Almost all women have had to deal with a yeast infection at some point in their lives. If you have had yeast infection, you know firsthand how difficult it is to treat. When you have yeast infection, it can be a source of discomfort and it can even disrupt daily life.

Here are some suggestions on how you can prevent a yeast infection from happening to you.

• Avoid using scented soaps.
  Most women love scented soaps. They make our skin smell good, but the truth is that they are very bad for the vaginal area. The ingredients that create that good scent actually destroy the healthy bacteria in the vagina. With the healthy bacteria destroyed, fungus can grow unchecked and the result is yeast infection. The best soaps to use are those with no scents.

• Don’t take antibiotics unless you have to.
  Antibiotics are great for treating many diseases but they also can trigger yeast infections. What antibiotics do is kill the bad bacteria in your body. Unfortunately, good bacteria get killed too. If you do have to take antibiotics, try to eat a lot of yogurt. Yogurt has good bacteria. You can augment your body’s supply of good bacteria by eating yogurt.

• Quickly remove wet clothing.
  Bacteria and fungi can grow quickly in places that are damp and moist. It is important that you don’t leave your swimsuit or workout clothes on for too long when you are done with what you are doing. The dampness in your vagina will encourage bacteria growth.

• Wear loose clothing.
  Pants and other clothes that fit tightly in the vagina contribute to yeast infections because circulation is reduced and the area becomes warm and moist. This is the ideal growing condition for bacteria. Allow your pants to fit loosely enough that air moves in the vaginal area and make sure your underwear doesn’t hold in moisture.

• Don’t use vinegar and water to douche.
  Some women feel that using vinegar and water to clean their vaginal area helps improve the cleanliness of the area when their period is over. Vinegar and water or a similar product bought at the store actually encourage bacteria growth by killing the natural bacteria. The best thing to clean yourself with is plain old unscented soap and water.

Yeast infections aren’t life-threatening, but they can be a source of annoyance and great discomfort. No woman wants to have a yeast infection if she can help it.