Causes of Yeast Infections
Causes of Yeast Infections
Yeast infection refers to an infection spread by a fungus often within the vaginal area. This infection is characterized by burning, itching or redness of the vaginal area. It is the second most common kind of vaginal infection faced by the women folk. The factors that lead to yeast infection include oral contraceptives, antibiotic treatments, repeated intercourse over a short period of time, diabetes, pregnancy, stress, suppressed immune system including HIV, hot weather or non-ventilating clothing, high carbohydrate intake.
The other causes of yeast infection can be irritants like powders, soaps, new detergents and other related products. The symptoms of yeast infection include vaginal irritation, vaginal itching, a burning sensation during the process of urination; pain during sexual intercourse; thick, white and curd-like vaginal discharge; itching of the rectal opening; redness, cracking or swelling of the vulvar skin. Yeast infection can occur in men also if they are having unprotected sexual activity with a partner suffering from the same. Both partners can keep on infecting each other if they are not cured at the proper time. There is no usual discharge in men. They may only develop genital irritation and genital itching if they are uncircumcised.
The yeast infections should be diagnosed at the proper time with proper medication. Over-the-counter medications are available for the women who have had professional guidance about how to recognize the symptoms of yeast infections. In the recent studies women misdiagnose their own yeast infections when actually it does not even occur. In the due course of time the women’s body may become drug-resistant to yeast infection and the real problem persists. In order to diagnose a yeast infection the medical provider would perform a vaginal test. Samples of vaginal discharge are taken under a microscope for the exam and if one has recurring infections some of the discharge may be collected to observe if there is another type of yeast or organism present.
Once the medical provider is confirmed about the infection he will prescribe an antibiotic pill called Diflucan or a suppository called Monistat or Gyne-Lotrimin. This medication might be of one week or might extend for some time. There are lot many ways to prevent yeast infections: to eat a balanced diet; to get out of swimsuit as soon as possible; to get enough sleep; not to wear pads or panty-liners beyond the length of period; to avoid feminine deodorant sprays and douches; to wipe from front to back after urination and bowel movement; to avoid wearing tight-fitting or ill-fitting clothes and to switch over to cotton underwear rather than synthetic underwear.
The consequences of yeast infections can be severe discomfort rather than serious health problems. Yeast infections often get cured on its own after the starting of the menstruation cycle. Menstruation raises the vaginal pH causing the yeast cells to decrease because they don’t grow in the pH present during the period of menstruation. Women who have recurring yeast infections should for a test for underlying causes so that the appropriate treatment can be chosen as early as possible to cure her of the disease.