 The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that
about 80 percent of all women will experience a vaginal yeast
infection at least once in their lives. In fact, it is estimated
that 50% of college women in the United States have been diagnosed
with at least one yeast infection by the age of 25. Luckily,
yeast infections are fairly easy to treat. Yes, they can be
very ITCHY and uncomfortable.
What
is it and why so common?
Candida,
which is a type of yeast or fungus, is normally found in the
body. When your body is in balance it usually causes no problems.
When the internal environment is out of balance from stress
or fatigue, the yeast can over grow. Symptoms include:
thick, white, odorless vaginal discharge (described
as resembling cottage cheese).
vaginal itching and burning.
pain
or discomfort with urination or sexual intercourse.
vulvular
redness or irritation.
About
80 percent of yeast infections are caused by a specific species
of Candida, called Candida albicans. The remaining
twenty percent of yeast infections are caused by other types
of Candida. These infections may require treatment with special
medications that are different from the usual treatment. While
yeast infections are not usually considered sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), they can still be transmitted
sexually -- so we have also included them in the STD
section. Try to avoid intercourse until you have completed
treatment and the symptoms have subsided.
How
Do I Know if I Have a Yeast Infection?
Self-diagnosis
of a yeast infection may not be as obvious as one would think.
A 1997 study at Temple University Medical School reported
in the July issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found
that only 28 percent of female participants presenting with
recurrent yeast infections had candidiasis. Eleven percent
actually had a bacterial infection and that requires a different
treatment.
Predisposing
Factors to Yeast Infections
Yeast
feeds on glucose, (the body’s form of sugar), so anything
that increases your blood sugar or changes the hormonal balance
that regulates blood sugar can help yeast to grow out of control.
These
conditions include:
diabetes
pregnancy,
especially in the third trimester
birth
control pills
steroids
(legal and illicit ones)
antibiotics
immunocompromised
states, such as with HIV infection
or with cancer treatment.
Antifungal
Medications
| Since
yeast is a fungus, treatment involves an anti-fungal
medication. Several vaginal creams are available over
the counter. Sometimes an oral medication is prescribed
by a health care provider if the condition is very severe
or not responding to cream treatment. |
 |
Just treating
the irritation and itching will not cure the infection. If
you’re using an oral medication or a vaginal cream, you
may also need a topical vaginal cream to soothe the discomfort
until the infection has been properly treated. If you're using
vaginal creams or suppositories, don't use a tampon. They
can absorb the medication. Use pads or panty liners instead.
While
nonprescription, over the counter medications for yeast infections
are readily available, be sure that you do indeed have a yeast
infection before using them. As described below, other vaginal
infections can have symptoms similar to those associated with
yeast infections.
The OTC
(over-the-counter) products for vaginal yeast infections have
one of four active ingredients: butoconazole nitrate (Femstat
3), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin and others), miconazole (Monistat
7 and others), and tioconazole (Vagistat). These drugs are
in the same anti-fungal family and work in similar ways to
break down the cell wall of the Candida organism until it
dissolves. They are available in generic form also and those
work just as well.
If this is your first infection, be sure to have your health
care provider check the discharge under a microscope to make
an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms such as pain or burning with
urination could indicate a urinary tract
infection, which would require prescription antibiotics.
If you have recurrent yeast infections, do not continue to
self-medicate: Get to your health care provider.
Eliminate yeast infections with an Herbal Treatment
- This
really worked for me. ~ Amy, RN — Founder, CoolNurse.com. Try this before you try the messy over-the-counter creams.
First,
make the environment less favorable for its growth. Here are
some tips:
If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar as close
to normal as possible.
Keep the genital area clean, cool, and dry.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing -- jeans and pantyhose, that
retains heat and traps moisture.
Wear cotton panties to allow for better air circulation.
Dry off well after a shower or swimming.
Change as soon as possible out of wet clothes, especially
bathing suits.
After urinating, wipe from front to back: yeast can exist
in the intestinal tract and be swept into the vagina, along
with E. coli and other bacteria, when wiping from back
to front.
Avoid douching and using other irritants such as perfumed
bath products and colored or scented toilet paper.
For more on your vagina... go there...
Check out Yeast
Infections - When Should You Treat Yourself and
Recurrent Yeast Infections.
Also see
GYN Health and Sex
Stuff.
Yes, some
men get yeast infections
too, go there to check that out.
|
