Guest Author - A. Maria Hester, M.D.

Candida is a very common fungus (yeast) that is a normal part of your vaginal flora. However, many bacteria are also a normal part of the vaginal environment and their numbers are normally far greater than the number of Candida organisms. Under normal circumstances, vaginal bacterial and Candida live together in harmony in your body with the bacteria taking on the lion’s share of the vaginal environment, so to speak. Sometimes, however, this delicate balance is disturbed and Candida overgrows while normal vaginal bacteria take a back seat.

What causes Candida to overgrow?

The classic scenario in which this happens is when you take an antibiotic. Antibiotics are only active against bacterial infections. They do not fight viral or yeast infections. As a result, when vaginal bacteria are destroyed due to an antibiotic, their numbers dwindle, allowing the ever-present Candida to get a foothold and overgrow until the number of competing bacteria builds back up.

Other potential causes include having excessive stress in your life, not getting enough sleep, having poor dietary habits - especially eating a diet that is rich in sugar, being pregnant, being on your menstrual cycle, taking birth control pills, having poorly controlled diabetes, or taking steroid pills.

What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?

Sometimes symptoms are very mild or even negligible. However, the classic symptoms are intense itching in the vaginal area accompanied by a white, cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge, which generally does not have a foul odor. You may also experience burning, redness, and swelling in the vaginal area or painful intercourse. Painful urination is also common.

How common are yeast infections?

During the course of a lifetime, most women develop at least one vaginal yeast infection. These infections are generally easy to treat and not serious at all, just quite uncomfortable.

How are yeast infections treated?

Most vaginal yeast infections can be cured in a few days by using an over-the-counter vaginal antifungal cream. Some cases are resistant, however, and require prescription-strength treatment.

It you have had a vaginal yeast infection in the past and you feel comfortable that this is what you are treating, it may be worthwhile to attempt to treat yourself before calling your doctor. The danger in this approach, however, is that you may have a bacterial vaginal infection that requires a different treatment. Even so, a brief delay in diagnosis and treatment is not very likely to make a big difference. It is important to note that some bacterial vaginal infections can lead to sterility if not treated in a timely manner, so if you do not see an improvement in your symptoms within a few days of beginning an over-the-counter yeast cream you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

What things can I do to decrease my risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection?

1. Take antibiotics only when your doctor feels it is absolutely necessary.
2. Don’t wear tight panties or panties made of synthetic material. Buy cotton panties, or panties with a cotton crotch.
3. Don’t douche.
4. Avoid hygiene products with scents, such as bubble baths or scented pads.
5. If you use tampons, change them often.
6. Avoid excessive moisture in the vaginal region. Change out of swimsuits and work-out clothes quickly.
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