White clumpy vaginal discharge with mild to severe itching and burning is usually a yeast infection. Yeast infections are often odorless and can occur easily the week before your period or because of anything that can cause a hormonal imbalance in your vaginal flora. Using the wrong soap, feminine hygiene spray, sex, condoms, pregnancy, vaginal suppositories, a bad diet (sugary foods), a sickness (diabetes), birth control pills or antibiotics itself can throw the vagina’s flora balance off. Normal discharge is clear or milky white no odor, itching, burning with only a small daily amount of vaginal discharge.
Yeast is a fungus and it can be spread to your partner when and if an infection occurs. Yeast along with bacteria normally lives in the vagina but in a small balanced amount. When the vagina is in a healthy and happy state yeast stays under control because of the bacteria (Lactobacillus, most common in the vagina) however, if something causes the living bacteria’s balance to change the yeast will most likely overgrow causing a yeast infection.
Candida albicans the fungus that commonly causes vaginal yeast infections naturally lives in the vagina and other areas in and on the body in small amounts. The most common symptoms are burning, itching, swelling of the vulva area, excessive or unusual discharge, pain during intercourse or when urinating. Women who do not or have not engaged in sex at the time of infection can still get a vaginal yeast infection. This is why vaginal yeast infections are not STI’s. Vaginal yeast infection can be a white clumpy to off-white to whitish grey. It can even be a watery discharge is some women along with the other symptoms.
You can go the traditional route and get an antibiotic prescription for your vaginal yeast infection treatment but just remember chances of the yeast infection not clearing or reoccurring are greatly increased using this method. It is also possible to treat/cure a vaginal yeast infection with garlic. Garlic naturally kills yeast. This is the method I prefer. Fortunately, I have only had a vaginal yeast infection twice. The first time I did not realize by leaving my work-out clothes on after a workout it would cause a vaginal yeast infection (which I treated traditionally with antibiotics and the infection did not clear up I had to go on another round of antibiotics). I was desperate I mean I was drinking a lot of unsweetened cranberry juice and water (I know what you are thinking, why cranberry juice that’s for a UTI)? I told you, I was desperate, the antibiotics were not working. All together, it took six weeks before my first yeast infection cleared.
My second yeast infection came years later and I did not go the traditional
route. After several years of not working-out because of a physically demanding
job, exercising became more mental than physical for me. I slowly started up my exercise routine again and yes, I got my second yeast infection. I knew the symptoms so, I
decided to treat myself after learning about the insertion of a clove of raw
garlic into the vagina and plain unsweetened yogurt. I opted for the raw garlic
(less messy and I sneakily convinced my sister to go the yogurt route. Hey, I needed
to know if the method was really effective and after seven days she was all
cleared of her vaginal yeast infection).
If you often get vaginal yeast infections at least three to five times a year I would say this is NOT normal and there are a few things to consider. Maybe your partner has a yeast infection a does not realize it. Men can get penis-tip yeast infection. It could be that you have too many partners and because of this it changes and weakens your pH balance frequently. Often, you are wearing the wrong kind of underwear made from a synthetic material like polyester, nylon, rayon and/or spandex and this kind of material hold moisture and can cause irritations. There are many other synthetic materials that you should not wear as undergarments. Scented pads and tampons, perfumes, scented powders, perfumes and deodorant feminine sprays should be avoided. Keeping damp work-out clothing or bathing suits on can causes warmth and moisture which can lead to an imbalance in your vaginal bacteria.
It is a good thing to visit your doctor if you have vaginal yeast infections often (3 to 5 times a year). It could be something more serious. I would also suggest not to engage in intercourse although you can use a condom but remember condoms can also change your vaginal environment which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast. You should not only use deodorant pads or tampons but when you are on your monthly change your pad or tampon frequently. Learn and listen to your body and your vagina it will always tell you when it is not feeling well.
Yeast feeds off of carbohydrates so while suffering with a vaginal yeast infection you should limit or eliminate sugar ( simple and complex) from your diet. This action will starve the yeast. Yogurt contains healthy lactobacillus bacteria, this bacteria if used intravaginal can form healthy bacterial colonies which can help the vagina fight the overgrowth of yeast. Lactobacillus naturally lives in the vagina as well and it helps keep the yeast/fungus in control.
Yogurt naturally has healthy and friendly bacteria which are beneficial for vaginal health. When suffering with a vaginal yeast infection another natural method other than garlic or tea tree oil is using plain unsweetened yogurt with its yeast fight bacteria.
While treating vaginal health naturally (fungal, bacterial, viral or parasitic) always take wholefood vitamin c 1,000 mg 3x's a day, probiotics 2 capsules 3x's a day and wild oregano oil capsules 2 capsules 3x's a day. The vitamin c will provide vaginal tissue health, the probiotics will recolonize good bacteria in the vagina and the wild oregano oil will destroy most of the fungal, bacterial, viral or parasitic cells.
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