Vaginal Yeast Infections - Important Info You must know About

A fungus called Candida Albicans causes a vaginal yeast infection. Normally yeast is a tiny organism that lives on the skin and inside the vagina in small numbers. The yeast is prevented from growing due to the acidic environment of the vagina. Too many yeast can grow and cause a vaginal yeast infection if the vagina becomes less acidic. Some of the things that can change this acidic balance include menstruation, pregnancy, diabetes, some antibiotics, birth control pills and steroids. Yeast can also be encouraged to grow with moisture and irritation of the vagina.

While vaginal yeast infections are not usually serious they can be very uncomfortable for a woman who is suffering from one. A vaginal yeast infection can be accompanied by itching and burning in the vagina and around the vulva, a white vaginal discharge, painful intercourse and swelling of the vulva. Since there are other conditions with similar symptoms your doctor will often want to talk about your symptoms and run an examination to make sure the cause is a vaginal yeast infection.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a yeast infection for the first time then you should see your doctor. Before you start taking medicine it is important to know if you have a yeast infection. Other infections including some STD’s can have symptoms similar to a vaginal yeast infection. The problem can become worse if you are treating yourself for a vaginal yeast infection when in fact it is being caused by another type of infection. Once you are diagnosed by your doctor you can talk to them about using a medicine that can be purchased without a prescription if you want to use that instead of the cream, suppository or pill medications that a doctor typically prescribes for vaginal yeast infections.

Once you have experienced a vaginal yeast infection you will want to make sure you don’t have one again. Therefore there are a few things you can do to help prevent a vaginal yeast infection from recurring again. First you shouldn’t wear tight fitting or synthetic fiber clothes, rather it is a good idea to wear cotton panties. You should avoid wearing pantyhose or leotards every day, although once in awhile is okay. After you bath or shower and before getting dressed you may want to use a blow dryer on a low, cool setting to help dry out the genital area to prevent yeast infections. After using the toilet you should wipe from front to back which will prevent bacteria that lives in the rectum from reaching your vagina. As soon as possible you should change out of any wet clothes or swimsuits. The balance of acidity in the vaginal area can also be affected by the use of feminine hygiene sprays, deodorant sanitary pads or tampons, bubble bath products and colored or perfumed toilet paper.

After getting a yeast infection many women will ask their doctor if their sexual partner should also be treated. It is rare, but there are instances when a yeast infection can be transmitted through sexual intercourse to the partner. Talk to a doctor about treatment options if your partner starts to develop yeast infection symptoms.

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