If You Get Yeast Infections Before (Or During) Your Period, You're Not Alone

It’s that time of the month, and you are struggling with a yeast infection—AGAIN. For many women, this is a common situation. On top of the cramping and bleeding of their monthly cycle, they also get hit with symptoms of itching and burning in the vaginal area and a white clumpy discharge. 

This problem can be incredibly frustrating and many patients are told they're simply "prone" to these infections. But as a functional medicine doctor who specializes in women's health, I give my patients actionable steps they can take to help prevent these infections from occurring, as well as explain why they might be happening in the first place.

The first thing you need to know about yeast infections is that we all have yeast in our bodies—in our GI tracts, our mouths, and yes, in our vaginas, too. A problem only really occurs when yeast grows out of control, which is what we call a yeast infection. Because we have yeast all over, we can also get a yeast infection in many areas of the body, including the skin, mouth, digestive system, and vaginal area. 

So what are common causes of yeast infections? Yeast tends to proliferate when your blood sugar increases, your pH changes, or when there is a change in the microbiome (aka the good bacteria in your body decrease and yeast is able to take over).

Researchers are not exactly sure why yeast infections are more common during a woman's period, but there are a few possible explanations. It may be from changes in the vaginal pH that can occur when there are shifts in hormones. When the acidity of the vaginal area changes, the levels of Lactobacillus bacteria decrease as well. High amounts of certain types of healthy Lactobacillus bacteria in the vaginal area prevent unhealthy levels of yeast. Another theory is that when estrogen levels increase1 in the body, yeast cells have an easier time growing and staying in the vaginal area. Estrogen levels increase in the body naturally during hormonal cycles and also when a woman is taking estrogen through birth control pills or hormone therapy.

When I have a patient who suffers from recurring yeast infections, I start by giving her a few action steps that will help balance blood sugar and keep vaginal pH within a healthy range. And it all starts with proper nutrition:

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You may be tempted to wash away the itchiness or try to keep things clean to prevent yeast overgrowth, but doing this is totally counterproductive. Douching can change the pH of your vaginal area and wash away the protective good bacteria, like Lactobacillus, resulting in a vicious cycle of itching and yeast infections. Rinsing your vaginal area with water is all that is needed.

Antibiotics will also kill off some of the healthy Lactobacillus, allowing the overgrowth of yeast in the body to occur. While antibiotics are lifesaving and often necessary, our country has a serious problem of prescribing antibiotics2 when they aren't really warranted, like in the case of viral infections like the common cold.

Some probiotics are specially formulated for women to contain high levels of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, two strains of bacteria that should be prevalent in the vaginal area3. When taken by mouth, these probiotics will affect the levels of good bacteria in the vaginal area and can decrease your risk of getting another yeast infection.

These changes are often enough to put a halt to the itching and yeast infections that can come with your monthly cycle. But if it is not, make sure to visit your doctor. He or she can examine you and determine if an antifungal medication is necessary to break this uncomfortable cycle.