Although this is becoming less of an issue as a sistah ages (praise the Lord!), I know I can’t be the only one who feels like there is pretty much only one week out of every month when I’m home-free as far as menstrual cycles go. The rest of the time, if my body isn’t getting ready for my period to come on, it’s recovering from being on it.SMDH. Between bloating, restlessness, period pimples, random food cravings, and unpredictable moods, the last thing that anyone wants to experience is a damn yeast infection. Yuck upon yuck. Eww upon eww. Ick upon ick.
And really, just what is up with that, anyway? Why does it seem that if there is ever a time when we can predict that a yeast infection will arrive, it’s when Aunt Flo wants to spend a bit of quality time with us?
If that’s something you can relate to and it’s also something that you’ve low-key always wondered about, I’ve got the answer — along with some things that you can do to prevent yeast infections and menstrual cycles from colliding (at least as much) in the future.
Okay, So What’s Up with Yeast Infections Around Menstrual Cycles?
GiphySo, sincereportedly 3 out of 4 women will have at least one yeast infection in their lifetime, I’m thinking that most of y’all have “had the pleasure” — NOT — by now at some point. This means that you probably know what causes yeast infections to transpire in the first place: an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your vagina to the point where the good kind isn’t able to prevent it from becoming an infection.
Although things like pregnancy, weight gain, diabetes, certain medications, poor diets, sleep deprivation, and even stress can play a role in making you more susceptible to getting a yeast infection, one thing that can be the culprit behind all of these is a set of imbalanced hormones. And when do your hormones find themselves moving all over the place the most? In the days leading up to your period.
There was even a study that stated that for more than half of the women who had a significant imbalance between good and bad bacteria, it was right when they were about to start their cycle. So, when you take all of this into account, it makes a lot of sense when periods and yeast infections seem to like to hang out with each other a lot.
How to Treat a Yeast Infection During Your Period
GiphySo, what should you do if you happen to get a yeast infection during your menstrual cycle? To tell you the truth, for the most part, you should do what you’ve always done in the past when it comes to healing from one. If an over-the-counter product (like Monistat) has always worked for you, you can still use it (although you should go with pads instead of tampons until the treatment is completed). If you’ve always taken an oral med like Diflucan, you still can. The main thing that I wanted to bring up here is since bothyour estrogen and progesterone levels tend to be at their lowest when you are on your cycle and since some studies say that progesterone can help to keepcertain strains of candida under control, you might want to consume more cruciferous vegetables, kale, and nuts.
Why? Well, although there aren’t really any foods that contain progesterone, there are some that help tostimulate the production of it — and the ones that I just mentioned qualify. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for the changes that a period brings to actually make you think thatyour yeast infection went away during your cycle (it’s happened to me before); that usually isn’t the case, so keep treating it, as usual, whether you’re on your cycle or not.
6 Ways to Prevent a Yeast Infection Before Your Cycle Comes in the Future
GiphyYou know the saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, now that you know what causes a yeast infection around your cycle, here are six things that can help to prevent one around that time of the month.
1. Use organic products.
If you’re someone who uses tampons (especially), it’s important to go withan organic brand. The reason why is that they don’t contain the dyes, fragrances, and other chemicals that many popular commercial brands do. This is relevant because anything that is going to be inside your vagina for hours on end needs to have as few chemicals on it as possible. Otherwise, it could throw your pH balance off, and — voila! You’ve got a perfect breeding ground for a yeast infection. For leads on some of the best organic tampons that are currently on the market, check out Health’s “The 8 Best Organic Tampons, According to Experts.” For a referral for organic pads, check out Cosmo’s “11 Organic Pads Your Bathroom Cabinet Needs.”
2. Load up on probiotics.
All of us havelive bacteria and yeast in our system; probiotics are the good kind of bacteria that our body needs —including our vaginas. The short answer why (you can read a more detailed onehere) is when your vagina is full of probiotics, it helps to fight off the bad bacteria that can throw off your pH balance and lead to some type of infection, including a yeast infection. This is why it’s smart totake a probiotic supplement on a consistent basis and you consume foods that are high in probiotics likefermented ones, including yogurt, raw cheese, and sourdough bread.
3. Get plenty of rest.
Since your hormone levels are all over the place in the days leading up to your cycle, you might find it difficult to sleep soundly throughout the night. Still, it’s important to be as intentional as you can about keeping your anxiety levels low and getting as much rest as possible. The (main) reason why is research reveals that you’re more likely to get a yeast infection if your body is stressed out or sleep-deprived. So, if you’re craving processed sugar or caffeine, try and curb that with natural sugar like fruit and go with decaf while you’re PMS’ing in order to keep your anxiety levels low so that you can remain calm and relaxed. And if you need to take a (power) nap to get more sleep in, do that. A lot of women end up with yeast infections because they’re not getting enough rest — and they don’t even realize it.
4. Protect your labia with a mix of coconut and olive oil.
An itchy labia (the outer part of your vagina) can be a telling sign that a yeast infection is either present or on its way. If you’re looking for a natural way to bring some external relief and healing (whether you’re on your cycle or not), apply a combination of coconut and olive oil to it.Coconut oil contains powerful antifungal properties whileolive oil is actually an oil that candida can’t stand. (By the way, the purest form of olive oil isextra virgin if you want to get the best — and quickest — results.)
5. Shed a few pounds.
If you heard somewhere thatbeing overweight can trigger a yeast infection, that would be true.The backstory is having extra pounds on your body can alsoplay a role in your hormones not being as balanced as they need to be — and as you’ve already seen, hormones that are in influx can definitely cause a yeast infection. So, although it is importantto not stay in your workout clothes for too long (due to all of the moisture in them that yeast enjoys thriving in), do make sure that you exercise. Aside from burning calories, it’s also been proven thatexercise can keep your estrogen levels from getting out of wack — and as far as avoiding yeast infections is concerned, that is always a good thing.
6. Use condoms.
Especially if you’re about to have sex with a new partner, you need to use a condom. There are multiple reasons why; however, when it comes to this particular topic, although sperm/semen itselfdoesn’t exactly “cause” a yeast infection, what it can do is alter the pH level in your vagina to where it creates an environment for a yeast infection to occur. So, if you don’t want sexual activity to result in a yeast issue up the road — condoms, it is, sis. Condoms, it is.
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Is it guaranteed that doing all of this will prevent a yeast infection around your cycle? Bodies are a tricky thing, so I can’t make those types of failsafe assurances. What I will stand on is, now that you’re aware of what yeast infections and periods have in common, you can be intentional about taking preventive measures that will make getting an infection less of an issue — and hell, even one less yeast infection experience will make that all worthwhile, don’t you think? Hell, I do.
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While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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Now, while it’s another message for another time that if this type of sex-related craving feels impulsive or out of one’s control, it could be a sign of someone who is leaning into some level of sex addiction; however, that is not what we’re going to unpack today. Today, we’re going to look into what could be going on with you if it seems like, lately, you’ve been having a greater desire for sex, and you can’t quite pinpoint why.
Because, just like, say, a craving for a particular type of food oftentimes reveals something that is going on with you physically or mentally — sex cravings tend to bring certain things to light in those same areas, too.
Let’s dig in…
Hormonal Shifts
GiphyAlthough I don’t have social media accounts, I do tiptoe out there to see what’s going on — and boy, do I roll my eyes whenever I hear folks act like being over 40 is old. SMDH. It’s especially annoying when I hear about it in the context of sex because, believe it or not, there are a lot of late perimenopausal and menopausal women who are “gettin’ theirs” more than some of these 20 and 30-year-olds are (just ask them).
One reason is that the fear of experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, for many, is now in their rearview mirror. Another is because some are taking a form of hormone therapy to treat the changes that their system is going through — and when you’re getting more estrogen, progesterone, and/or testosterone into your body (in order to level things out) — HUNNAY.
For other women, even consuming phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogen) like peaches, garlic, berries, spinach, and cabbage can make them want sex more than when those aren’t a part of their diet. Bottom line here, a shift in your sexual hormones can definitely cause you to desire sex more than you have before (or have in a while).
Ovulation
GiphyBack when I was a teen mom director for the local chapter of a national non-profit, something that I used to tell “my daughters” all of the time is when you know that you’re ovulating, that’s when you need to be hypervigilant about using wisdom when it comes to the sex-related decisions that you make. I’m thinking that most of you get why: your body was designed to feel its horniest when you’re able to get pregnant — and that is during your time of ovulation.
That’s why it really is a good idea to keep up with your cycle and, if a baby is not something that is on your priority list right now, you either avoid having sex during that time of the month or make sure to use some form of birth control. Chile, even women with low libidos can find themselves wanting to hang off of a chandelier or two when they are ovulating. It’s nature’s way.
A Healthy Diet
GiphyIf you happen to be someone with a sluggish sex drive and you know that you spend most of your time in a drive-thru, there is probably a direct correlation there. No joke. There is plenty of research out in cyberspace to support the fact that a wack diet and low sex drive have a lot in common. While processed foods and unhealthy fats can throw your (sex) hormones off, foods that are filled with zinc, vitamins B12 and D, and iron can ramp up your desire for intimacy.
This is why many people who decide to make a lifestyle change as far as their eating habits are concerned are oftentimes surprised by how much sex is on their minds and how much easier it is for them to orgasm because of it. While a part of it can be due to a boost in their sexual confidence, a lot of it has to do with consuming foods that will literally feed their libido (in a healthy way).
More Exercise
GiphyPlainly put, exercise makes you hornier. Not only does it boost your testosterone levels, (consistently) working out also lowers your stress levels and gives you a boost in the self-esteem department. On top of that, exercise makes you more flexible, builds up endurance, and increases blood circulation which can turn around and intensify your climaxes as a direct result. In fact, this is oftentimes why people will want to have sex right after a workout session.
While we’re here, let me also share that too much of a good thing can end up being counterproductive. What I mean by that is, that although it is wise to exercise on a regular basis, make sure to not overdo it. Something known as overtraining syndrome can result in fatigue, insomnia, and irritability; no one can really have amazing sex when all of that is going on.
Being a Certain Age
GiphyWhile it used to be said that the sexual peak for men is in their teens and for women, it’s in their 30s (some believe it’s because after 35, it’s more challenging for women to get pregnant and so our biological clock plays a role in it all), some research believes that coming to that conclusion isn’t fair because aging affects people differently. For instance, while on one hand, people in their 40s tend to see a dip in their sex hormones, as we’ve already discussed, hormone therapy (for both men and women) can level some of those issues out, if not increase some people’s sex drives altogether.
Adding to that, it should also go on record that some studies indicate that women between the ages of 27-45 actually have a stronger desire — or craving — for sex than women between the ages of 18-26. So honestly, there goes the myth that being younger (automatically) means that you’re hornier. #Elmoshrug
Certain Medications
GiphyIf you used to have a higher sex drive and you’re currently on an antidepressant, that could be why your desire for copulation has decreased. Some studies say that as much as 40 percent of people who are on these types of medication end up having a lower libido (by the way, antihistamines and beta-blockers can have this effect, too).
On the other hand, if you’ve been taking a prescribed drug to increase your sex drive (perhaps like Vyleesi or Addyi), then it would make sense that you may have an increased libido level. Other meds that may have a similar effect include birth control pills (since they alter your hormones), medications that help to treat Parkinson’s disease, along with dopamine-related drugs.
Less Stress
GiphyIf, on the days when you don’t seem to have a care in the world, you also desire sex more than usual, that’s not a coincidence either. Thing is, when you’re all stressed out, that can cause the stress hormone known as cortisol to work overtime and, when that happens, that can end up suppressing your sex hormones which can deplete you of sexual urges. Ironically, there is a flip side to this because when you engage in sexual activity, that actually elevates feel-good (and bonding) hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which can also de-stress you.
So basically, if you’re craving sex, you probably aren’t very stressed out (right now), and if you want to stop being stressed out, you probably should have some sex (some protected sex, if you don’t want to be stressed later up the road…if you know what I mean).
Having an Amazing Sex Life
GiphyTo me, this one right here should be a given because when something is both good to and for you, why wouldn’t you want more of it? So yeah, if you have a great sex life with someone, it’s common sense that you’d want to engage in that act with them as much as possible. Hey, not to mention the fact that orgasms activate your brain in a way similar to a drug high does.
So, if while reading this, you’re thinking about sexting your bae to make arrangements to — eh hem — satisfy your craving, I say go for it! To “greatly want” to connect with your partner in order to have some fulfilling and satisfying sex? What in the world could possibly be wrong with that?! Not a damn thing.
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