Yeast Infection Causes - Frequently Asked Questions - Part 1

What is a vaginal yeast infection?

The classic case of a vaginal yeast infection is irritation, itching and/or burning in and/or around the vagina, also called the vulva. A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida. A normal healthy female always has some amount of yeast in the vagina. However, when the levels of the bacteria that controls the over-growth of yeast in the vagina becomes out of balance, too much yeast grows and a yeast infection is the result.

How common are Yeast Infections?

Vaginal yeast infections are very common. About 75 percent of women have a yeast infection during their lives. And almost half of women have two or more yeast infections.

What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?

For the vast majority of women, the most common sign that they have a yeast infection is itchiness in and around the vagina. However, other symptoms do often present including:

• Some swelling, redness or burning in the area around the vagina.
• Discomfort of mild pain that occurs during urination
• Discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse
• A discharge from the vagina that looks thick and white but does not present with a bad smell.

An individual may only have one or two of these symptoms and the severity of them will vary from individual to individual.

Why do I get yeast infections in the first place?

There are many factors involved in contracting a yeast infection. Most have to do with changing the levels of the acidity in the vagina. This increases an individual's chances of contracting a yeast infection. These factors include:

• stress
• having an illness and therefore a weakening of the body's immune system
• not getting enough sleep
• pregnancy - the many changes that take place in the body during pregnancy make one more susceptible to a yeast infection
• the taking of antibiotics
• the taking of birth control pills
• not eating properly or the excessive intake of sugary foods
• taking medicines with steroids in them
• menstruation
• diseases such as poorly-controlled diabetes or HIV infection

How are yeast infections treated?

Yeast infections are most commonly treated with antifungal medicines. These come in the form of suppositories, creams, ointments, or tablets that are inserted into the vagina. The specific medicines used are clotrimazole, butoconazole, nystatin, tioconazole, miconazole and terconazole. These treatments can be bought over-the-counter at your local pharmacy. Alternatively, you can get a single dose of oral fluconazole. However, this must be prescribed by your physician.

Having said that, yeast infections that do not respond to these medicines are becoming more and more common. The reason is that using anti fungal medicines when one does not really have a yeast infection increases the odds of getting a hard-to-treat infection in the future due to the fungus becoming resistance to the antibiotics.

What should I do if I get recurring yeast infections?

First, you should always contact your medical professional if you suspect that you may have a yeast infection. Approximately five percent of women develop 4 or more vaginal yeast infections in any 12 month period. This is generally referred to as recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis (RVVC). RVVC is most common in women with diabetes or weakened immune systems. Doctors normally treat this problem with anti fungal medicine for up to six months.

More information of treating recurring yeast infections using an all natural method can be found here.