Yeast Infection

A vaginal yeast infection is an irritation of the vagina and the area around the vulva. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast fungus called Candida albicans. Tiny amounts of yeast are in the vagina to begin with, but when too much yeast grows in the vagina, this is how the fungal infection occurs.

Yeast infections are extremely common in women. 75 percent of women have this fungal infection during their lifetime.

Symptoms of yeast infection

The most common signs of a yeast infection are extreme itchiness of the vagina.

Other symptoms include:

• Burning, redness, and swelling of the vagina and the vulva
• Pain when passing urine
• Pain during sex
• Soreness
• A thick white discharge that does not have a bad smell
• A rash on the vagina

Only some of these symptoms may occur and may be mild or severe.

If you suspect you have a vaginal yeast infection, you need to see your doctor to check out if you have a yeast infection and to get treatment to cure the infection. The signs of a yeast infection are much like those of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like Chlamydia and gonorrhoea. So get checked.

Yeast infections are very common. About 75 percent of women have one during their lives. And almost half of women have two or more vaginal yeast infections.

How is vaginal yeast infection diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a pelvic exam to look for swelling and discharge. Your doctor may also use a swab to take a fluid sample from your vagina. A lab test will show if yeast is causing the problem and a doctor can then prescribe the best treatment for you.

Many things can raise your chances of a vaginal yeast infection, such as:

• stress
• illness
• poor eating habits, including eating extreme amounts of sugary foods
• pregnancy
• taking certain medicines, including birth control pills, antibiotics, and steroids
• diseases such as poorly controlled diabetes and HIV/AIDS
• hormonal changes during your periods

Can I get a yeast infection from having sex?

Yes, but it is rare. Most often, women don’t get yeast infections from sex. The most common cause is a weak immune system.

How is yeast infection treated?

Vaginal Yeast infections can be cured with antifungal medicines that come as:

• creams
• tablets
• ointments or suppositories that are inserted into the vagina

These products can be bought over the counter at the drug store or grocery store. But can be very expensive.

Are over-the-counter medicines safe to use for yeast infections?

Yes, but always see a doctor for advice before treating yourself for a vaginal yeast infection if you:

• are pregnant
• have never been diagnosed with a yeast infection
• keep getting yeast infections

Using these medicines the wrong way may lead to a hard-to-treat infection. Plus, treating yourself for a yeast infection when you really have something else may worsen the problem. Certain STIs that go untreated can cause cancer, infertility, pregnancy problems, and other health problems. So be sure what you have before you treat the problem.

If you choose to use these over-the-counter medicines, always read the directions carefully. Some creams and inserts may weaken condoms and diaphragms.

Does my sexual partner need to be treated if I have vaginal yeast infection?

Yeast infections are not STIs, but if your partner gets a rash or itchiness of his genital area, he should see a doctor.

How to avoid getting recurring yeast infections?

To help prevent vaginal yeast infections, you can:

• avoid douches
• avoid scented hygiene products like bubble bath, sprays, pads, and tampons
• change tampons and pads often during your period
• avoid tight underwear or clothes made of synthetic fibres
• wear cotton underwear and pantyhose with a cotton crotch
• change out of wet swimsuits and exercise clothes as soon as you can
• avoid hot tubs and very hot baths

Talk to your doctor if you are getting persistent recurring yeast infections.

Dieting

Dieting and trying to lose weight can be a lengthy process and lot’s give up very quickly. What you need to remember is not to expect miracles to happen, dieting is hard but if stuck too, you will notice the results of all your hard work.

For long term weight loss you need to burn more calories than you consume. This means doing more sports activities than you have ever done such as;

Aerobic exercise

Brisk walking

Jogging

Tennis

Eating low calorie foods such as;

Salads

Fruits

Skimmed milk

Whole wheat bread

Low fat yoghurts

Eat plenty of fibre foods such as;

Oatmeal

Banana

Apple

Whole wheat bread

Chickpeas

Peas

Broccoli

Orange

Pasta

Tips for low fat dieting

Eat smaller portions

Eat fish or chicken instead of red meat

Drink more water

Eat low fat snacks

Steam, grill or bake food

Cut alcohol to a minimum

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetable portions a day

A diet which is high in fibre and low in fat will help you lose weight slowly but safely as to not affect your body to much. You need to also cut down on sugary foods, fatty foods and eat low fat dairy products instead of full fat.

A good way of fitting in the exercise to burn the calories of would be, if you drive everywhere, then try and ditch the car and walk to places at least once or twice a day. Or if you have children and they enjoy playing energetic games, then join in and run around with them.

If you have a spare hour throughout your day then go swimming twice a week, swimming is a great hobby and you will probably meet new people who like you are dieting, and then you will feel more motivated to stick to the diet and exercise.

Make your household a healthy house and get rid of any food that could be tempting for you such as;

Chocolates

Crisps

Biscuits

Fizzy drinks

Bacon

Cooking oil

Sweets

Then everybody in your house can help you along with your diet by dieting with you and invite them to swim and exercise with you. In the long run you will all benefit from this, and will all feel like new people when the pounds begin to drop you when standing on those scales.

So I wish you all the luck in world with your dieting and always remember to stick with the diet and that the results will not happen straight away, everything we do takes time to see a result. So good bye to the old you and good luck to the new you.

Body After Birth

You’re Body After Birth – Having a baby changes you’re body after birth, you may not like what changes, or you may just be ecstatic that you have become a mother if it’s your first child. If you like the way you are then you haven’t got a problem, but lots of mothers don’t like the change birth does to their body.

After giving birth some parts of the body may never be quite the same again.

You will have stretch marks in places you never knew existed obviously they will fade in time but will never go away, the saggy tummy from the excess stretched skin from carrying baby, you can in time tighten your stomach area up with exercise and eating the right food’s. You can lose the weight combined with the exercise, But don’t expect this to happen quickly It takes nine months to have a baby at least give yourself long enough for yourself and body to recover.

Treat yourself from time to time to cheer yourself up it can’t do any damage, Go for a pamper day or a manicure or the hair dressers they are just a few ideas to cheer yourself up.

There may be some physical problems with you’re body after birth such as:

• back pain, 
• a weak bladder 
• painful intercourse 
• infection from having stitches  

 

To help these problems after giving birth, you could do pelvic floor exercises these help to tighten the muscles of the vagina the back passage and help you control a weak bladder.

To do pelvic floor exercises to help, try sitting or standing, you can do them anywhere:

•  Squeeze and draw your back passage in at the same time
•  Hold this for five seconds then let go
•  Do this in sets of five as a many times a day as you can ten times a day if possible.

To help firm up your stomach area, lie on the floor:

• Lie on the floor with knees up high, but so your feet are flat on the floor. 

• Put your stomach in and slowly lift your head and shoulders, reach for your knees with the hands and then lower back down slowly. 

• Begin by doing a few and gradually increase if you need too. 

To ease any back problems after giving birth:

• When feeding baby always try to sit with your back supported and straight. 

• When you have jobs to do which are in low cupboards or bathing baby make sure you kneel or squat, avoid bending your back, make the knees do the work. 

• Also try to keep a straight back when pushing baby in the pram or carrying in a baby sling. 

• To lift a carrycot or another child, always bend your knees, keep your back straight and hold the weight close to you. 

If you feel concerned about you’re body after birth then always see your midwife or health visitor as they will be in contact with you for a number of weeks after you bring baby home.