Does Penicillin Cause Yeast Infections?
Does Penicillin Cause Yeast Infections?
Penicillin is an antibiotic used to fight bacterial infections in your body. Like every antibiotic, apart from killing the harmful bacteria, it also kills bacteria that are beneficial to your body which can make you prone to all kinds of antibiotic-related side effects such as yeast infections or upset stomach.
What’s the Relationship Between Probiotics and Yeast Infections?
Probiotics are friendly bacteria that protect you from yeast infections in many ways. First of all, they colonize the mucosa in your body (intestines and vagina) leaving no space for harmful and yeast and bacteria to grow.
Some probiotic strains produce lactic acid that helps maintain a healthy pH in your vagina which creates an unfavorable environment for yeast and bacteria.
Apart from that many probiotic strains have been scientifically shown to boost your immune system so that it’s more efficient in defending your body from infections.
Once you start taking Penicillin, the levels of probiotics in your intestines and vagina gradually go down. First symptoms of low probiotic levels include upset stomach and diarrhea.
After a while, when more probiotics that reside in your vagina die, you may develop a yeast infection.
- Read More: Why Do Antibiotics Cause Yeast Infections?
How to Prevent a Vaginal Yeast Infection While Taking Penicillin?
The most important thing to do is to keep replenishing the levels of probiotics in your body by taking a probiotic supplement twice a day. One of the best options is Garden of Life Vaginal Care.
It’s got a high CFU count, which means that it will provide high numbers of colony forming units of probiotics ready to recolonize your mucosa. It also contains probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri, that are able to reach your vagina when taking orally.
Another thing you can do is using probiotic suppositories during your treatment and at least one week after your treatment.
It’s a great way to deliver probiotics directly to your vagina so they can immediately start working on rebuilding your vaginal flora. One of my favorite products is Canesflor.
It’s got a probiotic strain called Lactobacillus plantarum which has been scientifically shown to boost vaginal health by producing lactic acid. Insert one suppository before going to bed during and at least 7 days after your treatment for best results.
How to Treat a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
There are many effective over the counter medications that you can use to treat a yeast infection. Some of them carry a high risk of developing an allergic reaction or irritating your vaginal area, while others get fewer complaints and are very effective at the same time.
One of my favorite remedies for yeast infection that gives almost immediate results are boric acid suppositories. By inserting one suppository in the morning and one in the evening for 7 consecutive days you’ll get rid of your symptoms in no time.
One of the best probiotic suppository brands on the market is BoriCap Suppositories. They contain finely ground medical grade boric acid which is less likely to cause irritation.
If you order before 2 pm, they’ll ship it on the same day so you can start your treatment promptly. This product is really amazing as it’s 100% natural, safe and inexpensive. Check their reviews on Amazon.
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How about Home Remedies for Yeast Infection?
You may actually have a natural remedy for yeast infection in your pantry. The best one is coconut oil. You can mix 6 tablespoons with a few drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil and pour the mixture into a suppository tray.
Leave it in the fridge until solid and insert one suppository before going to bed for 7 consecutive days.
This treatment may be very effective, especially if you catch your infection early before the yeast cells proliferate in large numbers. If your infection is already full-blown, go for boric acid suppositories instead.
Check more recipes for coconut oil suppositories here.
What Else Can I do to Avoid a Yeast Infection During my Penicillin Treatment?
Another thing you can do while taking antibiotic is eating a lot of probiotic-rich foods. The most common foods with probiotics include:
- unpasteurized sauerkraut
- olives in brine
- pickles
- green peas
Having these foods on daily basis will boost your probiotic levels and help you avoid antibiotic-relates symptoms and vaginal yeast infections.
Conclusion
So does penicillin cause yeast infections? It’s easy to develop a vaginal yeast infection during your penicillin treatment if you don’t boost your probiotic intake. You can avoid yeast infections by increasing the consumption of probiotic-rich foods, using probiotic supplements and probiotic suppositories during your treatment.
It should be enough to make sure you don’t suffer a vaginal yeast infection during or after your treatment.
If you do, the most effective way of treating it is inserting boric acid suppositories twice a day for seven days. After that, you can still insert one suppository a week for up to six months to keep yeast infection at bay.
I’d love to hear about your experiences. Do you usually get a yeast infection during your antibiotic treatment? How do you treat it? Please share your stories tips and questions in the comment section below.