Women, unfortunately, are naturally more prone to developing yeast infections than men are. The natural levels of estrogen in our body keep our levels of progesterone under control. As we move through our monthly cycles, there are periods of time when the estrogen levels dip. When this happens, progesterone levels rise and – believe it or not – Candida loves to feed on progesterone. This is why a lot of women seem to develop yeast infections right before they menstruate.
There are other reasons, as well, though. Obviously, not every woman gets a yeast infection before every single period, and some women get them at other times as well. Antibiotics, chemicals, and even the foods we eat may impact our susceptibility.
I’m not 100% sure what you mean by “so often” but if you’re getting them, without fail, once a month or more, you may want to talk to your doctor or naturopath about the problem. There are a lot of lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your odds of contracting vaginal thrush so often – things like washing your undergarments separately and with less harsh chemicals, using natural lubricants, and avoiding unnecessary douches and body washes.
If you have a persistent yeast infection – one that goes away and comes back, comes back worse, or just won’t go away at all – you may be suffering from a more severe overgrowth throughout your body. Systemic candida isn’t as uncommon as many people believe and you might need to take a whole-body approach in order to get the relief you really need. This will ultimately include diet, natural supplementation, and maybe even the continuation of your topical or suppository treatments.
Again, make sure you talk to your doctor or naturopath if you need help diagnosing or treating your yeast infections.
