By: Kathryn Powell PA-C
Most women get at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. Typically, it's a fast onset of vaginal itchiness, discomfort or burning. It gets worse and worse. Some women experience white, cottage cheese discharge. Some women will experience episodic yeast symptoms just before their periods due to the change in hormones. If you are sexually active with new partners, it is important to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, which can cause similar symptoms. Another vaginitis (angry vagina) problem is Bacterial Vaginosis, which is closely related in that it's bacterial imbalance, not yeast imbalance. It's common! Is it normal? Good question.
Yeast is a beautiful part of our healthy microbiome. It's on our skin, in our mouths, GI track, and vagina. It contributes to your health.
However, there are things that can cause an overgrowth of yeast, which upsets the balance of the microbiome. When yeast:
overgrows on your skin --> skin fungus.
overgrows in your mouth --> thrush.
overgrows in your vagina --> vaginal yeast infection.
overgrows in your blood stream --> sepsis with yeast.
So if you were to have a yeast infection what are your first steps to healing? You can be seen by your provider to make sure if it's truly a yeast infection. The provider can swab the vagina and look at the sample under a microscope to see if yeast is seen. They can also rule out other infections like Bacterial Vaginosis or sexually transmitted diseases.
There are over the counter antifungals or prescription oral yeast medications...but... is that what I like to talk about? No. What are those? Bandaids. Sure they may work at first, but you might get another infection. Yeast infection relapses are common if the root cause is not addressed.
Things that cause imbalance in yeast:
Diet: too much sugar, processed food which causes high blood sugars
Thongs or synthetic underwear
Antibiotics, steroids, scented sanitary products, synthetic tampons or pads, douches.
Estrogen containing oral contraceptives
Low estrogen
What can you do to help?
Switch to cloth pads, use menstrual cups, switch to organic tampons, organic pads.
Throw away the thongs and switch to 100% cotton or merino wool underwear
Try to avoid antibiotics at all costs. If you do have to take them, take a probiotic while on the antibiotic
Keep blood sugars balanced. Ditch sugar as much as possible.
Repopulate your gut with a probiotic that includes Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus crispatus for at least 6 weeks. I really like Jarrow Fem-dophilus urinary and vaginal health probiotics. You can take oral probiotic and insert another one vaginally at night. Dr. Green Mom's Women's Healthy Probiotic is another great choice!
You can place unsweetened, organic yogurt as a vulvar cream for symptom relief.
One of my favorite products from Earthley is the No More Yeast salve. It is a blend of oils that inhibit the growth of yeast that you can put topically on the vulva. It works incredibly well!
Candida Cleanse herbal tincture is a blend of whole cloves, turmeric, cinnamon, milk thistle, calendula, black pepper. Take daily for 6 weeks to help control yeast growth internally.
Gut Health Oil tincture is a blend of pumpkin seed oil, cloves, calendula, coconut oil - all of which help restore gut flora because of prebiotics.
Eat fermented food daily like kefir, yogurt, and sauerkraut.
So what is the root cause for you? If you need more information, read through Gut Healthy Support Guide to help further! These suggestions can help with reoccurring Bacterial Vaginosis as well.
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Last updated January 01, 2023
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