Yeast infection, also called vaginal candidiasis, is a fungal infection associated with severe itching, irritation, and swelling of the vagina and the vulva (opening tissues of the vagina). This fungal infection is common and can be experienced by almost every woman. A fungus called Candida albicans is what causes yeast infections.
According to statistics, 3 out of 4 women may experience at least one or two episodes of yeast infection in their life. Although it is bothersome, yeast infection is something you should not be worried about as it can be easily cured using effective medication. Though, for women who get yeast infections four times or more within a year, a longer treatment course is advised that may include a maintenance medication plan.
Vaginal yeast infection is not considered a sexually transmitted disease. However, this fungal infection can still be spread through mouth to genital contact or interaction.
How Does Vaginal Yeast Infection Occur?
The level of bacteria and yeast in the vagina is the main factor why women get yeast infection. In a normal and healthy condition, the vagina has many bacteria and a low level of yeast. Yeast is a fungus that thrives in the vagina. The level or number of yeast and other organisms in the vagina is regulated and controlled by bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus.
Vaginal yeast infection occurs when there is a huge increase of yeast cells growing in the vagina. The increase in growth of yeast cells can be brought by the decreased number of vaginal bacteria due to antibiotics intake, high level of estrogen during pregnancy, hormone therapy, and other health issues such as diabetes and an HIV infection.
What Causes Yeast Infections?
Mainly, what causes a yeast infection is the imbalance of organisms in the vagina. A low level of bacteria and a high level of yeast cells results to a vaginal yeast infection. This imbalance can be brought by many factors. Here are some of the most common factors or causes of yeast infections.
- Antibiotics. When a woman undergoes oral antibiotic treatment, it kills and decreases vaginal bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus. Lactobacillus acidophilus is responsible in producing acid that regulates the growth of yeast cells. Absence or low level of lactobacillus acidophilus means overgrowth of yeast cells which lead to yeast infection.
- Pregnancy. Vaginal yeast infection is most common in women during pregnancy. This occurs due to the high level of estrogen in a woman’s body normally during the first trimester. A high level of estrogen promotes increased growth of yeast cells.
- Hormone Therapy. Women under oral contraceptives or pills are at a high risk of having a yeast infection. Hormone therapy or oral contraceptives lead to a high level of estrogen in a woman’s body. This encourages propagation of yeast cells in the vagina.
- Diabetes. One of the most common yeast infection causes is diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that affects the whole body system. When a woman has high blood sugar level, the sugar can appear in the mucus of the vagina and vulva. Sugar is what feeds the yeast cells and contributes to its overgrowth.
- Impaired immune system. Having a weak immune system leaves someone vulnerable to several fungal infections like vaginal yeast infection. A body with impaired immune system provides a good environment where fungi like yeast can grow and multiply faster.
Yeast infection causes may vary depending on your health condition. Others may also get yeast infection due to being overweight. Aside from antibiotics, using corticosteroids such as prednisone can also result to yeast infections.
Common Yeast Infection Symptoms
Yeast infection symptoms are normally observed a week before the menstrual period. These symptoms are usually a common set and can be experienced by every woman. In addition, yeast infection symptoms can also be mistaken as symptoms of sexually transmitted disease because of its similarities. Here are some of the most common yeast infection symptoms that a woman might experience:
- Frequent, severe vaginal itching
- White and thick vaginal discharge that is usually odorless
- Redness and irritation of the skin around the vagina
- Pain especially during urination or when urine touches the irritated area
- Vaginal pain during sexual intercourse
Some may experience redness, itchiness, and irritation of the vagina but this does not mean that they have a yeast infection. This could just be brought by products such as soap, douches, bath oils, or spermicidal jelly that they have used. Thus, if you are in doubt about what you are experiencing, it is best to consult your doctor for proper diagnosis.
When to Consult Your Doctor?
Consulting your doctor is the best thing to do if yeast infection symptoms are observed.
Call your doctor right away if:
- You experience fever higher than 38.3°C(101°F), lower abdominal pain, and abdominal discharge. These symptoms may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- You are pregnant and vaginal yeast infection symptoms or urinary tract infection symptoms are observed.
Schedule an appointment within a week if:
- You observed unusual vaginal discharge and it is your first time to have an infection that might be vaginal yeast infection.
- Severe vaginal itching is experienced.
- You experience pain during urination.
- You experience vaginal pain during sexual intercourse.
- You observed other yeast infection symptoms such as redness and irritation in the vagina and vulva.
- After using over-the-counter medicine and yeast infection symptoms continue to exist.
- Yeast infection symptoms return within 2 months, even if you are not taking antibiotics anymore.
Test and Exams to Diagnose Yeast Infection
Based on the yeast infection symptoms that you are experiencing, your doctor will be able to diagnose if you really have yeast infections. A pap test can detect and confirm a yeast infection. However, additional tests might be conducted for severe or reoccurring vaginal yeast infections. These tests include:
- Vaginal culture. This is conducted by taking vaginal discharge during wet mount test. The sample taken will be observed for a couple of days. If there is an overgrowth of yeast cells in a short period of time, then it confirms that your symptoms are because of yeast infections.
- Blood test. Your doctor might conduct a blood test to verify other health conditions such as diabetes that is causing your yeast infection.
Treatment and Medications
Yeast infections or yeast infection symptoms can be controlled and cured with proper medications. Depending on the severity of the case, your doctor might recommend the following medicines or treatment:
- For mild to moderate yeast infection symptoms or occasional yeast infection episodes, your doctor might prescribe or recommend the following treatment:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. OTC antifungal creams and suppositories are mostly available in drugstores. These are known to be effective and can treat yeast infection within three to seven days. These OTC treatments are mostly safe for pregnant women.
- Single-dose oral medicines. Example of single-dose antifungal medication is fluconazole (Diflucan). These medications are known to be a bit strong and very effective in combating a yeast infection. Depending on the severity of your yeast infection, your doctor might prescribe a one-time single dose or two single doses with a three-day interval to completely eliminate the infection.
- Vaginal therapy (short-course). This treatment could last for three to seven days. Short-course vaginal therapy normally uses antifungal medications in the form of cream, ointment, tablets, and suppositories. This treatment is also proven effective and can clear a vaginal yeast infection completely. Examples of these are aremiconazole, butoconazole, clotrimazole, and terconazole. Some of these medications are available only by prescription but some can be bought over the counter. Known side effects are minor burning sensation and irritation upon application. Most of these medications are oil-based that could weaken latex condoms and diaphragms. So for some who use these two for birth control, you might need to switch to a different one for the time being.
If yeast infection symptoms still persist after undergoing treatment or if symptoms come back two months after your treatment, you must inform your doctor and schedule an appointment right away so you could be re-examined and be given proper medication.
- For more complicated and severe types of yeast infection, your doctor might prescribe the following:
- Vaginal therapy (long-course). This vaginal yeast infection therapy could last from seven to 14 days using a regimen of azole medications. This is proven to completely clear yeast infection symptoms and totally eliminate yeast infection. Azole medications usually come in the form of ointment, cream, tablet, or suppository.
- Multi-dose oral medication. Mostly, for more complicated yeast infection cases, doctors prescribe two or three doses of oral medication such as fluconazole instead of vaginal therapy. This type of medication is not recommended for pregnant women.
- Maintenance plan. In some cases, yeast infection can be persistent and could reoccur. For this type of condition, your doctor might recommend a maintenance plan to completely free you from vaginal yeast infections. Maintenance plan or therapy starts after you are cleared from yeast infection. To clear complicated or severe yeast infections, your doctor might put you under long-course vaginal therapy. Once cleared, your maintenance plan starts to prevent overgrowth of yeast cells in the future. Your maintenance plan may include a regimen of oral fluconazole which you need to take once a week for six months. Another option aside from oral medication is by using clotrimazole as vaginal suppository once a week for the same period of time.
Yeast infection is not in the category of sexually transmitted diseases. However, in some cases, especially for reoccurring yeast infections, your sex partner might also get infected. Treatment for your sex partner might also be recommended by your doctor if genital yeast infection symptoms are observed.
10 Ways to Prevent Yeast Infection
Nothing beats prevention. Prevention is better than cure, as we always say it. Here are ten things that you can do to prevent a yeast infection.
- Be healthy and eat healthy. A balanced diet will result to a strong body and immune system. Impaired immune system leaves our body vulnerable to fungal infections. A healthy and balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, nonfat dairy products, and whole grains.
- Control your sugar level. Maintaining your normal sugar level will definitely prevent overgrowth of yeast cells. Yeast cells feed on sugar, making women with diabetes more prone to yeast infection. Healthy diet and exercise will help your sugar level to be in the right and normal level.
- Avoid antibiotics unless prescribed. If unnecessary, you must not use antibiotics. Antibiotics can greatly contribute to the imbalance of vaginal organism. Antibiotics can lower the level of vaginal bacteria that regulate yeast growth.
- Keep it clean. Cleanliness is a must. Keep the vaginal area clean by using mild and unscented soap and make sure to rinse it well with water.
- Wipe it the right way. Make sure to wipe from front to back after toilet use. This will avoid spreading bacteria and yeast from anus to the vagina.
- Cotton undies are the best. Wearing breathable underwear like cotton keeps the vaginal area dry. Cotton underwear does not hold in warmth and moisture.
- Avoid tight-fitting clothes. If possible, avoid using tight clothes such as panty hose or tight jeans. Wearing tight-fitting clothes can hold in warmth and moisture that provides a good environment for yeast cells to thrive.
- Do not stay on wet swimwear for long hours. Staying on wet swimsuit for many hours keeps warmth and moisture.
- Change pads or tampons regularly during menstruation. By doing this, you can maintain a dry and clean genital area.
- Avoid feminine sprays, powder, or perfumes, and deodorant tampons. These may cause irritation and may also affect the balance of vagina organism.
Yeast infection causes and symptoms can be avoided so long as we maintain a healthy diet and practice good genital hygiene. Though yeast infection is not a serious disease, it is still best not to experience it at all.