So ladies, it’s time to talk about something that is common among all women but rarely gets talked about because we’re too embarrassed about it. You can get it if you’re sexually active, abstinent, gay, straight, blue, black, purple, or white. It’s super annoying and makes you feel kinda gross – it’s a yeast infection. About 3 in 4 women will experience a yeast infection in their lifetime, and some women may experience it more than once. As common as it is – how many of you know exactly what a vaginal yeast infection is?
Mayo Clinic defines a vaginal yeast infection as, “a fungal infection that causes irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva — the tissues at the vaginal opening. It’s a type of vaginitis, or inflammation of the vagina.” So you remember how we said your vagina is a self cleaning oven, right? Well that oven is full of good bacteria and the discharge that you get in your panties is made up of all the bad bacteria that gets expelled.
Sometimes you have too much good bacteria which is what causes a yeast infection and the discharge is just the buildup of that good bacteria being expelled. Basically when you have a yeast infection the inside of your vagina looks like that picture up there, and causes excess thick, cottage cheese like discharge in your panties.
It’s kinda gross to think about and visualize, but hey – it’s reality.
According to Dr. Axe, “The species of yeast responsible for causing yeast infections is a strain called Candidaalbicans (candidiasis),” and all strains of yeast are types of fungi. Yeast and fungi can make their own food which is how they multiply and spread within the body. Yeast likes to grow in damp, “folds” of the body – basically in places where you sweat a lot like your vagina, armpit, mouth and nose, and more. When yeast grows and the infection spreads in the vagina, it can come with symptoms of itching, discharge, slight bleeding, pain during intercourse or while peeing, and more.
You can increase your risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection in a number of ways like:
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Taking too many antibiotics
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Wearing too-tight underwear
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Not washing your vagina and in between the folds thoroughly
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A weak immune system
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Undiagnosed diabetes
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Sex
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Increased estrogen levels
So exactly how do you prevent/ treat a vaginal yeast infection? First, go to your GYN and have her check to make sure it’s just a yeast infection. If they go untreated for too long, they can develop into Bacterial Vaginosis or something more serious. They’ll probably prescribe you an antibiotic such as Diflucan but don’t forget to explore all of your options. There are also holistic and alternative treatment methods for you to follow such as using Tea Tree oil, eating plain yogurt, and eating probiotics. It’s always important to do your research on all of them before you try it, and to remember that everyone’s body doesn’t work the same.
Don’t let anybody – man, woman, mom, dad, brother, friend – tell you that you’re in some way shape or form wrong for having a yeast infection. It does not mean that you’re some dirty individual and it definitely isn’t something to be ashamed and embarrassed about. Granted, you’ll feel weird that you may be one of your only friends with a yeast infection but remember that 3 in 4 women will experience this in a lifetime. That means in your friend group, you’re just one of the few who is dealing with this super common problem.
Don’t be ashamed, go to your GYN, get some medicine, and you’ll be good to go. Don’t forget to take the preventative measures as well to make sure your vag stays A1!