What's the best way to prevent thrush?

Answer 1

Don’t use soaps, washes, bubble baths, wipes, or any sort of cleaning method other than plain water, this is because the chemicals in such products can interfere with natural vaginal/vulva pH, this in turn can mess up normal balance of bacteria and yeast in your vagina/vulva. Your vagina is self-cleaning and all your vulva needs to stay clean is a good wash with water and your hands to get into the areas where bacteria and dirt may collect.

Don't douche as this not only interferes with vaginal pH but can also cause other problems with vaginal health in that it can flush away discharge necessary to keep the vagina clean and vaginal walls moist, it can also force bacteria and yeast further into the vagina.

Keep yourself clean and dry, wash regularly with plain water making sure to fully rinse, when out of the bath or shower make sure to dry your vulva thoroughly without rubbing too hard as this can cause irritation from friction burns – a hairdryer on a cool setting can work very well for drying your vulva.

Don't use tampons or commercial pads, tampons prevent normal vagina cleaning functions and give bacteria and yeast the perfect environment to multiply upon, commercial tampons also contain chemicals that can interfere with vaginal pH. Commercial pads are made from synthetics that prevent aeration to the vulva giving yeast a warm moist environment, chemicals within commercial pads can also interfere with vulva pH. Safer options are cloth pads, menstrual cups or free-flow options.

Avoid synthetic or tight-fitting clothing, in an ideal world it is best to wear plain white cotton panties with skirts, things such as thongs or jeans are especially known for contributing to thrush risk. Tight fitting or loose clothing can prevent aeration to the vulva providing yeast with a warm moist environment perfect for growth.

Keep a healthy diet, yeast love sugars so a lot of sugar can cause problems, a good diet also insures good health in your gut that can help prevent vaginal yeast infections, pro-biotic yogurt is a good food to eat to help keep your internal balance and so help with prevention of yeast infections as well as other health problems.

When using the bathroom make sure to wipe from front to back to avoid transfer of bacteria from your anus, anal sex can also carry risks so be sure if you have sex this way to be careful – this is true every time you have sex no matter which method, safe sex helps prevent infections as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Some women can find they are more prone to infections with specific partners, semen has a different pH to the vagina and some men can have radically different semen from other men, so with some partners women do find they have more vaginal infections. Men can also carry yeast infections without having symptoms so if you get regular infections also get your sexual partner treated.

Watch out for potential infections, change in discharge colour smell, consistency or amount can all be signs of an infection – be sure you know your body so that you know what is or is not normal for you at any given time during your menstrual cycle. If you think you have an infection get tested and treated at a doctors, unless you know for a fact what the infection is and know how to treat it yourself. Infections such as bacterial vaginosis can trigger off yeast infections, treatment of bacterial vaginosis can often include antibiotics that can trigger off yeast infections, and often asking for alternative treatment can help you avoid this problem all together.

Learn about your body and how to treat such infections yourself, many treatments you doctor may give you deal with the infection but not the problem of imbalance of bacteria or yeast within your vagina. Home treatments can often be more successful then doctors treatments, home treatments also allow you to give your vagina and vulva a fighting chance at getting back to normal bacterial, yeast and pH levels when used correctly.

Answer 2

Eat live yoghurt as this helps balance the yeast which causes thrush and wear loose cotton underwear.

If you keep getting thrush it may be that you and your partner are passing it to each other, so you should both be treated at the same time.

Also antibiotics can cause thrush, so whenever you are prescribed antibiotics eat live yoghurt. You can also douche with it, it is incredibly soothing, takes the itch right out and fights the infection!!

Answer 3

Please do not wash inside your vagina as suggested above. This will actually help cause thrush. Washing inside is treatment rather than prevention. If you were to do this when you don't have any infection, you would wash out the normal flora from your vagina which help protect against thrush.

All the above suggestions are also very good. Cotton underwear, a very mild wash etc etc. If you do get an infection, I find that Canestan Duo (pessaries and cream) works best.

Answer 4

stay away from soaps,
wear looser, cotton underwear,
stay away from pantyhose & tight trousers that prevent air circulating,
eat natural yoghurts every day,
dont take antibiotic tablets
stay away from "sugary" foods, ripe fruits & soda drinks
stay away from yeast products, breads etc.
eat as much "greens" as you can instead.
be aware of your personal hygiene, wipe away from the vagina towards the anus, (from your front towards your back)
do not have anal sex, especially if your partner then wants to also have vaginal intercourse, or make sure to change condoms between each area....

you can treat yourself by dipping a tampon/tampax into some fresh natural yoghurt and inserting it for a minute like you would if you have your periods. This will "place" the yoghurt inside where it needs to be to work effectively. Do this once every day until you feel the thrush has cleared up.

If you have a nasty discharge or smell, please see your doctor immidiately, as you could have more dangerous infections that need medication.....

Answer 5

Drinking cranberry juice helps to prevent thrush. It doesn't clear up any existing symptoms, but will help it from getting worse and reduce the chance of getting it in the future. Make sure you drink the fresh stuff....not the diluted stuff.

Answer 6

If the thrush is reoccuring, even with all the above precautions, check your diet. I noticed a big difference when I stopped eating bread everyday.

Answer 7

Wash the area thoroughly, inside and out using clean water, and smear live yoghurt on, in and around it. Drink cranberry juice, fresh not made from concentrate, and eat / drink things like Actimel. If you have a dog wear a loose skirt, no knickers and take the dog for a walk in the fresh air.
Now what about your husband?

Answer 8

Dr William Crook's book The Yeast Connection will tell you all you ever wanted to know about this condtion and how to get and stay rid of it.
Good luck!

Answer 9

Eat pro-biotic yoghurts every day. (Like Actimel or just natural live yoghurt). Keep that area clean & don't use any harsh soaps (Dove is the best).

Answer 10

Don't use anibiotics, don't use too much bath foam in the bath and wear cotton undies.