If Sex Keeps Giving You A Yeast Infection, Try This.

A Yeast Infection. Revisited.

So, it’s not like yeast infections don’t get their fair share of attention over on this side of the internet. You can read articles that I’ve written like “Yeast Infections Happen Most Before Your Period. Here's Why.,” “Do You Get More Yeast Infections In The Spring? There's A Reason For That.,” “What To Do For Yeast Infections (On Other Parts Of Your Body)” to prove that point. Still, just for the sake of making sure that you are able to connect the dots between a yeast infection and how sex can potentially increase the chances of you experiencing one, let’s briefly recap what a yeast infection is.

Candida is a type of fungus that naturally develops within your body. Typically, it is harmless yet when you experience an overgrowth of it within your system, that can lead to a yeast infection — not just in your vagina; however, that is what we are going to focus on today. And when this type of infection occurs, it can lead to symptoms like incessant itching, burning, swelling of your vagina and vulva (the outer part of your vagina), a thick discharge and discomfort during sex.

Although things like antibiotics, a weakened immune system and fluctuating hormones can be what creates the “perfect storm environment” for a yeast infection, it’s important to also keep in mind that, any time your system is imbalanced, that can help to cultivate a yeast infection too.

Let’s now build on this fact.

Now Here’s How Sex Can Cultivate the Environment for a Yeast Infection

So, here’s the deal about yeast infections and why some people tend to get them after having sex. Although sex itself doesn’t actually cause a yeast infection to transpire, the bacteria that comes along with copulation can find itself being the culprit. This can include the bacteria that is exchanged during vaginal intercourse, anal sex and even oral sex.

For instance — and this might be TMI for some but if you’ve read my content enough, you know that I am perfectly fine with that — I remember many years ago, after not having sex for a while and getting a new partner, after he went down on me, about a week later, I had one of the nastiest yeast infections that I’ve ever had in my entire life (I have a fungal sensitivity, so I have to stay on top of that). My nurse practitioner told me that his saliva (along with the alcohol content that was in it because alcohol contains sugar) probably threw my pH balance off and that is what led to the infection (the more you know, the more you freakin’ know!). So, there’s real life proof that oral sex can help to give you a yeast infection, if you are not careful).

OK, but if things are going perfectly fine in the vaginal health department until you have sex and I’m saying that science says that coitus itself is not the cause. If that is indeed true, what the heck is going on?

Good question.

What Makes You More Susceptible to a Sex-Related Yeast Infection

So, here’s the deal. Even though sex doesn’t give you a yeast infection per se, there are things that can “work together” with the act to make you more vulnerable to this type of health issue.

• If you engage in unprotected sex, the sperm/semen (or again, saliva if it’s oral sex) from your partner couldtemporarily throw your pH levels off which could lead to a yeast infection.
• Although you should always participate in protected sex (especially if you’re not in ana monogamous or exclusive long-term relationship), the double-edged sword here isif you are allergic to latex, if the spermicide is too strong and/or you use lube that contains glycerin (which has sugar in it which yeast naturally thrives off of) — these things could also cause a yeast infection.
• If you have a “bang, bang, bang” partner (which isn’t always or necessarily a bad thing — LOL), the friction from the intercourse could lead to inflammation in your vagina which could throw off its balance of yeast which could also trigger a yeast infection.
• Not properly cleaning those sex toys before moving them from body part to body part? That could cause bacteria to move around which could absolutely lead to a yeast infection.
• If your partner already has a yeast infection, that could give you a yeast infection.

And that last one? If your partner (or you) has a yeast infection and it’s not properly treated, that could result in you exchanging the yeast infection back and forth — andan untreated yeast infection can result in prolonged fatigue, gastrointestinal issues andbleeding and sores in your vaginal area (usually from incessant scratching).

What You Should Do If You (or Your Partner) Has a Yeast Infection

Although yeast infections are far more prevalent in women than they are in men, that doesn’t mean that men can’t get them. In fact, research reveals that somewherearound 1 in 25 men will end up with one at some point in their lifetime (as opposed to 75 percent of women will have at least one at some point in their lives); especially if they happen to be uncircumcised due to the yeast that could potentially get trapped inside of their foreskin (because yeast thrives in dark, warm and wet areas).

And although some men can experience similar symptoms of a yeast infection that women do, it should also go on record that men can have a yeast infection andnot even know it; the word for this is asymptomatic. That’s why, if you do have sex with someone and you end up with a yeast infection, it’s important to discuss it with them, so that they can get tested — just to be sure that either they don’t have it or, if they do, you both can get treated, so that you’re not passing the infection back and forth to each other.

That said, if this is the first time having a yeast infection for either one of you, it’s best to go to a doctor to get a thorough diagnosis (if it’s not, these days, there are at-home tests that you can take like this one here). The main reason is because there are some STI/STDs that have similar symptoms to a yeast infection (including chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes), so you need to be sure that there aren’t any other underlying health issues going on and that you get the type of treatment that will resolve the actual issue that you have.

5 Tips for Preventing a Yeast Infection (When You’re Sexually Active)

Aight, so now that I’ve hopefully broken down how a yeast infection and sexual activity can find themselves intersecting in some ways, I want to make sure that you’re aware of some of the proven things that you can do to prevent this from being a personal issue for you and your partner. Ready?

1. Take probiotics. Again, as someone who has a fungal sensitivity, I’ve had more yeast infections (not just vaginal ones either; my breasts aren’t small, so…) than I would’ve ever thought that I would over the course of my lifetime. Something that has helped to keep them at bay? Daily probiotics. Always remember that your vaginal tract is chocked full of both good and bad bacteria, so it’s wise to have as much good bacteria in there so that your system can combat the bad. Probiotics can help make that happen.

2. Use other kinds of condoms. Although roughly only 1-6 percent of people are allergic to latex (including latex condoms), if you sense that you might be one of them, always keep in mind that there are alternative options including polyisoprene and polyurethane ones. You can read more about the pros and cons of both of these by checking out “These Are The Kinds Of Condoms Your Vagina Would Actually Prefer.”

3. Clean up. You know how you’ve been told to wipe from front to back and not the other way around? Along these same lines, whether it’s a body part or a sex toy — don’t be out here getting all carried away by going into one, umm, hole with something and then moving into another hole without cleaning things off first. That’s a primo way for bacteria to spread around…and that’s just what a yeast infection wants to happen.

4. Be careful when it comes to hot tub sex. Speaking of breeding grounds for infection — if you’re on vacation and the urge hits you while you’re in a hot tub, uh, you might want to rethink that. I once read that “…the infection risk from hot tub is so significant that in the US, the Centers for Disease Control has released official advice on how to prevent this.” Yeah, you can never assume that people who were in the tub before you are as clean as you are or that the establishment that offers the tub does a thorough job of cleaning it either. So, if you want to be adventurous…try your hotel (or vacation house) shower or something. You’ll be much better off.

5. Keep your stress levels down. If your partner (or your relationship) is constantly stressing you out and you combat it with “make-up sex,” in its own weird way, that could be giving you a yeast infection too. Here’s how: stress lowers your immunity and when that happens, the cortisol levels in your body end up spiking which raises your blood sugar levels, which can make it easier for yeast to be “fed” and that can trigger a yeast infection. Just one more reason to not let a man stress you out, even if the sex is good. You could look up and end up with fried nerves and a nasty yeast infection — and who wants that, chile? Exactly.

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