There is a wide variety of infections that women can get. Some are sexually transmitted, others are not. To help protect yourself and your partner from various sexually transmitted infections, use a condom for all sexual acts. Never forget that condoms do not eliminate your chances of getting an STI or STD though, they just decrease your chances. So it's still a good idea to get tested, have your partner(s) get tested, and avoid having too many sexual partners.

Bacterial infections, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections are all common and not usually sexually transmitted. That means condoms and getting tested for STDs won't really help you here, but there are many other things you can do to help ward off these infections such as:

*Avoiding douche
*Avoiding scented pads and tampons
*Changing pads and tampons often
*Wearing cotton pants and underwear
*Drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice
*Urinating often, especially after sexual activity
*Changing out of wet clothes and bathing suits as soon as possible
*Changing condoms during sex if you and your partner want to go from anal to vaginal sex

Yeast infection medication is available over the counter, so sometimes it is tempting to simply grab a box if you're experiencing itching or burning. However, bacterial infections, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted infections can all have similar symptoms. That means you should never try to diagnose or treat yourself if you notice any strange symptoms. If you notice burning, itching, strange discharge, an unusual odor, or anything else out of the ordinary, schedule an appointment with an ob-gyn to find exactly what is causing the problem before buying any over the counter treatments. It's especially important to talk to your ob-gyn if you are getting frequent infections as that can be a sign of larger problems such as HIV or diabetes.

If you think you might have an infection but don't have an ob-gyn or health insurance, you can try going to Planned Parenthood or Family Planning. They offer a variety of free or low cost services including pelvic exams, birth control, STD tests and more. Visit www.plannedparenthood.org to see if there is a clnic near you.

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