A Yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans in the vagina. Candida is the scientific name for yeast, which is a type of fungus that lives in almost anything that is also living. Most often our body’s natural immune system is able to keep any yeast outbreaks under control. But when your immune system breaks down due to sickness, stress or taking antibiotics, the yest can multiply in high enough numbers to cause an infection.
Yeast are always present in the vagina in small numbers, and symptoms only appear with overgrowth. Health experts estimate that approximately 75 percent of women will have at least one yeast infection with symptoms during their lifetimes; 40 to 45 percent will experience two or more episodes.
A Yeast infection affect different parts of the body in different ways:
- Thrush is a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
- Esophagitis is thrush that spreads to your esophagus, the tube that takes food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can make it hard or painful to swallow
- Women can get vaginal yeast infections, causing itchiness, pain and discharge
- Yeast infections of the skin cause itching and rashes
- Yeast infections in your bloodstream can be life-threatening
Antifungal medicines eliminate yeast infections in most people. If you have a weak immune system, treatment might be more difficult.
Pregnancy is also a common cause for an imbalance between the yeast and other bacteria found in the vagina. When you get pregnant, your body undergoes a series of hormonal changes that can alter a lot of different things. The bacteria balance is just one example. For this reason, many women will suffer from a yeast infection at least once during the nine months that they are carrying a child.
Taking antibiotics can also be the cause of yeast infections. Many different medications that are used to fight out various conditions can lower the amount of good bacteria located in the vagina. The result is an overabundance of the harmful yeasts that can create infections. It may be necessary to take an additional medication while on an antibiotic to help prevent the Candida from starting an infection.
Wearing tight clothing that traps in moisture can also promote a healthy environment for harmful bacteria. To prevent the fungus from thriving, you should wear loose fitting cotton undergarments that will allow the area to stay dry. Anytime you go swimming, you should remove your bathing suit as soon as possible after getting out of the pool. If possible, take a shower to remove the chlorine from your body.
Poor hygiene can sometimes lead to conditions that are favorable for a yeast infection. Taking a bath or shower each day will help to keep the area clean. It will also allow the bacteria to stay balanced. Avoid douching, as it can kill off some of the good bacteria that keep the yeast in check.
In rare occasions, a yeast infection can be caused by sexual intercourse. It is fairly uncommon for men to have these infections, but it can sometimes happen. It is more likely for a man to give a yeast infection during intercourse than the other way around. When this is the cause, it is usually transmitted through oral-genital contact.
Several factors are associated with increased yeast infection in women, including:
- Pregnancy
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Oral contraceptives or antibiotics
- Douches
- Feminine hygiene sprays
- Topical antibiotics and steroid medicines
- Weakened or compromised immune systems
Wearing tight, poorly ventilated clothing and underwear also can contribute to vaginitis. Women with chronic (recurring) yeast infections should work with their healthcare providers to find out possible underlying causes.
Health experts do not know whether yeast can be transmitted sexually. Because almost all women have the fungus in their vaginas, it has been difficult for researchers to study if a yeast infection is spread through sexual intercourse.
Though the overgrowth of Candida is the primary cause of yeast infections, there are a number of factors that contribute to the imbalance of bacteria. This should be kept in mind to avoid experiencing an infection. The symptoms that come along with it are typically not something women like to suffer from.
Various antifungal vaginal medicines are available to treat yeast infections. Women can buy antifungal creams to be applied directly to the area, tablets to be taken orally, or suppositories (butoconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, and tioconazole) for use in the vagina.
Because bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, and yeast infections are difficult to tell apart on the basis of symptoms alone, a woman with vaginal symptoms should see her healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis before using these products.
Women who have chronic or recurring yeast infections may need to be treated with vaginal creams or oral medicines for long periods of time. HIV-infected women can develop severe yeast infections that often do not respond to treatment.
For updated information about the treatment for vaginal yeast infections, read the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines. Or check out the rest of this website for more information on yeast infections.