This specially formulated blend is to support recovery from vaginal yeast infections (known as vulvovaginal candidiasis or VVC).
Vaginal yeast infections are most commonly caused by various Candida species, particularly Candida albicans. Candida species live in various areas of our bodies, from the skin to digestive system, and are not harmful until they overgrow and result in symptoms.
Safety first, kids! Make sure it’s actually yeast
It’s important when treating yeast that you’re sure it is indeed yeast, confirmed by a test, wet mount, or strong suspicion based on a clinician’s vaginal examination.
Get a home microbiome test or see your doctor/sexual health clinic as soon as possible. A doctor or sexual health clinic swab will be quicker to provide answers than at-home tests, meaning faster treatment, but beware!
Many overstretched providers may recommend drug antifungal treatment without an examination or a test, going just by your subjective symptom description. What proof do they have that it’s yeast? Ask for evidence. A vaginal examination can provide many clues, as does an in-clinic check under a microscope, known as a wet mount.
While it might seem harmless to do the drug antifungal treatment and hope for the best, antifungal drugs are creating a global drug resistance problem the same way antibiotics are in bacteria. Over-the-counter drug antifungals are a major source of the problem. Be judicious.
If you’ve been suffering for a while or are having recurrent vaginal yeast infections, a more comprehensive vaginal microbiome test can be a powerful tool.
Prebiotic lactulose, Candida and vaginal pH
Supporting lactic acid-producing lactobacilli in the vagina is part of a successful anti-yeast strategy.
Aunt Vadge’s Thrush/Yeast Vaginal Pessary blend contains lactulose, which promotes lactobacilli growth. Lactobacilli produce anti-yeast substances, which helps deter yeast from reproducing and changing forms. The hyphae form is the most inflammatory and problematic, so keeping yeast in
However, research shows us that candida are ‘acid tolerant’ and are not affected in any meaningful way by lactic acid produced by lactobacilli. They are, however, affected much more by acetic acid (vinegar).
Candida species may actively try to increase the vaginal pH so it can change into the more problematic hyphae form.
Evidence shows that, contrary to popular belief, the overgrowth of candida species is associated with an increase in vaginal pH1. Higher vaginal pH is also associated with overgrowth of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and aerobic vaginitis (AV) related bacteria.
Importantly, drug antifungals are significantly less effective at a lower vaginal pH of 42,3 despite an acidic vagina being beneficial to inhibiting yeast. Herbal antifungals work differently from drug antifungals and do not suffer the same detrimental effects based on pH.
But, just increasing lactic acid-producing lactobacilli won’t cure yeast infections alone.
Lactulose can also feed some urinary tract infection (UTI) or aerobic vaginitis pathogens, so use caution in those circumstances. See the list of bugs that love lactulose.
Do not use this blend if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
Do not use herbal blends if you are pregnant, and use with practitioner guidance during breastfeeding.
What you get in your herbal blend kit
- Aunt Vadge’s Yeast/Thrush Vaginal Pessary 50ml with dropper
- 50 vagina-safe vegetable capsules
Each herbal blend kit from My Vagina comes with everything you need to get started, but these are your instructions, so please refer back here.
When to start your yeast treatment
If you have a yeast infection, start using the blend immediately. If you are prone to yeast infections and have cyclic recurrences, start the blend a couple of days before you would normally experience symptoms and continue through the usual yeast infection time.
If a yeast infection continues through the blend, double the dose and use as much as is needed to reduce your symptoms. Continue for one day after symptoms subside.
How to use your yeast herbal blend
How to do your yeast treatment
If you have a current yeast infection, use 1-4 capsules vaginally per day to relieve symptoms. You can use more if need be but aim to use the least possible to achieve relief rather than overdoing it. Use one capsule at a time and see how you respond, adding more as needed.
The vegetable capsules will dissolve, releasing their contents into your vagina.
If you suffer chronic yeast infections or cyclic yeast infections, it can be useful to do treatments before you think you will have an infection and for the duration that it would normally last.
If you continue to have yeast infections despite treatment, you likely have a greater issue going on under the hood, and some further care from one of My Vagina’s vulvovaginal specialist naturopaths is advised.
Tips and tricks for using the Yeast/Thrush Vaginal Pessary
- During the day, you may want to wear a panty liner to mop up any drips
- If your vagina is very dry, put a few drops of water or water-based lubricant on the capsule in water before insertion for faster dissolving
- Ensure you push the capsule deep into your vagina, up near the cervix, so it doesn’t fall out (use an applicator if required)
- Protect bedding or clothing from leaks
- Use a diluted apple cider vinegar vaginal rinse immediately before inserting the blend
- What to do if your vaginal pessary burns
Sex and yeast treatments
There is no reason you can’t have sex while using this treatment. However, it’s usually more practical to avoid penetration or receiving oral sex during treatment, as your partner will get treatment on their genitals or mouth. If you’re using condoms, the blend contains oil and is not latex condom safe.
It’s also useful to avoid diluting or spreading the treatment around too much, as you want it in the vagina, in contact with the yeast. Additionally, don’t forget that yeast can be sexually transmitted.
Treatment additions for stubborn yeast
If you’re experiencing regular yeast infections, add the Kolorex Oral Supplement to treat yeast from the inside out. Add apple cider vinegar vaginal rinses/douches prior to inserting the My Vagina pessary, to provide an additive effect.
If you’re not getting the results you’re after, please book with a My Vagina vulvovaginal specialist practitioner for effective, personalised, 100% holistic yeast treatments. We can help.
Get more information on yeast, yeast biofilms and treating yeast on our Yeast Infections page.
References
- 1.Donders GG, Grinceviciene S, Ruban K, Bellen G. Vaginal pH and microbiota during fluconazole maintenance treatment for recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC). Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease. Published online June 2020:115024. doi:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115024
- 2.Spitzer M, Wiederhold NP. Reduced Antifungal Susceptibility of Vulvovaginal Candida Species at Normal Vaginal pH Levels: Clinical Implications. J Low Genit Tract Dis. Published online April 2018:152-158. doi:10.1097/lgt.0000000000000383
- 3.Liu W, Zhang X, Liu Z, Luo X. Impact of pH on the antifungal susceptibility of vaginal Candida albicans. Intl J Gynecology & Obste. Published online June 21, 2011:278-280. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.03.016
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