Ways to Prevent Yeast Infection

Yeast infection is a very commonly heard disease that occurs as Candida Albicans, a common type of yeast as well as other types of yeasts that stay and grow inside the human body. They can well thrive inside the mouth, rectum or vagina and therefore, cause yeast infection in these body parts. Although yeast infection is more common amongst the women, even men can acquire this disease. This is because despite not being considered as a sexually transmitted disease, it can well affect the male genitals during sexual intercourse. Therefore, it is very important that if the yeast infection occurs, it is treated properly. But what is more important is to prevent yeast infection from occurring.

Yeast Infection

Causes of Yeast Infection:

Before knowing the preventive measures of yeast infection, it is very important that the causes of yeast infection is well known. This is because, knowing the causes will help you to stay away from such possibilities for the yeast infection to occur.

Yeast infection is the second most common type of vaginal infection in women, which occurs in almost 70% of women in their entire lifetime, at least for once. However, amongst these, 40% of the cases are seen to develop multiple yeast infections in their lifetime.

The common causes of the yeast infection are:

  • Oral contraceptives
  • Repeated intercourse over a short period of time
  • Antibiotic treatments or drugs like cortisone
  • Wearing non-ventilating clothes in hot weather
  • Stress
  • Pregnancy or hormonal changes
  • Suppressed immune system or HIV
  • Diabetes
  • High intake of refined sugar and alcohol and other carbohydrates
  • Using irritant soaps, new detergents, powder.

Symptoms of Yeast Infection

There are some of the symptoms, which are absolutely typical to this kind of yeast infection and the most prominent one amongst them is white discharge for women. Apart from this, there will be irritation, itching in the vagina, redness and swelling in the vaginal skin, a burning sensation while urinating and also pain during sexual intercourse.

Ways To Prevent Yeast Infection:

Prevention of yeast infection is very important as it cannot be told that in what way you can be vulnerable to come into contact with the yeast, the basic way of preventing the occurrence of yeast infection is by making sure that the yeast does not get the atmosphere in which the yeasts love to stay and thrive. For both women as well as men, the preventive measures are different. Even in case of babies, there should be separate measures to prevent the possible yeast infection occurrence.

Ways To Prevent Yeast Infection in Both Women and Men:

Yeast infection is most common in women. However, taking these following preventive measures, you can easily make sure that yeast infection does not occur in you.

  1. Keep the Vagina Dry To Prevent Yeast Infection:

    Yeasts love the atmosphere that is moist and dark. Hence, using light clothes that ventilate well and keep the vagina dry and clean is useful. If you go for swimming, change the clothes as soon as you come out of the water. Before going to bed, change your underwear and wear fresh cotton underwear. This is because you might be sweating throughout the day and the under garments might also be wet. This goes also when you have come from the gym.

  2. Cotton Wardrobe is Preferable to Prevent Yeast Infection:

    Wearing cotton underwear will keep the yeasts away. Wear loose fitting pants and try to avoid tight fitting jeans and trousers or even pantyhose. As cotton absorbs the moisture, it will keep the skin near your vagina dry; on the other hand, the synthetic fabrics retain or hold moisture, making it easier for the yeast to thrive.

  3. Maintain Hygiene To Prevent Yeast Infection:

    Maintaining hygiene is the best way to prevent yeast infection. However, if you douche to clean the vagina, it will damage the balance between yeast and good bacteria that are instrumental in keeping the yeast away. Do not use dyed and scented toilet paper, tampons, sanitary pads or antibacterial deodorant soaps. Use eco-friendly laundry detergents and get rid of your used underwear as frequently as possible. Staying away from bubble baths and feminine sprays is also needed. Washing well and staying dry is the key. Stay out of hot tubs or limit your hot bubble baths and wash your genital thoroughly if you are using bath salts. Also, after using the toilet, always wipe from front to back. Maintain hygiene especially during your menstrual cycle.

  4. Safe Intercourse:

    If you are not in a committed relationship, always use condoms while having intercourse. If either of you has a yeast infection, cure and treat it properly, and then only proceed towards sex without protection. This is because yeast infection can spread and be recurrent if not cured.

  5. Diets That Help Prevent Yeast Infection:

    Reducing the intake of sugar and bread is a very good preventive measure for yeast infection. Although carbohydrates are known mostly for increasing the weight, the use of yeast in making breads make them a common cause for yeast infection. Hence, reducing their consumption will reduce the probability of such occurrence. You can also add lactobacillus acidophilus rich foods and yogurt to your diet as they can help to prevent the unhealthy yeast growth. For diabetic people, there is high chance that the yeast will grow fast and hence, keeping the blood sugar levels under control is a must. Add as much garlic and fermented dairy products in your diet as possible.

  6. Take Rest:

    Stress and yeast infection have a deep connection. The more you are stress free or the more you take proper and complete rest, the less you are prone to yeast infection.

    It is a misconception that males cannot have yeast infection. If you are a male and want to make sure that you too do not suffer from the irritation and burning and itching sensation, follow these preventive measures.

  • Always try to avoid the use of antibiotics as much as possible as they will destroy the balance of the good bacteria and fungus in your genitals and lead to a possible yeast infection.
  • Trim your pubic hair regularly as pubic hair is an ideal growing ground for the yeast to thrive.
  • As males are more prone to alcohol, it is very important that you stay away from alcohol to avoid yeast infection.
  • If you are not into a committed relationship, you are likely to acquire as well as spread the yeast infection and hence, using coconut oil will make sure that the infection does not pass from one person to the other. Otherwise, using a condom is safe.

Ways To Prevent Yeast Infection in Babies:

If your baby has recurrent infections, you might have to consider the possibility of it as more than simple rash or other infection and try to check if it is yeast infection or not. This is because babies wear diapers and they are very likely to grow such infections. To make sure that your baby does not grow yeast infection, follow these preventives.

  • Change the diaper frequently to prevent the chances of yeast infection in babies
  • Keep the baby diaper-free, exposed to fresh and open air as much as possible.
  • Use the modern diapers and not cotton clothes as cotton will retain the moisture if the baby urinates and you are inattentive, and the modern diapers keep the moisture away from the skin.
  • Clean the baby’s bottom thoroughly after a bowel movement to prevent yeast infection.

If you maintain these measures, you will be very likely that yeast infection will never occur to you. However, if it does, you must consult a doctor and take the proper curing regime. Doing a few home treatment remedies and controlling your diet will treat yeast infection.

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:March 19, 2019

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