10 Tips to Help Prevent Vaginal Yeast Infections

While vaginal yeast infections are rarely serious, you can avoid the uncomfortable symptoms by preventing them from occurring in the first place.


For most women, yeast infection symptoms are just plain annoying — a vaginal yeast infection is rarely dangerous. Still, you can take steps to prevent yeast infections. The following 10 pointers will help you to do just that.

Preventing Vaginal Yeast Infections: Hygiene Sense

Personal care and hygiene can go a long way when it comes to preventing vaginal yeast infections. Be sure to:
Wash well. Keeping the vagina clean will not only keep you smelling fresh, it can also help prevent yeast infections. When bathing, be sure to clean the inside folds of the vagina where yeast is likely to grow, says Samantha Dunham, MD, a gynecologist at the NYU Langone Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

Dry thoroughly. Because yeast thrives in moist environments, it’s important to dry the entire vaginal area after taking a shower or bath. You may even want to use a blow dryer on a low, cool setting to get rid of excess moisture, says Dr. Dunham.
What to Wear to Prevent Yeast Infections

The way you dress can affect your risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection. To prevent such infections, keep these tips in mind:

Go natural. Cotton and silk underwear absorb moisture, keeping you dry. On the other hand, nylon and other synthetic fabrics hold moisture close to your skin, encouraging the growth of yeast.
Change your clothes. Don’t sit around in sweaty gym clothes or a wet bathing suit. Change into dry clothes as soon as possible. Also, change your underwear often to prevent dampness.
What to Avoid to Prevent Yeast Infections

Some cosmetic products can encourage the production of yeast. You can stay well by:

Not douching. “Douching [washing out the inside of the vagina with liquid] destroys not only harmful bacteria, but also the helpful kind that keep yeast under control,” says Dunham. Douching also washes away the natural protective lining of the vagina, leaving you more susceptible to yeast and other vaginal infections.

Skipping scented soaps, bubble baths, and feminine sprays. Perfumes can be irritating to the sensitive area inside the vagina, and that can increase your risk of getting a yeast infection. Also avoid scented sanitary pads and tampons and colored or printed toilet paper — dyes can also be irritating. “A good rule of thumb is to avoid using anything around the vagina that is scented or dyed or has print on it,” says Dunham.
Limiting the heat. Yeast organisms love warm (and moist) environments. It’s best to avoid taking long hot baths or soaking in a hot tub. Also don’t wear tight clothing that will prevent air from circulating around the crotch area, especially in the summer.

Medications That May Cause Vaginal Yeast Infections

Here's what to know about medication when it comes to keeping vaginal yeast infections at bay:

Watch the meds you take. Antibiotics kill not only bad bacteria, but also good bacteria that can prevent an overgrowth of yeast. “Recent antibiotic use, like for a bladder infection, is one of the most common risk factors for getting a yeast infection,” says Dunham. Taking oral steroids and birth control pills may also increase your risk. If you have frequent yeast infections, talk to your doctor about the medications you take. There may be alternatives available.

Personal Care Tips for Preventing Yeast Infections

As with most illnesses and infections, taking care of your body overall can help you stay healthy. Be sure to:

Get enough sleep. Usually your immune system helps keep yeast under control. But if you get run down from skimping on sleep, your immune system may not be able to do its job. Try keeping a regular sleep schedule and avoiding exercise, caffeine, and heavy meals within three hours of bedtime. Immune-depressing diseases such as diabetes and HIV can also increase the risk of yeast infections. Additionally, if you have diabetes, it's important to keep your blood sugar levels under control to prevent yeast infections.
Change your diet. Some studies suggest that eating yogurt with active cultures may help the body combat an overgrowth of yeast. Dunham also recommends limiting your intake of sugar. There’s some evidence that sugar may help promote the growth of yeast.

Knowing how to prevent yeast infections — and following these pointers — will greatly reduce your risk of dealing with uncomfortable yeast infection symptoms.

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Vaginal Bleaching Tips and Solutions

Vaginal bleaching is a sensitive topic that requires some caution as it affects one of the most sensitive areas of the body.  I want to start off by saying the vaginal bleaching is safe and can provide a cleaner, more natural feel.  However, there are some things that you need to be aware of before trying the procedure.


The process of lightening skin, while being a reasonably safe process, is not a natural process and anytime you do something unnatural there is the potential that your body will react.  This is especially important when it comes to lightening sensitive areas such as the vagina, anus, or nipples.  For this reason alone it's important to make a well informed decision and it's a good idea to contact a dermatologist before performing any vaginal bleaching techniques on your own.


That being said, vaginal bleaching can be a safe procedure and do-it-yourself vaginal bleaching is really quite as simple as applying a cream to the area you want lightened.  But before we get into which products work the best for vaginal bleaching, let's take a look at some of the dangers involved

As I mentioned before, the skin lightening process requires that you block the formation of melanin, which is a natural process of the skin.  Scientists have been researching this reaction for years, and have discovered a wide range of chemicals that will inhibit this reaction (Hydroquinone, Alpha Arbutin, Kojic Acid).  While all of these chemicals are very effective in blocking melanin formation, there are long term studies coming out which suggest that the chemical Hydroquinone is linked to increased chances of liver and thyroid damage and even leukemia.  For this reason it has been banned in numerous countries across Europe and Asia.


In addition to the systemic dangers of these chemicals, there is also a risk that a sensitive part of the body, such as the vagina, can have an allergic reaction to some of these chemicals.  Because of this, it's important to test whatever product you choose with just a very small application before using the recommended dosage.



The Best Creams for Vaginal Bleaching
The best creams for vaginal bleaching are going to be ones that are specially formulated for sensitive areas. These creams, while slightly more expensive than normal skin lightening creams, have been prepared using natural ingredients such as vitamin B3, lemon juice, mulberry and bearberry extract, and licorice extract. They have gone through extensive testing to determine which formulation is best for sensitive skin.


One product that is getting glowing reviews is the South Beach Skin Lightening Gel for Sensitive Areas. Its praises include providing easy application and quick results. People have reported noticing a big difference in as little as a week, lightening the vaginal area and making it blend more evenly with the surrounding skin tone. The good news is that uses all natural ingredients that are safe for sensitive regions so there is a little chance of any reaction. The bad news is that it's a bit on the pricey side; but if you're seriously considering vaginal bleaching, then it's worth spending the money to do it right.


Understanding the potential hazards of vaginal bleaching is the key to doing it safely. If you do decide to use a bleaching kit at home make sure that you use one that has safe ingredients that are specially designed for sensitive areas and make sure to test the product out first. If you do notice any burning or discomfort for more than an hour, be sure to contact a doctor or dermatologist.

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Vagina too tight

The vagina itself is never too small to accommodate a penis – remember that its walls are stretchy enough to allow a full-sized baby to pass along it. But it can seem too small for sex if the muscles at its entrance go into a spasm when your partner tries to insert his penis. This is a fairly rare condition called vaginismus.


Some women with vaginismus can insert a tampon without any problem, but others find that trying to insert anything – a tampon, a finger or a penis – makes the muscles contract. Women with vaginismus often avoid having cervical smears, because they think it will be painful or impossible.

Very occasionally, the penis cannot be inserted because the hymen (which is the membrane at the entrance to the vagina) is unusually tough, but this is very rare indeed.

How the woman feels. Vaginismus is a very distressing condition. It is very painful if your partner attempts to push his way in, and you may feel wary that he may do this. You may also have feelings of anger, guilt and inadequacy, and fear that your partner may leave you. Some women withdraw from all physical contact – even holding hands – in case it leads to sex.

How the partner feels. Partners are usually confused and worried. Your partner will hate the idea of causing you any pain. He may think that his sexual technique is at fault.

What causes vaginismus? It is really a deep-rooted phobia of penetration, and perhaps of pregnancy or childbirth. The reason is different for each woman: it can result from some unresolved sexual conflict, from sexual abuse or from a belief that sexual activity is undesirable. You may have had a painful vaginal condition that has left you with a conditioned fear of sex.

Vaginismus should not be confused with frigidity; women with vaginismus are often sexually responsive, but can not tolerate penetration.

Treatment. Vaginismus can be helped. Relate, the counselling organization, reports that of 3693 women seen over a 2-year period, 80% improved with therapy.

Psychosexual counselling. The therapy is not at all frightening. You will be taught how to relax your vaginal muscles and eventually to insert a small tampon. In due course you will learn to insert larger tampons. If you have a partner, the therapist will start by telling you not to attempt sex. Instead, you will be encouraged to resume non-genital physical contact in very small steps, such as holding hands, sitting close together or putting an arm round each other. Quite late in the programme, you and your partner will be shown how you can insert his penis yourself, as if it were a tampon; he lies on his back and is not allowed to move at this stage. Only at the very end of the therapy programme will you be encouraged to have proper sex.

What your doctor can do. To get this psychosexual therapy, it is best to talk to your doctor. Explain that you have a problem with sex, and that this problem means that you have not been able to have sex at all. Your doctor will be able to check that there is no physical problem (such as a tough hymen) and will then arrange for psychosexual counselling as outlined above. A few doctors are specially trained in this area and will do the therapy themselves. In the UK, if you do not want your doctor to be involved you can contact Relate (see Useful contacts or look in your phone book for your local branch). Relate provides very good psychosexual counselling, but there may be a waiting list.

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Vaginal Tightening surgery

Vaginal tightening

Vaginal tightening/ Vaginoplasty, often referred to as a designer vagina, is a procedure to enhance the feelings of sexual gratification and should allow the woman to receive and give more pleasure when making love. For women who’ve experienced childbirth, vaginal muscles tend to expand during the delivery, the result can often be weak, loose, vaginal muscles. This can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and can even lead to sexual dissatisfaction or difficulty. Even after exercise the condition of the vaginal muscles may not improve. The aim of surgery is to improve the tone of the vagina by tightening the vaginal muscles and supporting tissues.

What does Vaginal Tightening Surgery Involve?
This procedure typically tones vaginal muscle, resulting in greater strength, contraction, and control. Vaginoplasty is a standard gynaecologic surgical procedure. The stretched muscle at the back of the vagina is joined together and shortened with dissolvable stitches, and the unwanted skin is removed. This tightens vaginal muscles and surrounding soft tissues, by reducing excess vaginal lining. The scarring is inside the vagina.


How long does Vaginal Tightening take?
Vaginal tightening is performed either under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation, and may require an overnight stay. The operation takes around an hour to perform.


What can I expect from Vaginal Tightening?
Your expectations need to be realistic. The result is an immediate decrease the diameter of the vagina, and an increase in the tightness of vaginal muscles. This will also restore the vagina and supporting structures to a pre-pregnancy state.


Recovery after a Vaginoplasty Procedure

What will happen in the recovery period?

You will be sore and possibly a little swollen after surgery. After surgery, you are usually able to walk comfortably within a few days and may return to sexual activities within 4-6 weeks. You will need follow-up checks to ensure that everything is healing properly.


What is the recovery time from Vaginoplasty surgery?
Recovery is quite quick a week after surgery you should be able to return to work. The final result will be seen in around 2-3 weeks following your surgery.

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