Vaginal Yeast Infection is Seldom Serious

Causes of yeast infections are many and before you know them, it is good to first have a clear understanding of what yeast infection is.

A yeast infection is an overgrowth of yeast in your vagina, leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as:

itching and burning in and around your vagina,
burning sensation when urinating (peeing,)
vaginal pain or discomfort during sex,
vaginal discharge that may look like cottage cheese (it may also be thinner or absent.

Although a yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, it is possible to pass it back and forth between sexual partners.

Yeast

Yeast is commonly present on normal human skin and in areas of moisture, such as the mouth and vagina. As many as 75% of women experience genital candidiasis, also known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), candidal vaginitis, monilial vaginitis, monilial infection, and vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime.

Yeast normally live in the vagina in small numbers, but when the bacteria in the vagina become out of balance, too many yeast grow and cause an infection. Yeast infections can cause severe discomfort but rarely cause serious health problems.

Yeast infection causes include:

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are a very common and most women, about 70% of them, will get a yeast infection at least once in their lifetimes. And some of these women will get recurring yeast infections. Women usually do not get yeast infections from sex. Instead, a weakened immune system is the most common cause of yeast infections.

Most physicians discourage women from diagnosing and treating themselves with over-the-counter medications, because symptoms may be produced by more serious vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis produces symptoms that are similar to other vaginal infections, but it is much more serious and requires specific treatment. A variety of alternative treatments exist to help cure bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

Healthy Vagina

In a healthy vagina, there is a balance of several basic "components" that work together including bacteria, yeast, hormones and glycogen and natural secretions. When the healthy balance in the vagina is disturbed, the yeast overgrows. Your health professional can usually diagnose a yeast infection just by finding discharge that looks like cottage cheese during a pelvic exam.

Two simple tests can help your health professional figure out what you've got. In the first test, your health professional will look at a sample of your vaginal discharge under a microscope. In the second test, your health professional will send a sample of your discharge to the lab for a culture. If you don't have a yeast infection, these tests will help your health professional figure out what kind of infection you do have.

Treatments

A mild vaginal yeast infection may correct itself without treatment. However, you are not likely to be able to go without treatment if you develop severe symptoms. Thankfully, treatment is readily available, both over-the-counter solutions as well as alternative, drug-free yeast infection treatments.

Perhaps the greatest risks you face when treating a vaginal yeast infection are related to self-diagnosis and self-treatment. Providing that you have had a diagnosed yeast infection before, correctly diagnose your condition based on past symptoms, and self-treat with a nonprescription yeast infection treatment as directed, your risks are minimal.

Medications

Natural medications for yeast infections consists of creams and suppositories, both sold over the counter as well as oral medications, which require a prescription. The medical treatment of yeast infection centre around medications that slow the growth of the yeast.

While there are many over-the-counter medications available, it is important to have a proper diagnosis of a yeast infection before you start using these strong medications, especially if this is your first yeast infection.

If you had a yeast infection before and are sure it is the same infection again, it is safe to use over-the-counter antifungal medications. While medications can destroy a particular infection, they don't prevent future infections. If over the counter medications seem to temporarily relieve your infection, but the infection quickly returns, you may be a victim of a chronic yeast infection.

Conclusion

Learning to recognize the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection is vital before women attempt self-treatment. Conventional medical treatment for vaginal yeast infection is based on taking drugs or using topical creams. Once the yeast infection is confirmed, it is usually easily treated by over-the-counter treatments or prescription medications. Among the most effective natural treatments for yeast infection is the use of probiotics, or what is commonly called friendly bacteria or beneficial bacteria.

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