FitSugar

Getting Down and Dirty in the Pool Ain't Clean

FitSugar — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:47:57 PDT

If warm, sunny weather is inspiring you to get hot and heavy, you may want to skip getting it on in the pool, and save your nookie time for dry land. Although making sweet love in the water sounds sensual and natural, since you're wearing next to nothing already, it's not exactly the safest way to get it on.

Here's a mood killer for you: lake, river, ocean, and pond water contain bacteria, so getting intimate can introduce that bacteria into your vagina, which could put you at risk for infections that you don't want up there. Pool water is no better since it contains chlorine that could irritate your lady business, or disrupt the natural pH balance in your vagina, leading to a yeast infection. As for hot tubs, they're often not chlorinated enough, which means they're teeming with who knows what - bacteria!

Still not convinced? Then

You may have heard that getting busy underwater will prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, but this is not true. As long as there is contact between two partners, semen and other bodily fluids can still pass from one person to another, which makes conception or contraction of STIs possible. You're using a condom, you say? Although in the bedroom, condoms are very effective at preventing both pregnancy and the spread of infection, in the water, the lack of natural lubrication can make condoms more apt to break or slip off without either person realizing it. Not to mention, the lack of natural moisture can also cause friction, which will chafe your sensitive lady parts.

Water and sex just don't mix, so my advice is to reserve pool time for swimming, and save the shagging for later.

What Do You Know About the Yeast Beast?

Michele Bell — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:00:21 PDT

Nobody likes them. . . dreaded yeast infections! But, until those vaccines come along, we ladies are susceptible to the vaginal irritations. Come take my quiz to see what you know about the icky infection - you might learn a thing or two along the way.

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Take the Quiz

DrSugar: Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Yeast

DrSugar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:00:14 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I am on antibiotics (Clindamycin) to clear up an infected tooth before having a root canal. Good times, I know. I haven’t taken antibiotics in years, but know that they give me a serious yeast infection. I have upped my yogurt intake to twice daily and have been taking a probiotics pill twice a day too. Is that overkill? Should I be doing more? And if so, what do you recommend to keep the secondary yeast problem at bay. Thanks!
- Possibly Over-proactive

First off, I’d like to give you well wishes on a speedy recovery from your recent root canal! I’m really glad you asked this question, because antibiotics are some of the most commonly prescribed medications and for women, taking antibiotics can definitely lead to yeast infections. To see why antibiotics can lead to yeast infections and what you can do to try and prevent it, keep reading.

DrSugar Answers: Running and Yeast Infections

DrSugar — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:11 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I am training for my first marathon and have slowly been increasing my mileage and am experiencing an unexpected side effect: yeast infections. Not too sexy I know, but a painful problem. I know in my non-running life to wear loose cotton clothing to help prevent getting a yeast infection, but when logging miles that is just not an option due to chafing issues. I am hoping you can give me some preventative advice. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!
- A Runner

First of all, congratulations on training for your first marathon! What an accomplishment and I wish you all the best on your fitness goals! I will quickly review causes of yeast infections, then answer your excellent question, so keep reading.

5 Ways to Prevent a Yeast Infection

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:21 PDT

Ugh, a yeast infection has to be one of the worst things a woman has to deal with. If you've ever had one, you'll do anything to prevent it from happening again. Although a yeast infection vaccine is in the works, it's not yet available, so here are some ways to prevent this irritating problem before it starts.

Don't hang out in wet bathing suits or sweaty undies. After a swim or workout, get out of those wet bottoms and into some dry undies that have a cotton crotch. Excessive moisture in that area can encourage yeast to grow.
Avoid going on and off hormonal birth control. The fluctuations can mess with the pH of your lady business, so every time you go on and off, you're likely to experience a flair-up in yeast, causing an infection.

Learn more tips.

Mommy Wellness: Yeast Infections During Pregnancy

LilSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:00:55 PDT

During pregnancy, your body is changing on such a constant basis that you may not even notice a little itch here or there. If you get it, seek treatment immediately. During the second trimester, yeast infections are more common than any other time in our lives. Though they do not have a significant effect on pregnancy, they are more difficult to control during this time due to the shift in hormones.

According to the American Pregnancy Association:

[The] body is going through so many changes right now, and it is difficult for your body to keep up with the chemical changes in the vaginal environment. There is more sugar in the vaginal secretions on which the yeast can feed, causing an imbalance, which results in too much fungus.

While yeast infections may be uncomfortable, they are treated with the same over-the-counter medications non expectant women take. Unfortunately, Diflucan, the easy, one-dose medication, is not approved for pregnant women, but suppositories and creams are deemed to be safe.

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Can Sex Cause a Yeast Infection? Yes and No

DearSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:00:00 PST

If you've ever had a yeast infection, you know that it's not something you want to go through again. The good news is that you can do a lot to keep the healthy bacteria below your waist at a normal level, like wearing cotton undies, loose fitting pants, and avoiding douching altogether.

Staying dry down there is crucial in order to avoid the annoyance of a yeast infection, but that can be tough if you're a sexually active person. Natural lubrication that your body makes isn't going to affect your lady business, but if you use a personal lubricant that contains glycerin, for many women, that's a yeast infection waiting to happen, so make sure your lube is glycerin-free! Also, if you don't use condoms and your man does his business inside of you, make sure to use the bathroom after sex to help release some of the semen.

There's something else to think about when it comes to sex and yeast infections so

Hormonal birth control can cause yeast infections for some women, so if you're prone, try Monophasic birth control, where the same dosage is delivered daily, which can help curb an infection. If that doesn't work, you may benefit from experimenting with other forms of BC until you find the right one for your body. Another thing to note is that pregnancy can cause a yeast infection. Now I'm not saying having an infection means you're preggers, but it could be one of the early signs.

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Dear Quiz: How Well Do You Know Yeast Infections?

DearSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT

If you're a woman, chances are you've had to endure at least one horribly uncomfortable yeast infection in your lifetime. If you hadn't heard yet, there may be a yeast infection vaccine in our future which could help to prevent future infections, but until then, take this little quiz to see what you know about yeast infections, their causes, and how they relate to sex.

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Take the Quiz

Yeast Infection Vaccine?

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT

If you've ever had to deal with the annoyance of a yeast infection, then you might be interested to know a vaccine to prevent them is in the works. Early lab tests of the vaccine performed on mice have been successful.

Female mice were given one of several variations of the vaccine, and then were exposed to a lethal dose of Candida albicans, the fungus responsible for yeast infections. Another group of female mice were given a placebo vaccine to create a control group. The mice who received the yeast infection vaccine had a 40 to 100 percent survival rate, while the control group sadly all died. I'm not sure why they had to give them a "lethal dose" of this fungus (since I wouldn't say a typical yeast infection is deadly - just horribly uncomfortable), but it seems that the vaccine has worked.

Tell me ladies, once this becomes safe for humans, would you get a vaccine to prevent yeast infections?

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The How-To Lounge: Avoiding a Yeast Infection

DearSugar — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:00:00 PDT

Yeast infections are gross and irritating, but they happen. An overgrowth of fungus in your body can be caused by a variety of things, tight clothing, medication and pregnancy are just a few, so here are some easy tips to try to prevent them! Click here to

Keep your lady business as dry as possible. Moisture down there is a breeding ground for yeast
If you're a swimmer, be sure to change your swimsuit frequently. Wear breathable cotton underwear (or make sure your underwear has a cotton crotch) and stay far away from synthetic materials such as polyester
Avoid wearing tight fitting jeans, pants, shorts or nylons and always sleep without your underwear on - you need to let your lady business breathe
Contrary to popular belief, douching is bad for you. Using feminine hygiene products such as sprays and feminine cleaners, perfumed toilet paper, perfumed tampons or panty liners will also irritate your vagina and disrupt its natural pH balance, which can cause an infection
Unfortunately, some women are prone to yeast infections, especially while taking antibiotics so if you fall into that category, be sure to eat a diet rich in live culture and probiotics such as yogurt and Kambucha
If you have the symptoms of a yeast infection, burning, itching or thick white discharge, consult your doctor asap

I hope you find these preventative tips helpful.

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