I've suffered from yeast infections for years, and I'm going to share with you what the most common causes of it are so that you can understand more about how to stop it happening.
Yeast naturally lives in the vagina, but if it's allowed to get a little out of hand, that's when the problems start. Once you get to the point of developing a yeast infection, it means that too many yeast cells are developing in the vaginal area.
A lot of yeast infections are brought on by the yeast known as Candida albicans.
When the vagina is healthy, there a variety of different bacteria on the go. They are balanced in their operation though, so that none of them are taking over.
If this balance gets disturbed, then the yeast can grow too much and that's when you begin to notice the oh so familiar itch that everybody I know (with a vagina) dreads!
Quite often the first sign will be an itch, followed by the familiar cottage cheese discharge. There is not usually an odor - just the urge to scratch and rub down there.
Quite often, these symptoms will appear just the week before your cycle is coming to an end.
If your symptoms are mild, you'll find that sometimes having your menstrual period will 'wash' the infection out of your system and then you can get back to normal afterwards.
However, if the symptoms are severe then there are some steps that you can take to immediately start to relieve them naturally.
First off, drink a litre of water - take your time over it, it's just that dehydration just doesn't help when it comes to yeast infections. Next, eat some active yoghurt and take a couple of garlic pearls. Some people even apply yoghurt and garlic cloves directly to their problem area. Take care doing this.
To prevent yeast infections in future, then:
be sure to wear cotton underwear that is not too tight, no tight jeans either
drink plenty of water every day
eat yoghurt that has probiotics in it regularly
take a garlic pearl or a clove or two every day
limit your intake of sugar
