Garlic will not treat vaginal yeast infection, doctor says | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Why garlic will not treat vaginal yeast infection
INQUIRER.net stock photo
Why garlic will not treat vaginal yeast infection
INQUIRER.net stock photo

 

MANILA, Philippines — Vagina is a no garlic zone.

This was what gynaecologist Dr. Jennifer Gunter said as she warned women not to use garlic as a natural alternative to treat yeast infections.

Gunter, in a now-viral Twitter thread, discussed the reasons why using garlic to treat vaginal yeast infections is a bad idea.

“Garlic contains allicin, in THE LAB it MAY have antifungal (i.e. anti yeast) properties. This is in a lab, not even in mice. Just a dish of cells. Your vagina is not a dish of cells,” Gunter explained.

“Lots of vaginal garlic aficionados (I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO TWEET THAT IN 2019, BUT HERE WE ARE) recommend inserting a clove. This means they don’t understand for allicin to be released the garlic has to be cut or crushed. Sigh,” she added.

Gunter further explained how using garlic to treat a yeast infection could actually make it worse.

Garlic, Gunter said, may contain bacteria from the soil which could irritate a preexisting infection.

“Garlic could have bacteria from the soil. Bacteria from the soil can be pathogenic — bad for the body. That’s why we clean wounds. If you actually happen to have an inflamed yeasty vagina that soil bacteria would be more likely to infect,” she explained.

Gunter went on to explain that those who use garlic for their vaginal yeast infection are at risk of developing biofilms, microorganisms that can cause other bacterial issues.

“Garlic can cause biofilms on braces, so could garlic contribute to biofilms in the vagina? Biologically plausible. Biofilms are bad. You do not want them to form especially when you have yeast. Effect of garlic good bacteria also unknown,” she said.

The gynaecologist pointed out that 50 to 70 percent of women self-treat themselves for yeast infections never had one to begin with.

“My advice, do not take medical advice from anyone recommending vaginal garlic for yeast or anything else,” Gunter concluded. /jpv

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