Female Yeast Infection

A female yeast infection on the vagina can be a very annoying and even painful experience for a woman. It can occur regardless of the age of the female or whether the woman or girl is sexually active or not.

This itchy, burning health issue is no respecter of age, race, sexually orientation, income level, or any other factor. An infection of yeast can strike any female at any time.

Many vaginal female yeast infections can be avoided once a female understands some of the factors involved with the disorder. The yeast bacteria, while always present in some degree in the vagina, simply increases in number to a level that the other good bacteria in the body can not control the growth of the yeast.

A commonly held myth is that these vaginal infections are only spread by sexual activity or specific sexual acts. This is completely untrue. It is not uncommon for a child or even a baby to get a vaginal yeast problem even though there has been no sexual contact of any kind whatsoever. If your child has symptoms and you learn that she does, in fact, have a vaginal yeast infection, do not fall for this myth and believe she has been sexually abused unless there are other signs indicating abuse or she tells you that someone has improperly contacted her.

One of the most common causes of vaginal yeast infections, especially in a female that is not sexually active, is improper wiping after defection. A woman should always clean herself from FRONT to BACK, so that no bacteria from the anus can come in contact with the vagina, allowing bacteria to enter the labia and vagina.

A woman should also not keep on wet clothing after swimming because this provides the perfect environment for yeast growth. Girls and women who swim, then sun in their wet swim suits for a while, return to the water, and repeat this process during a day at the beach or pool can unknowingly cause themselves to get a vaginal yeast infection that promptly becomes very annoying and painful.