Cure yeast infections naturally
Womens health - Improve your health - Womens fitness
What is a yeast infection?
A vaginal yeast infection is an excess growth of yeast cells in the vagina. Yeast infections are very common in women of childbearing age but can occur at any age. Although they can be uncomfortable, vaginal yeast infections rarely lead to serious health problems.
What causes a vaginal yeast infection?
A healthy vagina normally contains many bacteria and small numbers of yeast cells. The most common bacteria found in the vagina, Lactobacillus acidophilus, help prevent other organisms, such as yeast, from growing in excess and causing an infection. About 70% to 90% of yeast infections are caused by a strain of yeast called Candida albicans.
When there is a change in the normal balance of organisms in the vagina, yeast can overgrow, causing symptoms. This imbalance can be caused by many factors, including use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for other conditions, high estrogen levels (as during pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy), or certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or HIV infection.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are:
Vaginal itching.
Irritated genital skin.
Pain or burning in the genital area with urination or sexual intercourse.
In some cases, white vaginal discharge that is usually curdlike and odorless. Some women have no noticeable discharge.
Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection are more likely to occur during the week before a menstrual period.
How is a vaginal yeast infection diagnosed?
Vaginal itching and a white vaginal discharge that is odorless and looks like cottage cheese are classic signs of a vaginal yeast infection. However, it's easy to misdiagnose a vaginal infection. If your symptoms are not typical of a yeast infection, you aren't certain of your diagnosis, or you're pregnant and have symptoms, see your health professional. A vaginal exam and possibly a culture of vaginal discharge can help diagnose whether another type of organism is present.
How is it treated?
A vaginal yeast infection is usually treated with a vaginal antifungal cream, tablet, or suppository for several days. While some women prefer taking a tablet by mouth, oral treatment may be reserved for recurrent infection that may be caused by yeast throughout the body. This is mainly because oral medication affects the entire body, and vaginal treatment limits its effect to the genital area. Oral antifungal medication can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and abdominal pain; vaginal treatment is unlikely to cause side effects.
Nonprescription vaginal medications are available for treating vaginal yeast infection; vaginal boric acid capsules are another option. If you have had a vaginal yeast infection before, are not pregnant, and are certain your present symptoms are the same as during the previous infection, you can self-treat your infection. If you have a yeast infection that keeps returning despite treatment, see your health professional. A recurring yeast infection can be a sign of another health problem.
Yeast infections are common during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, do not use any medication without first discussing your symptoms with your health professional.
What increases my chances of yeast infection?
Your risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection can be increased by a number of medical and lifestyle factors.
Risk factors you can control include:
Unnecessary use of antibiotics.
Poorly controlled diabetes.
Wearing tight-fitting, nonabsorbent pants or undergarments that hold in warmth and moisture.
Using feminine hygiene sprays, talcs, or perfumes in the vaginal area.
Douching.
Using an intrauterine device (IUD).
Risk factors you cannot control include:
Impaired immune system. Conditions that affect the body's ability to maintain a normal balance in the organisms present in the vagina may increase the risk of a yeast infection.
Pregnancy. During pregnancy hormone levels in the body change, which can alter the balance of organisms in the vagina.
Undiagnosed diabetes. A change in blood sugar levels can affect the normal balance of organisms in the vagina and cause the excess growth of yeast cells.
Vaginal yeast infections are not sexually transmitted. However, if you have risk factors for a sexually transmitted disease, you may have an increased risk of an imbalance in the organisms of the vagina, which could lead to a vaginal yeast infection.
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