{"id":19036,"date":"2022-11-02T12:01:08","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T11:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=117745"},"modified":"2022-11-02T12:13:14","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T11:13:14","slug":"how-to-prevent-treat-and-manage-yeast-infections-when-exercising","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/how-to-prevent-treat-and-manage-yeast-infections-when-exercising\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prevent, treat and manage yeast infections when exercising"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lauren Drinkwater\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 02 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Oddly, you might think, this was a subject I really wanted to cover as it\u2019s not often talked about in social circles. But yeast infections are something that many females, and in particular female runners and cyclists, regularly suffer from.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I started to research how yeast infections specifically can be brought about by intense exercise \u2013in other words, any exercise that causes us to sweat to the point of it affecting our nether regions \u2013 I came across the term \u2018sports vagina\u2019.<\/p>\n

So it does have a name and is more than simply an unspoken inconvenience we\u2019re all just quietly trying to treat. But the good news is that there are ways to prevent and cure it. No longer do our vaginas have to suffer in our quest to be fitter and stronger! Brilliant. \u2028Let\u2019s hear more\u2026<\/p>\n

Sweaty nethers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First off, even though \u2018sports vagina\u2019 is a proven condition, it\u2019s not actually an official medical condition. However, there\u2019s a lot to learn about what symptoms to look out for, ways to avoid it and what to do to help alleviate symptoms.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s discuss the vagina. The vagina is a powerful passage leading from your uterus to your vulva, which includes your external reproductive organs, otherwise known as your genitalia. It\u2019s actually a pretty amazing self-cleaning organ, but the vaginal and vulval area also produce sweat.<\/p>\n

During exercise, to ensure our bodies don\u2019t overheat, we secrete sweat from 2-4 million sweat glands located throughout the skin. There are two types of sweat glands:\n\u2022 Eccrine: usually odourless and which can be found in the soles \u2028of the feet, palms, forehead \u2028and cheeks.\n\u2022 Apocrine: these are the ones found in the genital region and armpits, and produce a thicker liquid than eccrine glands. When in contact with bacteria, this can create a smell, i.e. body odour<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

This type of sweat can lead to some discomfort when exercising, particularly if you don\u2019t wear the appropriate gym gear. Synthetic fibres, such as Lycra and elastane, can cause friction and a warm, moist environment \u2013 a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.<\/p>\n