Dealing with a vaginal yeast infection is frustrating and uncomfortable, leaving many women searching for quick and natural remedies. Among the more common questions is, “Will water flush out a yeast infection?” Let’s explore this idea and understand whether increasing your water intake can make a difference in managing or preventing yeast infections — spoiler alert: it won’t, but wouldn’t it be awesome if treating a yeast infection were that simple?
What is a vaginal yeast infection?
A yeast infection, also known as vaginal candidiasis, is a common fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida — a type of yeast that naturally lives in the body. About 90% of vaginal yeast infections are caused by a yeast called Candida albicans, specifically.
While Candida is usually kept in check by good bacteria like Lactobacilli, certain factors can disrupt this balance, leading to yeast infection symptoms like vaginal itching and a thick, white vaginal discharge that looks like cottage cheese.
Yeast infections are very common, and most women will experience one at some point in their lives (75%, to be exact). Fortunately, they’re usually straightforward to treat and are not a serious health threat.
What causes a yeast infection?
Several factors can shift the normal balance in your vaginal microbiome and contribute to the development of a yeast infection, including:
- Antibiotic use: Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of bacteria in your body, allowing yeast to overgrow.
- Sex: Although they're not a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI), being sexually active increases your risk of developing a yeast infection.
- Hormonal changes: Pregnancy, your period, hormonal birth control, and menopausal hormone therapy can alter the vaginal environment, making it more susceptible to yeast overgrowth.
- Compromised immune system: Conditions like diabetes or immune system conditions like HIV can increase the risk of yeast infections.
- Moist environments: Wearing tight or damp clothing can create an ideal environment for yeast to thrive.
- Uncontrolled diabetes: High blood sugar levels can promote yeast growth.
Understanding the causes of a yeast infection is crucial to finding the right treatment and preventing future infections.
How to treat yeast infections
Vaginal yeast infections are typically treated with over-the-counter medications or prescription antifungal creams, suppositories, or oral medications. Some common treatments include:
- Antifungal creams and suppositories: Available without a prescription, these are often the first line of defense against a mild yeast infection.
- Oral antifungal medications: In more severe cases, a doctor may prescribe a single-dose oral antifungal pill (like fluconazole).
- Boric acid: Boric acid may help treat recurrent yeast infections, especially when antifungals have failed, or when an atypical Candida species cause the infection.
It's important to see a healthcare provider if you're unsure whether you have a yeast infection, especially if your symptoms come back after treatment or recur frequently.
Home remedies for yeast infections
Some women try home remedies like yogurt, garlic, oregano oil, and tea tree oil to help restore balance in the vagina, but these “solutions” are mostly unproven and may do more harm than good. As uncomfortable as it is to have a yeast infection, it’s safest to stick to the recommended treatment options. Delaying treatment in favor of “natural” remedies could make the infection worse and more difficult to treat.
Will drinking water flush out yeast?
Unfortunately, simply drinking water won’t get rid of a yeast infection. While staying hydrated is important for overall health, water alone doesn’t directly impact the yeast causing the infection.
Yeast infections are caused by an imbalance in your vagina’s natural flora, not dehydration. Drinking water can help expel toxins, but it can’t treat or flush away the fungal overgrowth in your vagina. If you suspect you have a yeast infection, you’ll need antifungal treatment and to address any triggers.
Staying hydrated can, however, help prevent and get rid of urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs occur when bacteria overgrow in your urinary system. Drinking a lot of water helps dilute your urine and will make you pee more frequently, allowing bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract. For more acute UTIs symptoms, though, your healthcare provider will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
How to prevent yeast infections
While yeast infections are sometimes unavoidable, there are a few things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing them:
- Avoid douching: Douching can upset the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina, increasing the risk of infections.
- Practice safe sex: Use barrier methods like condoms and dental dams, and opt for microbiome-friendly lube.
- Wear breathable fabrics: Opt for cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothing to allow airflow and avoid trapping moisture, which encourages yeast growth.
- Practice good hygiene: Keep the vaginal area clean and dry, but avoid using harsh soaps or scented products that can disrupt your natural pH balance.
- Change out of wet clothes promptly: Whether from swimming or sweating, changing out of wet clothes as soon as possible helps prevent a moist environment where yeast thrives.
- Limit antibiotic use: Only take antibiotics when necessary and follow your doctor’s instructions. Overuse can kill the good bacteria that keep yeast in check.
- Manage blood sugar levels: If you have diabetes, maintaining good control of your blood sugar can reduce the risk of yeast infections.
While drinking water alone won’t treat a yeast infection, it’s still an essential part of maintaining overall health and well-being. To treat a yeast infection effectively, you’ll need to rely on antifungal medications or treatments.
FAQ
Does drinking a lot of water help a yeast infection?
Drinking a lot of water can support your overall health, but it won't treat a yeast infection. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida in the vagina, and water alone cannot eliminate this fungal imbalance. Drinking water can, however, help treat a urinary tract infection, along with antibiotics.
What is the fastest way to flush out a yeast infection?
The fastest and most effective way to get rid of a yeast infection is with antifungal medication. You can buy antifungal creams or vaginal suppositories over the counter, and your symptoms should start to improve within a few days. That said, we’d always recommend seeing a healthcare provider or taking an Evvy Vaginal Health Test before trying to treat a yeast infection yourself — especially if this is your first yeast infection. Studies show that most of us aren’t that good at self-diagnosing a vaginal infection, and how effective a treatment is depends largely on what strain of Candida is causing a yeast infection.
What drink kills yeast?
There’s no evidence to show that any one specific drink can kill yeast overgrowth, especially not if you have a vaginal yeast infection. While research is starting to show that there’s a link between your gut and vaginal microbiome, experts still aren’t convinced that your diet (or specific foods) has a direct impact on your vaginal health, let alone on treating a yeast infection.
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