I don’t know about y’all, but if there’s one thing that I try to avoid, with everything in me, it's getting a yeast infection. Unfortunately, because I have a fungal sensitivity, I’ve had more of them over the course of my lifetime than I would like. The upswing, though, is that as I’ve learned more about them, I’ve been able to take preventative measures to keep those bad boys at bay. And one of those things is doing research on what causes them.
For instance, I used to wonder why it seemed like I would get yeast infections in warmer weather. At first, I thought it was all in my head, yet it absolutely isn’t — and if you read this all the way through, you’ll see why I say that.
Now that we are in full-blown spring season, there’s no turning back as far as the rising temps go. And so, if you are also someone who tends to get yeast infections during this time of the year, I’m about to explain to you the reason why the weather, 1000 percent, has something to do with it.
First, a Quick Yeast Infection Recap
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Since it’s been reported that approximately 75 percent of women have will get at least one yeast infection in her lifetime, and almost half will experience more than one, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve had one before — and that makes you pretty familiar with, at the least the symptoms, of a yeast infection. Still, in order for it to make sense that warmer weather can lead to more yeast infections, I’m going to briefly explain what a yeast infection is truly all about.
Something that pretty much all of us have somewhere on our body is a fungi known as Candida; however, something that you may not be aware of is the fact that only around 20 percent of women have it in their actual vaginal tract. Anyway, having Candida in your system isn’t an issue — unless there is an overgrowth with it. If that happens, it can lead to what is known as a yeast infection — and although you can get a yeast infection, pretty much anywhere on your body, what I am going to focus on today is vaginal yeast infections.
Although it is actually possible to have a yeast infection that doesn’t have any symptoms, typically, if you’ve got one going on, your body will certainly let you know because you will experience things like incessant itching (have mercy!), a thick white/off-white discharge, a swollen vagina and/or vulva, a burning sensation when you urinate and perhaps even discomfort during sex.
The cause of a yeast infection is usually tied to something that causes Candida to multiply because you have more “bad bacteria” in your system than good bacteria. This could be due to things like having a weakened immunity; an imbalance of hormones; antibiotics; being pregnant; your blood sugar levels being off; wearing underwear or pants that are too tight (bookmark that one); using body washes, spermicides or other body products that are too strong for your vagina (ones that end up irritating it) and/or douching.
If any of this leads to you having a yeast infection and it isn’t your first trip to the rodeo when it comes to experiencing one, there are over-the-counter antifungal medications that you can use. Or, if the yeast infection is chronic, your doctor may prescribe you an antifungal pill like Diflucan (although these days, you can oftentimes get a prescription prepared for you online via some of the same sites that prescribe birth control; check out “Before You Get Online Birth Control, Read This.” for some references on those).
Aight, so now that you basically get what yeast infections are all about, why does it seem like many women experience them more often during the spring and summertime? Is it all in their head, or is that actually a fact?
Why Yeast Infections Sometimes Uptick Whenever the Weather Warms Up
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Remember how I said that one of the things that can lead to a yeast infection is wearing clothes that are too tight? Well, when your vulva and vagina aren’t able to breathe and instead, moisture is trapped in that area of your body, Candida is able to thrive. And that, my friends, is why it’s pretty common for women to either be more susceptible to a yeast infection in the spring and summer seasons, or they may end up with more than one of them (if they’re not careful). That’s because the warmer it is outside, the easier it is for air to hold moisture, and that can lead to you sweating more and your clothes retaining water — which creates the perfect storm for a yeast infection.
And that is why this article has the title that it does — indeed, if one of the things that you dislike about this time of year is that you have always found yourself being vulnerable when it comes to yeast infections, now you understand why. Humidity cultivates moisture, and trapped moisture causes fungi to multiply, and that can lead to a yeast infection.
6 Things You Can Do to Help to Prevent a Yeast Infection
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So does all of this mean that you just have to lie back and let Candida have its way with you right now? Absolutely not. In fact, as the weather heats up, here are a few things that can decrease your chances of experiencing a yeast infection.
1. Wear breathable fabrics. It’s sundress season, and no one can rock those like we can, right? And listen, yeast will be pissed at you if you do (especially if you go without undies) because the lightness of a sundress’s fabric makes it easier for your body to breathe and for your vaginal area to remain dry. So, sundress or not, definitelywear lighter fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk for the next few months.
2. Take vitamin C. Something else that I said could lead to a yeast infection is a weak immune system. That said, something that can help to keep yours in great shape is vitamin C. The main reason why is because it has the ability to strengthen your white blood cells, which are the cells that help to fight off infection. So, if you’re not doing so already, take a vitamin C supplement and also consume foods that are high in C like citrus fruits, berries, cantaloupe, spinach and broccoli.
3. Leave the scented products alone. We all like to smell good and you doing so is something that I will always and fully support — just make sure to keep the fragrance stuff away from your vulva and vagina. Again, it only irritates them. As an alternative, if you want to do a lil’ somethin’ down there, spray some perfume or apply a sensual essential oil to your inner thigh; the same mission will get accomplished without you having to worry about your vulva/vagina getting mad at you in the process.
4. Massage your vulva with coconut oil. This one might surprise you. Something that has pretty strong antifungal properties in it is coconut oil. That’s why some women use it to treat a yeast infection whether it’s by soaking a tampon with coconut oil and inserting it into their vagina or using it to soothe their irritated vulva. As a semi-preventative measure to keep fungi from irritating your vulva and/or to moisturize it, you certainly can’t go wrong with applying some organic coconut oil to “her” as well.
5. Swap out ice cream for frozen yogurt. Something that yeast feeds off of is sugar; meanwhile, something that keeps yeast from getting out of control is probiotics. And since this is the time of year when a lot of us enjoy scoops of ice cream, if you want to increase your chances of avoiding a yeast infection, consider going with frozen yogurt instead. Although both have sugar in them, yogurt also contains several strains of probiotics too. It’s a delicious way to proactively fight a potential yeast infection from the inside out.
6. Ease up on the stress triggers.When you’re stressed out, it can also make you more susceptible to a yeast infection because stress can weaken your immunity. So, get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Plan a vacation. Spend time with your friends at rooftop restaurants and enjoy a mocktail on your back deck (check out “10 Spring/Summer Cocktails (& Mocktails) That Your Vagina Will Truly Enjoy”). The less stressed you are, the less tension your vagina will feel…and the less chance there will be of you having a spring or summertime yeast infection. #givethanks #enjoy
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These days, it's for a completely different purpose, though. Now that I am in the hopefully latter stages of perimenopause (I’m not sure because my mother had a full hysterectomy at 29, her mother died at 53 and I don’t deal with my paternal grandmother because…chile… ) — although I have always had relatively easy cycles and I could definitely set my watch to them, about two years ago, my periods started to show up whenever they felt like it and it was damn near a crime scene once they did.
It was driving me crazy, and so, my nurse practitioner recommended that I take progestin-only pills to shorten, if not completely stop, my cycle: “After a year or so, we can wean off and see if you are entering into menopause on your own.” (Whew, perimenopause, chile.)
Although the first five months of being on this particular pill made me wonder if it was worth it to take this approach, I actually re-upped for another 12-month cycle because the extra progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) has benefitted me in other areas as well because I am sleeping more soundly and my weight is more stabilized (by the way, when these things are “off,” they are signs of low progesterone levels). However, I did ask my nurse practitioner if, once I do decide to wean off of the pill, would there be any issues.
Her response is what inspired me to write this article because, until she said “post-birth control syndrome” to me, I had no idea there was such a thing. Anyway, if you give me a sec, I’ll explain to you what it is and why you should care if hormone-related birth control is currently a part of your life.
Yes, Post-Birth Control Syndrome Is a Very Real Thing
GiphyOkay, so it’s important to always remember that the way that birth control works is it “manipulates” your hormones so that you can significantly reduce your chances of conceiving. This means that taking them could result in some side effects including nausea; weight gain; headaches; irregular periods and/or spotting; increased stress; depression; blurry vision; breast tenderness, and/or a lowered libido.
That said, even though birth control pills are basically 99 percent effective (when taken correctly and consistently), if the side effects that you are experiencing are making you close to miserable, you should absolutely share that with your healthcare provider because…what’s the sense in preventing pregnancy when you don’t even feel up to having sex because you don’t feel good or your sex drive is shot? More times than not, your provider can find you another pill brand or option that will help you to feel more like yourself.
With that out of the way, think about it — if going on the pill can produce side effects, why would going off of it…not? And this is where post-birth control syndrome comes in.
For the most part, it’s what can happen to your body once you decide to come off of birth control. Typically, the symptoms will last anywhere between 4-6 months and, although the symptoms seem to present themselves most intensely as it relates to going off of the pill, any hormone-related birth control (like IUDs, injections, patches, the ring or implants) could produce similar outcomes.
Outcomes like what?
- Irregular cycles
- Breakouts
- Excessive gas and/or bloating
- Weight gain
- Anxiety and/or depression
- Fertility issues
- Migraines and/or headaches
- Shifts in your libido
- Sleeplessness/restlessness
- Hair loss
Whoa, right? And if a part of you is wondering, “Okay, if this is indeed the case, why have I not heard of this syndrome before?” It’s because it’s not a term that conventional method uses nearly as much as alternative medicine does. Still, it makes all of the sense in the world that if your body has to adjust to an uptick in hormonal intake, it would also need to adjust to removing those extra doses of hormones from your system as well. COMMON. DAMN. SENSE.
Anyway, if you were thinking about taking a break from birth control and taking all of this in has you feeling a bit…let’s go with the word “trepidatious” about doing so, I totally get it. There are some things that you can do to make experiencing post-birth control syndrome either a non-issue or a far more bearable one, though.
7 Home Remedies That Can Make Coping with Post-Birth Control Syndrome Easier
Giphy1. Take a multivitamin.Something that’s fascinating about what going off of birth control can do is it sometimes has the ability to lower your nutrition levels as it relates to certain vitamins and minerals; this is especially the case when it comes to vitamins B, C, E and minerals like magnesium, selenium and zinc. So, if you don’t currently take a multivitamin, now would be the time to start (along with consuming foods that are particularly high in those nutrients as well).
2. Up your vitamin D intake. Speaking of nutrient levels, a vitamin level that commonly drops after going off of birth control isvitamin D. This is hella critical to keep in mind as a Black woman since many of us tend to be naturally deficient in the vitamin as-is and vitamin D is important when it comes to fighting off diseases, regulating weight and keeping your moods stabilized (for starters). So, make sure that your multivitamin has vitamin D in it. Also make sure to consume vitamin D-enriched foods like fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms, yogurt and fortified orange juice.
3. Drink herbal teas. Since going off of birth control will cause your hormones to be all over the place for a season, consider drinking some herbal teas that will help to stabilize them. Black cohosh contains phytoestrogen properties, Chasteberry can help to level out your prolactin levels and green tea can help your hormones out by helping to balance out your insulin (which can sometimes directly affect them).
4. Keep some ibuprofen nearby. The headaches and migraines? Until those subside, you and ibuprofen are probably going to become really good friends; although I will add that ginger tea and inhaling essential oils like chamomile and lavender can help to ease migraine-related symptoms too.
5. Do some meditating. Waiting for your hormones to get back on track can be stressful as all get out. That said, something that can get your cortisol (stress hormone) levels to chill out is to meditate. If meditation is new for you, check out “7 Meditation Hacks (For People Who Can't Seem To Do It).”
6. Get massages. As if you needed an excuse to get a massage, right (check out “12 Different Massage Types. How To Know Which Is Right For You.”)? However, there is some evidence to back the fact that regular massages (somewhere around once a month) can help to lower your stress, boost your dopamine, increase blood flow and drain your lymphatic system so that you will have more energy.
7. Sleep/rest more. There is plenty of scientific research out here which says that sleep deprivation can throw your hormones out of whack — and since your hormones are already trying to stabilize themselves, you definitely need to get 6-8 hours of sleep and not feel the least bit guilty about taking naps sometimes too.
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Post-birth control syndrome may not be the most pleasant thing about getting off of birth control yet it is manageable. So, now that you know all about it, you can feel more confident about taking a birth control break (or getting off altogether) — without the surprises that can come with doing it. Give thanks.
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