Never if ever fatal a yeast infection is nonetheless annoying and unpleasant at any time of life. But statistics show that more women are affected than men and this is down to physiology.

Generally yeast infections affect women who are of child bearing age. Though there are many yeast infection cures, they only take care of the symptoms and not the problem. However, home cures for yeast infection actually kill the problem once and for all and are free from side effects unlike many other cures.

Most people think that home cures for yeast infection are not effective or do not work as well as the other allopathic cures. The truth is that these cures are more effective since they have been used by women for ages.

Generally a yeast infection is caused by an organism called candida albicans. This organism occurs naturally in the vagina. In normal circumstances, the growth of this organism is checked by a bacterium called Lactobacillus acidophilus which is an inhabitiant of the vagina.

However, there are times that this bacterium is suppressed or killed due to a variety of reasons and this in turn leads to the uncontrolled multiplication of Candida which causes the yeast infection.

Here is a short list of reasons as to why Lactobacillus acidophilus may be killed or reduced:

Tablets such as steroids, most antibiotics and the pill quite often destroy Lactobacillus and can upset the normal body balance.

Major body events such as menstruation and having a baby can cause hormonal imbalance this in turn can change the vaginal pH balance.

Sexual intercourse exposes the vagina to semen which may lead to a disruption of the acidic balance in the vagina which may again cause the bacterium to die.

Tight jeans and clothes can cause increased sweating which can also cause yeast infection.

Other causes of infections include perfumed soaps and other body products applied directly to the skin, try a non perfumed variety to see if your condition improves.

Although home cures for yeast infection may take more time than the conventional cures, they are long lasting and effective. Here are some other cures which help in killing the yeast naturally:

1. Apple cider vinegar is quite effective if you dab the affected area with a generous amount for a few days regularly and see the difference.

2. Garlic is a natural antibiotic which can help in curing the infection completely. If you can, then eat raw garlic for some days. Its quite effective.

3. An interesting though potentially messy remedy to try is applying natural yoghurt. If you use the bio active version you also get beneficial bacteria applied to the exact spot where they are needed.

4. Some people say that drinking buttermilk every day helps them to keep infections away.

5. Why not try drinking cranberry juice as an overall healthy supplement?

6. As with any infection drinking lots of water helps you to clear out the toxins from your body. Also make sure any infected areas are washed regularly too.

7. One point to bear in mind is to keep down, or eliminate as far as possible, your comsumption of sugar. This is because yeast will thrive on sweet products and reproduce even more quickly.

This is just a small selection of the alternatives to the usual medicines that you have probably found to be ineffectve over time, there are more waiting for you to discover.