When infections keep coming back.

You're not alone, and you're not broken. Here's what's going on, and why it deserves real conversation.

For many women, it becomes an exhausting cycle:

discomfort, treatment, temporary relief, and then the symptoms return.

Research suggests up to 75% of women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, and many experience recurring infections every year. Yet it's still something most women feel uncomfortable talking about — which is part of what makes it so isolating.

Vaginal health is a normal and important part of overall wellbeing. It deserves the same open conversation we have about every other part of our health.

First, please talk to your doctor.

If infections keep coming back, the most important thing you can do is see your GP or gynaecologist. Recurring infections can have many causes, and your doctor can help you understand what's going on for your body specifically. Some causes are simple to address; others need proper diagnosis. There's no version of "managing it on your own" that's better than a clinician who knows you.

This piece isn't here to replace that conversation — it's here to make the topic feel less lonely while you have it.

Why infections can come back

Recurring infections rarely have a single cause. More often, several things combine to disrupt the natural balance your body is trying to maintain. Common factors include:

• Hormonal changes (around your cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause)

• Stress and fatigue

• A recent course of antibiotics

• Tight or synthetic underwear

• Harsh soaps, fragranced washes, or scented products

• Travel, lifestyle changes, or shifts in diet

• A weakened immune system

Understanding the why doesn't make infections happen less — but it can make them feel less mysterious, and it gives you specific things to discuss with your doctor.

Daily care matters too

We brush our teeth every day. We moisturise our face every day. Yet most women have never been told that intimate skin can benefit from the same kind of consistent, gentle daily care — not as a treatment, but as a routine.

A daily approach isn't about fixing anything. It's about not using harsh products, not over-washing, not applying fragranced things to delicate skin. Mostly, it's about being gentle.

What a kinder daily routine often includes:

• Avoiding scented soaps, washes, and "feminine hygiene" products

• Wearing breathable underwear (cotton is your friend)

• Drinking enough water and supporting your body with rest

• Using one simple, fragrance-free product for daily skincare — rather than several

Where Viva fits in

Viva Balm is daily intimate skincare made with one pure ingredient: cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, sourced from naturally fallen coconuts in the Seychelles and considered for delicate skin alone. We made it because most products felt either too clinical or too harsh — and we wanted something gentle enough to be part of an everyday routine.

Many women use it as part of their daily self-care, alongside the medical care their doctor recommends. It isn't a treatment for infections. It's a gentle, fragrance-free option for women who want a simple daily routine.

You're not alone

If recurring infections have been a quiet, frustrating part of your life — please know how common this is, and how worth talking about. Talk to your doctor. Be gentle with your body. And don't carry this on your own.

If you'd like to learn more, read about how Viva is made, or explore the range.