Sara (age 52): “Apparently, vaginal infections are a common problem during menopause, but that doesn't make it easier to cope with.”

Sara is 52 years old and works in an office as an administrative assistant. She is divorced and mother of four children. She’s been in menopause for several years and was managing fine until she started getting vaginal yeast infections. “I know that menopause is inevitable. Sooner or later, every woman goes through this phase. I can handle the hot flashes, but the vaginal issues are the worst.” 

“An infection... again?”

Sara was not expecting to get vaginal yeast infections at this stage of her life. She remembered having vaginal thrush as a teenager but that was a long time ago. Sara: “I had severe itching and pain in my genital area, which was extremely uncomfortable. Apparently, vaginal infections are a common problem during menopause, but that doesn't make it easier to cope with. My GP prescribed an antifungal cream. Thankfully my symptoms started to calm down within a few days of treatment.” 

But her relief was short lived. After a couple of months, new symptoms appeared. “This time I did not get itching and burning, but an unusual, smelly discharge. Turns out I had a bacterial infection of the vagina called bacterial vaginosis (BV). I went back to my GP and got a course of antibiotics. This cleared up the symptoms, thank God. But I was really concerned about the infection coming back. That is why I made some changes to my lifestyle. It seems like I'm out of the woods.” 

The symptoms of vaginal thrush had only just cleared up when the next problem appeared: a bacterial infection. I was like, really?

Small steps towards a healthier lifestyle

Sara started searching for a solution to her vaginal health issues and decided to change her lifestyle. “I had read that healthy vaginal bacteria can help prevent vaginal infections and that you can increase these bacteria by eating specific foods. I cut down on sugar and started eating more vegetables. I also read that soap can upset the balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina. So I stopped washing my vagina with soap.” Sara did not get results overnight, but these goals helped her move forward. “It wasn't easy, I have to be honest. Giving up sugar was easier said than done. But, at the end of the day, it was worth it.” 

Make time for self-care

As a single working mother, Sara’s life is jammed packed with responsibilities, which makes finding time to relax a challenge. But she knew she needed to take better care of herself. After all, stress negatively affects the immune system.  

“In our hectic society, it’s very difficult not to feel stressed. It’s just a lot,” she says. “Nevertheless, I’m making a conscious effort to carve out ‘me’ time in my busy schedule. On Saturday mornings, I get up early and go to the gym. When I get home, I make a healthy breakfast and curl up on the sofa with a book. The children know not to disturb me until noon. After that, I’m all theirs.” 

Advice about supplements

To support her health during this stage of life, Sara also sought advice from a health professional about supplements. “My Vitamin D levels turned out to be low, so I now take extra Vitamin D. Magnesium is good for my immune system and prevents infections. It also helps me sleep better, which is ideal,” she smiles. “I also discovered red clover. I've been told that red clover contains chemicals that are similar to oestrogen and helps reduce hot flashes.” 

Feeling better step by step

How is Sara feeling now? A lot better! Slowly but surely, the changes are starting to bear fruit. “The vaginal infections have not completely disappeared, but they are less frequent and severe, which is great. If I do get an infection, I take my medication before it becomes worse. More importantly, I feel more energetic and positive about my health.” 

It took some effort, but practising self-care has helped me regain control of my health. Also my vaginal health. I feel much better than I did before.