Exercise & Yeast Infections: Everything You Need To Know, According To An OB/GYN

If you've ever had a yeast infection, I'm guessing you have every intention of avoiding them in the future.

While they're not necessarily dangerous, yeast infections are exceptionally uncomfortable. Most commonly characterized by an itching, burning sensation in the vagina that makes sex and urinating painful, yeast infections can occur in any part of the body where moisture is easily trapped, like folds in the stomach or the area underneath the breasts.

In an effort to help you say goodbye to yeast infections for good, I got in touch with OB/GYN Shannon Clark, and she had a lot to stay on the subject—especially as far as exercise is concerned.

First, let's talk about what yeast actually is. Yes, yeast makes bread rise and it naturally occurs in every woman's vagina—one woman even made sourdough bread with her own yeast. We'll let you process that one for a second.

While you should by no means stop exercising out of fear of developing a yeast infection, you should educate yourself on the correlation between the two—specifically when it comes to sweating.

With that in mind, there are several steps you can take to avoid developing an exercise-related yeast infection. Shannon suggests being especially careful when picking out your clothing.

"If the exercise will be prolonged and/or you will be sweating a lot, wear loose clothing and cotton underwear or clothing that will absorb, or wick away, the moisture," she says. "It is also important to pick clothing that will not contribute to friction, especially if the exercise already causes friction in the vaginal area, i.e., cycling. Next, take breaks if you can to 'air out.'

Unfortunately, yeast infections aren't where it ends. Exercising in the wrong clothing and waiting too long to shower afterward can also cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder infections.