Three out of four women will have this type of infection at least once in their life, so it’s important to know what you can and cannot do while waiting for it to clear.
Swimming is an activity that you always have to take extra care with if you are suffering from an infection or disease.
Not only can the chemicals potentially irritate a part of the body that has been affected, but the water can also cause an infection or disease to spread very easily.
If you love paddling through a swimming pool every now and again but are concerned that you might have to avoid the water because of a yeast infection, we’ve got everything you need to know right here so that you can keep yourself, and others, safe.
Is A Yeast Infection Contagious?
Yeast infections are not considered contagious, and in fact, the only way that a yeast infection can spread is through sex, but even then it is very uncommon.
While this is the only way it can spread to another individual, a yeast infection is still not classed as an STI, and is simply the result of an overgrowth of candida or the fungus penetrating the vaginal cell walls.
How Serious Is A Yeast Infection?
Yeast infections can certainly be very irritating, but they are not classed as being very serious, primarily because they can be dealt with extremely easily.
Antifungal medication is the most effective and fastest way to cure a yeast infection, and these come in the form of creams, ointments, tablets, and suppositories.
It may not be very serious on its own, but a yeast infection must be treated as soon as you notice it, otherwise, it will only get worse, leading to more itchiness and redness.
Is It Okay To Swim In A Pool With A Yeast Infection?
Not only are you free to swim to your heart’s content when dealing with a yeast infection, since it can only be passed on through sexual contact, but it can even be beneficial in some cases.
Research has shown that chlorine helps tremendously with killing yeast, so if you are usually swimming in a pool full of chlorine intended to kill germs, this can help tremendously in clearing up the infection.
Chlorine works the same as an antibiotic by reducing the bacteria within the vagina that the yeast is using to thrive, while also helping to lower the acidity of the vaginal environment as a whole.
Keep in mind however that chlorine will not act as an all-in-one fix to a yeast infection, and should only be seen as a chemical that can facilitate the progress of the antibiotics, rather than replacing them completely.
Can You Swim In The Sea With A Yeast Infection?
A very popular household remedy that people have been using for many years to help cure a yeast infection is saltwater.
This works because the salt will increase the blood supply to the vaginal area which can help tremendously with flushing out a yeast infection.
Because of this, swimming in the sea while you’re on holiday at the beach can be just as beneficial as swimming in chloride.
There is a precaution that you should keep in mind however when deciding whether to swim in the sea, and it all comes down to how itchy the infection currently is.
If it is in its early stages, and you can feel a slight itch and a little bit of redness, then the saltwater won’t be a problem.
However, if it is a lot more irritating and you find that it’s incredibly tricky to keep your mind off it, then it can be worth avoiding salt water since the increased blood supply can end up making it more itchy.
This isn’t to say that it will make the infection any worse, it definitely won’t, but it will feel a lot less comfortable than it did before.
How To Help Cure A Yeast Infection With A Bath
As we have already seen, water can be great for clearing out a yeast infection when it is mixed with certain chemicals, which is why it can be worth mixing some additions into your bathwater which can also help speed up the healing process.
Make sure that the water you’re using from the tap is warm, and add two cups of apple cider vinegar to the water before then soaking yourself for 15 minutes.
This particular type of vinegar possesses antibacterial and antifungal benefits which can therefore reduce your vaginal pH when added to a bath, making it much more difficult for yeast to grow.
What Should You Avoid Doing With A Yeast Infection
So, while swimming may be perfectly acceptable for anyone experiencing a yeast infection, (see also: Can You Have A UTI And Yeast Infection At The Same Time?)there are a few other things to avoid doing which could end up irritating the cell walls and make that area of the body much itchier.
Here are the main things to avoid:
Wearing tight clothes like nylon or fabric that sticks to the skin
Itching the vulva yourself (use an ice pack instead)
Staying in damp clothes
Wearing tampons while currently using a vaginal cream
Overwashing the vulva (once a day will be fine)
Of course, since there is a chance that the infection can spread through sex, you should also try to avoid this until you are notified by the doctor that it has been completely removed from your system.
Summary
The good news is, if you’re an avid swimmer and were starting to get nervous that you wouldn’t be able to take a dip in the pool or the sea while experiencing a yeast infection, (see also: Can A Yeast Infection Delay Your Period?)it’s perfectly safe, and even very beneficial for the healing process.
Just always remember that this should never be used as a substitute for actual medication prescribed by a doctor, and be sure to always bathe in warm water when at home to help clear the infection out.
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
