So what is a yeast infection anyway? A vaginal yeast infection – also called Candidiasis – is a type of vaginitis. Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina, characterized by vaginal irritation, intense itchiness and/or vaginal discharge. A vaginal yeast infection affects your vagina and the tissues at the opening to your vagina, known as the vulva. As many as three out of four women experience a yeast infection at some point in their lifetimes, and can even suffer from them frequently.

A week and a half ago, I had a very scary experience with a vaginal yeast infection. It started out with a little itch. Barely even enough to be considered an itch; It was more of a “tickle”. Then the next morning, it started to get very bothersome. I couldn’t even go to work because I couldn’t stop scratching myself! I wondered if it was a yeast infection, but I was having no discharge whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I was as dry as a desert! Upon calling my mother, who gets Candidiasis frequently, I discovered that you don’t necessarily have to have discharge.

So I did the normal thing any other young, unknowing female would. I took a trip to the grocery store and bought myself the infamous Miconazole. This is an OTC medication used to treat many types of yeast infections: From athlete’s foot, to yeast infections of the armpit. Plus, I’ve seen Miconazole on TV all the time, so I figured it must be safe…

As soon as I inserted the medication into my vagina, I felt immediate relief from the itching. However, when I woke up 4 hours later I was bleeding, burning, and covered in clusters of blisters. The pain was enough to wake me from sleep. I immediately thought to myself, “Herpes. It’s got to be herpes.”

To my surprise, upon discontinuing the use of the Miconazole, the blisters went away. So I knew it had to be an allergic reaction. I saw two OB/GYN’s who both identified my ailment to be a yeast infection. My allergic reaction was more common than I had thought. I decided to ask some questions, and I gathered some really helpful information on SAFER treatments for pesky vaginal yeast infections.

1. If it is your very FIRST yeast infection, DO NOT treat yourself! Go to your OB/GYN!!! There are several reasons why it is better to see a doctor than try and treat yourself. For one, you can misdiagnose yourself. Herpes, Warts, and several other STD’s begin a lot like yeast infections. Secondly, you never know what medications you may be allergic to. An allergic reaction on your vagina can be one of the most painful things in the world!

2. Start changing your diet! If you are too poor to see a doctor, or can’t get an appointment immediately, there are several treatments that you can do at home that do not involve medication. Both of my doctors (one who is a close friend of mine) have approved this advice, and I have trusted both of them for years and years. A few things you can do, as far as changing your diet, include the following:

- Eating a whole, fresh clove of garlic each day for a few weeks can help kill a yeast infection, and reduce its symptoms. Doing this on a regular basis (not just when you are infected) will also help prevent future yeast infections. Some people have been known to actually insert the garlic clove, covered in gauze, into the vagina for 4-6 hours. This is not recommended due to food allergies and the acidity of garlic, however, it is also an option.

- Limiting your intake of sugary foods, pasta, fruit juice, soda, beer, and breads is highly important. All types of sugar feeds Candida. Limiting the intake of these foods will limit high sugar levels, and yeast as well. During a yeast infection, fruit, both dried and fresh should be off limits.

- Eating a half cup of organic, unsweetened/unflavored yogurt each day is proven to prevent and kill yeast infections; In some cases, even quicker than drugs.

3. You can also safely use organic, unsweetened/unflavored yogurt directly on your vagina in a few different ways. You can cover a tampon with it, and leave the tampon inside your vagina for 4-6 hours. This is the most effective way to treat the actual yeast infection. If you have trouble inserting a tampon, you can take a syringe, fill it with yogurt, and insert the yogurt as you would a tampon. Do this right before bed, and do not walk or sit until the following morning. Applying the yogurt as a lotion to your vulva can also be highly beneficial.

4. Stay clean, but do it correctly. Wash your vagina once to twice daily with a gentle, pH balanced vaginal cleanser. Summer’s Eve is a very popular cleanser that you can buy for under $10 at your local grocery store. Washing more than twice a day is too much, and can rid yourself of “good yeast”, making your vagina more vulnerable to infection. It is very important to avoid douching.
Douching not only gets rid of good yeast, but also throws off your natural pH level. Also, be sure to wipe front to back when going to the restroom. Transferring fecal matter to your vagina can also transfer yeast from the anus to the vagina, causing an infection, or worsening one.

5. Drink lots of water. Eliminate any other beverages from your diet during your infection, and for sometime afterward. Stick to an all-water regimen. This does not include sweetened or flavored waters. Drink 6-9 eight ounce glasses a day to help you keep hydrated, and flush your body of toxins.

6. Don’t stop exercising! Keep up a regular exercise routine, just as you normally would. If you are in too much pain to walk or run, try lifting weights or practicing Pilates. Keeping yourself active will keep your immune system strong, and help with the process of flushing toxins. Just be sure to keep clean like we talked about, especially after exercising!

If you follow these steps, you should notice a decrease in symptoms in about 4 days. If your symptoms get worse, or do not subside, please make your way to see your doctor as soon as possible. Yeast infections are nothing to play around with and can failing to treat one can cause them to return frequently in your future.

Your OB/GYN will examine you, and ask you some questions to determine what treatment option will be best for you. A few questions you should be ready to answer are:

• How long have you had noticeable symptoms?
• What are your symptoms? Ex: Itching, burning sensation, discharge, etc.
• Have you tried any OTC medications? If so, which ones?
• Did you have any adverse reactions to your OTC medications? If so, what were the symptoms of your reaction?

OB/GYN’s are busy people, so be sure to write down any information that you feel should be discussed with your doctor. It is always important to tell your doctor everything, even if he doesn’t ask you first. All information is important, since there can be underlying health issues involved with your yeast infection. Your doctor may prescribe a pill called Diflucan, or Fluconazole – a one-pill treatment for fungal infections. There are also several other treatment options if you prefer not to take this medication, and that can also be discussed with your OB/GYN.

These tips are some of the best around about natural Cadidiasis treatments. Natural treatments can be just as effective as prescription treatments. However, vaginal yeast infections are nothing to laugh about, so be sure to keep yourself healthy ahead of time to better avoid developing them. I hope this article benefits you lovely ladies out there in some way, and I wish you all the best of health!