In the words of Maya Angelou, from her iconic poem “Still I Rise,” “Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I dance like I’ve got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?”
Vaginas are powerful and beautiful, but unfortunately, the diamonds at the meeting of women’s thighs go through a lot, and there is a stigma around discussing even the most common vaginal health issues.
One issue that deserves discussion, that deserves us to push beyond the taboos, is yeast infections, also known as thrush.
Lots of women don’t know much about how their own bodies work, and lack of education and social stigmas have led to confusion and uncertainty about reproductive health in general and thrush in particular.
Thrush is most common in women between ages 20 and 40 according to the New England Journal of Medicine. The reproductive hormone estrogen seems to “enhance the proliferation and attachment of Candida albicans to the vaginal inner lining.”
It is that Candida that is the source of the trouble. When it gets out of control the sacred flower becomes an itchy, painful mess.
According to the Department of Health & Humans Services, “Three out of four women will have a yeast infection at some point in their life. Almost half of women have two or more infections.” And though it is possible for men to get yeast infections too–resulting in an inflamed or itchy penis according to the Mayo Clinic–women are far more susceptible.
Najhay Green, a student studying to be a licensed nurse practitioner at Lincoln Tech, says, “I have had a yeast infection, yes. In fact, I have had two already and it is only just the beginning of the year.”
Green is comfortable with her body enough to talk about what her vagina goes through and feels that the discussion of a yeast infection should not be silenced.
She says “I don’t mind talking about it because it has become normal to me.” She continues, “I knew it was something women get naturally.”
Nurse Practitioner, Shannon Witkowski who is employed at the Rite-Aid in Robbinsville, NJ says, about once a day they “get a guest who comes in to get treated for a yeast infection and to gain information.”
The Rite-Aid in Robbinsville provides STD and STI testings to locals who are worried about their sexual health and has NPRs on site for monthly check-ups.
Witkowski says, “The way to prevent reoccurring yeast infections would be to take a daily probiotic, always wear cotton underwear, going to the bathroom before and after sex, and to eat yogurt on a daily basis.”
Why yogurt? Apparently, it contains probiotics that help bodies produce healthy bacteria that can balance the system.
But when yogurt just isn’t enough, the next step is over the counter medication which comes in the form of creams, tablets, ointments or suppositories. You can apply treatment in one dose or daily for up to seven days, depending on the brand you choose. Unfortunately, they do not come cheap. One of the highest rated brands, Monistat 1-Day Maximum Strength, typically costs around $16.
At that price, the preventative options are all the more important. But unless we talk about these issues women won’t know what they can do or that they are not alone.
Najhay Green says that “Women shouldn’t’ feel uncomfortable talking about their bodies if there has been a change to their health and women cycle. They should feel comforted in a way knowing that there are other women who have similar experiences.”
