Also
called a yeast infection, thrush, and moniliasis, candidiasis
is a very common cause of vaginitis. It is caused by a yeast-like
fungus named Candida albicans. It is not often transmitted
sexually, but still is considered an STD in the United States.
Virgins can also get it.
Candida
albicans is normally present in healthy people in several
areas in the body without causing any symptoms. The CDC (Centers
for Disease Control) in the U.S. decided to classify candidiasis
as an STD. Naming it as an STD has caused controversy in the
medical community. It has been known to be transmitted sexually,
but it requires a particular environment for growth, so it
is not often sexually transmitted to the penis. It just doesn't
grow well there. It can be transmitted from a female to a
male, or from a female to a female from oral-genital sex and
can grow in the throat as "thrush".
Causes
for the overgrowth of Candida albicans include: antibiotic
therapy, which suppresses the normal protective bacteria in
the vagina, hormones in the birth control pill, and diabetes,
(which increases sugar levels in the vagina and the fungus
likes to feed on sugar). Pregnancy hormones can also cause
candida when you are pregnant. Food allergies and altered
immune states (like AIDS or cancer treatment) may contribute
to the overgrowth of Candida.
When candida
infects the vagina it results in vaginitis (inflammation)
characterized by a large amount of white, cheesy discharge
and intense itching and burning on the inside and outside
of the vagina. Oral thrush will appear as white sores or patches
on the tongue, back of the throat or inside the cheeks.
It is
common for people with AIDS to get
thrush or candida, BUT this does NOT mean you have AIDS, if
you get a yeast infection or thrush. It may be your body telling
you that it is tired or “out of balance”.
For more see 