Vaginal Yeast Infection

Needless to say vaginal yeast infection is annoying and embarrassing. It can give you nightmares, just thinking about a situation where you feel like itching your privates, but are unable to for fear of being seen. However, the good news is this infection is not debilitating or life-threatening. So, if you’re suffering from it or just want to gain some information to prevent its occurrence, you’ve come to the right place.

Describing vaginal yeast infection

Candida albicans, a fungus that generally resides in the warm and moist environs of vagina, is generally the cause of vaginal yeast infection. Although mostly, yeast continues to exist peacefully in small numbers inside the vagina due to an acidic environment, it can multiply if a less acidic environment prevails. This may be caused by periods, pregnancy and diabetes or by taking some antibiotics, birth control pills and steroids. This overabundance of yeast causes vaginal yeast infection.

Describing vaginal yeast infection

The signs of vaginal yeast infection are hard to ignore. However, this infection is usually not serious. Let’s see what its symptoms are:

a. Irritation: The infection may begin as an irritation in the vagina.

b. Itching and burning: It may confine itself to the vagina or spread around the vulva, the skin surrounding the vagina.

c. Vaginal discharge: It may look like cottage cheese or have watery consistency. It may be odorless or smell of yeast.

d. Swelling: Especially of the vulva region.

e. Pain: Those infected usually experience pain during sexual intercourse.

Treatment for vaginal yeast infection

Treatment will vary depending upon the type of vaginitis, its severity, duration and whether you’re pregnant. Depending on the cause of the infection, your physician may prescribe vaginal suppositories or antibiotics.  Recurrent vaginal yeast infection and chronic vaginal yeast infection will have a different line of treatment.

Remedies for vaginal yeast infection usually include medicines you put into the vagina. This may be in the form of a cream you insert inside with a special applicator or it may be a suppository that dissolves on its own inside the vagina. Medicine for vaginal yeast infection also include pills and capsules to be taken orally.

Preventing yeast infection

Getting treated for vaginal yeast infection once is not enough. Chances of recurrence are always high. To prevent this, take the following actions:

a. Tight-fitting or synthetic-fiber clothes don’t let the skin ‘breathe’ and also create ideal conditions for yeast growth, so wear cotton clothes, especially cotton undergarments.

b. Change wet swimsuits or other damp clothes as soon as you can.

c. Take care to always dry your genital area after bath or swim. This can be achieved by using a blow dryer on a low, cool setting.

d. To retain the acidic balance of the vagina, don’t douche or use feminine sprays, deodorant sanitary pads or tampons, or even bubble baths.

e. While using toilet paper, wipe from front to back after using the toilet. This prevents the bacteria from the anal area from travelling to the vagina.

f. Since, yeast infection can be passed through vaginal intercourse, avoid sex till the time you get fully cured.

Vaginal yeast infection can make life a living hell, but you need not suffer in silence. Confide in your physician and find the best vaginal yeast infection cures.