Vaginal yeast infections are a common occurrence. In fact, studies show that about 75% of all women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime, and 45% will have more than one. Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done to prevent yeast infections. However, there are some things that can be done to lower your chances of developing one. Here are four simple steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing a vaginal yeast infection.

Avoid Tight-Fitting Pants

If you wear tight-fitting pants, you might be dramatically increasing your chances of developing a yeast infection. That's because yeast thrives in warm, moist environments. To avoid yeast infections, try to wear loose-fitting pants and skirts. Loose-fitting pants and skirts will allow your vaginal area to stay cool and dry.

Wear Cotton Panties

If you wear synthetic panties, you should switch to cotton. Cotton is much more absorbent than synthetic material. If you don't like cotton panties, switch to synthetic panties that have a cotton crotch panel. Heat and moisture can get trapped in your panties, which can increase your chances of developing a yeast infection. Cotton panties will help keep your crotch area dry, which will reduce your chances of developing the irritating infection.

Avoid Douches

You might think that douching is a good way to cleanse your vaginal area and keep you feeling fresh. Unfortunately, douching actually destroys the healthy bacteria that your vagina needs. When you kill off the healthy bacteria, the harmful bacteria have an opportunity to go into overdrive – which is what happens when you douche. Douching can increase your risk of yeast infections, as well as more harmful infections such as bacterial vaginosis.

Talk to Your Doctor Before Taking Antibiotics

If you're going to be taking antibiotics, chances are good that you're going to develop a yeast infection once you're done with the medication. This is particularly true if you've developed an antibiotic-related yeast infection in the past. Antibiotics can alter the balance of the good bacteria in your vagina, which can lead to yeast infections. To prevent a yeast infection following your use of antibiotics, you should talk to your doctor about antifungal treatment.

Yeast infections can be extremely uncomfortable. Luckily, there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of developing one. The information here will help you avoid yeast infections. For questions or concerns regarding yeast infections, be sure to speak to your doctor or a company like Abortion Care.