sure you’re washing all newly purchased underwear before wearing them. Avoid wearing clothing which is tight in the crotch area. If you workout or go swimming, make sure to change out of your workout clothes or your swimsuit immediately. Rinse your vaginal area off and dry thoroughly before getting dressed.

Avoid using scented sanitary pads or tampons and make sure you’re changing them frequently. Avoid douching all together and use antibiotics only when necessary.

It’s important to keep the right balance of yeast and bacteria in your body. Your body does need some good bacteria in order to fight off infection. If your immune system is low, you have a better chance of getting an infection and your body will have a tougher time of fighting it off.

Pay attention to your body and seek treatment immediately if you suspect you have a yeast infection. Make sure that you complete the treatment even if symptoms subside before treatment is complete.

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