It’s that time in Northern Florida when the weather stays hot and humid. This kind of weather offers just the right kind of conditions for a yeast infection. If you’ve ever had a yeast infection before, you know that it can spoil your summer fun quicker than the thermometer hits 90.
The good news is that you can take steps to avoid a yeast infection. Here are three recommendations from your well woman care providers at All About Women for staying yeast-free this summer:
- Go for Cotton. When it comes to underwear, choose cotton underwear or at least underwear with a cotton lining. That’s because cotton is a breathable fabric that helps prevent moisture from getting trapped next to your body, which is what can happen with underwear made from synthetic fiber. Also be wary of clothing that’s too tight, it can cause heat build up and trap moisture.
- Change Out of Wet Clothes. Wet bathing suits and sweaty clothing from your morning run create another dampness problem, one that creates a great breeding ground for yeast. So don’t lounge around in exercise clothing or wet bating suits, even if you’re on vacation.
- Pay Attention to Your pH. Here’s a little lesson in science: your vagina has a healthy acidic environment with a pH of around 3.5-4.5. This acidity level helps keep infections at bay. If you alter the pH of your vaginal environment then infections, like the yeast infection, are more likely to occur.
Thus, you need to avoid practices that continually mess with your body’s pH. That includes using personal hygiene products that contain perfumes, most soaps, and douching. And even if you’re having a long day on the beach, you still need to make sure to change your tampon regularly. Blood has a more basic pH than the vagina and the accumulation of blood alters your pH to a level that invites infection.
Taking a few extra precautions can help you prevent yeast infections. You should be extra careful to be mindful about your vaginal hygiene if any of the following conditions apply to you:
- Your hormone levels are currently altered by pregnancy, breastfeeding or in menopause.
- You’ve recently taken antibiotics.
- You’ve been eating a lot of sugar, or if you have uncontrolled diabetes.
If you’ve never had a yeast infection before or if you are pregnant, it’s important for you to come in for an appointment with your well woman care provider to make sure that you’re properly diagnosing your symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- Itching and soreness of the vagina
- Pain or burning when you pee or have sex
- Thick, white, clumpy discharge that is odorless
At All About Women, our compassionate team of doctors, midwives, and nurses aims to help women in the Gainesville and Lake City areas stay healthy year round. Call us today for an appointment, or continue reading for more information on chronic yeast infections and other causes of vaginal itching.
