Vaginal Yeast Infections Explained

Vaginal yeast infection is the most commonly occurring condition in females. An estimated 75% of all females get these infections at least once in their life time, and there are many more females who are actually plagued by the recurrent infections. It is imperative to first learn the early signs of this typical infection before you actually start self-treatment.

The Symptoms

Vaginal yeast infection is usually characterized by burning, itching, irritation and redness of the vagina and the adjoining are. Severe yeast infection can as well lead to the inflammation of vulva hereby resulting in frequent urination with uneasiness and pain.

In some worst cases, women often experience too much vaginal discharge that is usually thicker than the normal discharge, appearing almost like white curd. Sexual intercourse becomes increasingly difficult during this stage and it all due to the dryness of the vagina and inflammation.

The Causes

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by the Candida albicans yeast, which is basically a fungus. This actually means that these infections are fungal infections that can affect your vagina, mouth and the intestinal tract too. These funguses are normally present in the human body and they rarely cause any harm. Candida occurs mostly in moist and warm places as it is the perfect spot for them to proliferate.

Yeast infections, particularly vaginal yeast infections are commonly caused due to an overgrowth of normal fungi residing in the vagina, and the most common form of fungi is indeed Candida albicans. Overabundance of Candia could be due to the prolonged use of antibiotics, wearing tight fit clothes or due to body heat. Some other factors contributing to these infections are obesity, pregnancy, diabetes etc. These infections are very common during pregnancy.

Preventing Vaginal Yeast Infection

You must always look for better ways of preventing vaginal yeast infections. Prevention is always better than cure and therefore you must take some of the necessary steps that would help you in preventing the condition.

1. Wear cotton undergarments always; avoid lycra and nylon as much as you can. If you wear a panty hose, make sure you’ve worn a cotton panty underneath.
2. Woman who use oral contraception often experience problems with lubrication; their natural lubricating agent seems to dry out over tome. In such cases artificial lubricants are used for sexual intercourse. This helps in preventing the irritation and discomfort as a result of yeast infection.
3. As yeast is naturally present in the body, it is always advised to wipe off the vaginal area back and forth in order to prevent the transfer of yeast to the moist areas.
4. One must be very careful during their sexual intercourse in preventing the vaginal yeast infections from happening due to the contamination wit some other organisms form the rectum or the bowel.
5. Some women have discovered that eating yogurt everyday is a good way of preventing vaginal yeast infection. If you have been taking antibiotics for some reasons, you can always combine it with a regular dose of yogurt to keep yeast infections at a bay. However, only yogurt isn’t the solution.
6. Try to avoid using any harsh soaps or fragrances in the vaginal areas. Perfumed bathing products or additives can worsen the infection. Also, do not douche as it actually washes away all the protective mucous resent in the vagina thereby making you more susceptible to infections.

With only a few preventive measures, you can say good bye to vaginal yeast infections forever. However, always try to take good care of the clothes you wear and the bathing products you use to avoid any mishap. If things are beyond your control, feel free to seek medical help.