Yeast infections occur when a fungus called candida, which normally lives in small amounts in the vagina, grows out of balance. The result is itching, burning, redness, and a thick white discharge. For many women, a single infection is an annoying one-time event. But for others, these infections keep coming back, sometimes four or more times a year. When that happens, it is called recurrent yeast infection, and it usually means something is repeatedly tipping your body’s natural balance. Understanding what drives that cycle is the first step to breaking it.
How Antibiotics Disrupt the Vaginal Microbiome
Your vagina has its own community of bacteria and fungi, often called the vaginal microbiome. Healthy bacteria keep yeast in check and maintain the right balance. Anything that disrupts those good bacteria can let yeast multiply.
Antibiotics are one of the most common triggers. While they fight harmful bacteria elsewhere in your body, they also wipe out some of the protective bacteria in your vagina. With fewer of those helpers around, yeast can multiply quickly. If you notice infections that tend to follow a round of antibiotics, this is likely why.
Hormones, Birth Control, and Yeast Infections Around Your Period
Hormones play a big role too. Estrogen affects how much sugar is available in the vaginal lining, and yeast feeds on sugar. This is why infections often flare during pregnancy, around your period, or while taking hormonal birth control, when estrogen levels shift.
Everyday Habits That Cause Recurring Yeast Infections
What you eat and wear can also nudge the balance.
