Yeast infection. Just reading those words evokes a sense of disgust and panic in women (and probably men). What’s not to freak out about? Just thinking about the seemingly endless itching could make you wiggle in your seat. Was that TMI? Relax.
A vaginal yeast infection causes itching and burning of the vulva — the external area of the vagina — and pain during sex, while also producing a white, lumpy, odorless discharge.
Three out of 4 women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at some point in their lifetime, and almost half of women will have two or more infections, according to a 2010 article published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews. If you think you have a yeast infection, read on for expert advice on causes, treatment and prevention:
What Causes Yeast Infections
Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the microscopic, yeast-like fungus Candida. This parasitic fungus lives almost everywhere, says Dr. Scott Sullivan, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical University of South Carolina. “It’s ubiquitous in the environment,” he says. “There’s yeast everywhere. It’s on our skin; it can be cultured from any place.”
Many women have Candida in the vaginal area without symptoms, Sullivan says. Some experts believe the fungus is “hanging out,” waiting for an opportunity “like a change in diet, a change in the normal flora of the vagina, sexual activity and other events” to cause an infection, Sullivan explains. While a small number of yeast cells indicates a healthy vagina, certain things can change the balance, causing too much yeast too grow — and the onset of those unpleasant symptoms.
Although most women have no underlying health problems that lead to a yeast infection, some have greater risk factors. Antibiotics, for example, increase the odds of infection in some women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While medications are designed to fight bacteria, some of the bacteria they kill can lead to the overgrowth of yeast in the vagina.
Using hormonal contraceptives — including the patch, vaginal ring or birth control pill — can also increase the risk of infection. Contraceptive devices such as vaginal sponges, diaphragms and intrauterine devices — or IUDs — also heighten risk for some women. That’s because some hormonal birth control increases estrogen levels in a woman’s body. However, newer forms of birth control are less likely to cause a vaginal yeast infection because they contain progesterone.
Women who have diabetes are more likely to experience recurrent yeast infections, since elevated blood sugars appear in the mucus of the vagina and vulva, encouraging yeast growth. Pregnant women are also at greater risk, because they have higher levels of estrogen — which is thought to cause the vagina to produce more glycogen, which hikes the risk for a yeast infection.
Although yeast infections can occur in different parts of the body, such as the mouth, esophagus, skin and bloodstream, they don’t lead to other infections throughout the body. Still, Sullivan says vaginal yeast infections are immunogenic — meaning they can cause a violent immune reaction, hence the local itching and burning sensation.
Although you might feel itchy after using a scented soap, don’t assume you have a yeast infection. It could just be a skin irritation, says Dr. Jennifer Gunter, director of pelvic pain and vulvovaginal disorders at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco. The body’s natural humectant — or moisture — is stripped away by some soaps, which can make the skin tissue more vulnerable to irritation. “If you also happen to be someone who removes pubic hair and uses soap, you’re losing natural barriers for the skin,” she adds.
Prevention
If you want to prevent a yeast infection — and who wouldn’t? — you may have heard that a diet low in sugar will do the trick. It’s best to talk to a health care provider before changing your diet or taking supplements labeled for vaginal or bladder health, Steier says. Treatments such as boric acid — a vaginal insert used for chronic, less-common yeast infections — and yogurt have been recommended for some women, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, Steier says yogurt and anything over-the-counter labeled as a supplement for bladder health or urinary health has not been proven to ward off yeast infections in clinical studies.
One realistic goal is to avoid overusing topical treatments for recurring yeast infections, Gunter says. That’s because you might be battling another issue — like a skin irritation — and by using a topical treatment, you could upset the body’s natural defense against yeast. Just because you have vaginal itching doesn’t mean you have a yeast infection, Gunter says.
“Everything has a role in the vagina, and we have good bacteria and mucus that are really important,” she adds. “When you overuse products, you can damage them. The vagina is a self-cleaning oven, so the best thing is nothing if you can.”
Add douching to the list of things to avoid, Gunter warns. Douches remove the normal bacteria in the vagina that protect you from infections, sexually transmitted diseases and pelvic inflammatory diseases.
“It’s like cigarettes for your vagina, really. They have warning labels on it, too,” she says, adding that douches contain chemicals and vinegar, which can damage lactobacilli, a good bacteria for vaginal health. When lactobacilli is removed, women have an increased risk for infections such as HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
If the onset of symptoms freaks you out, you’re not alone. Many women fear they’ve caught a sexually transmitted infection rather than a run-of-the-mill yeast infection. That’s because the signs — itching and burning of the vulva, pain during sex and a white, lumpy, odorless discharge — are similar to bacterial vaginosis, an STI that can increase your risk for contracting other STIs, including HIV, and may lead to problems with pregnancy.
“Don’t be overanxious. A lot of patients come in thinking they have an STI, or there is something wrong with them if they get [a yeast infection],” Sullivan says. “For most people, it’s just a fact of life. And for others, it’s just a matter of time.”
Gunter says you have two options if your symptoms are internal — if you’re experiencing pain during sex, for example. You can either go to a health care provider to get an evaluation or try an over-the-counter yeast infection product, such as Gyne-Lotrimin, Mycelex, Gynezol, Femstat, Monistat or Vagistat-1.
If you visit a doctor, he or she will conduct a pelvic exam similar to a Pap smear screening to look for swelling and discharge. The doctor will also use a cotton swab to collect a sample of the discharge, which will determine if you have a yeast infection. If you do, you’ll be given an antifungal prescription like fluconazole, or told to purchase an over-the-counter cream or ointment, or a suppository that’s inserted into the vagina. A one-dose treatment that kills the infection within a few days usually suffices, though women may also opt for a three-day or seven-day treatment course, Steier says.
Although going to the doctor might feel like a pain, keep in mind that self-diagnosing isn’t always the right call. Gunter says yeast infection symptoms don’t give any good clue as to what’s going on: “We know women are not actually very good at self-diagnosis for yeast,” she says, adding that women are wrong 50 to 70 percent of the time. “If a woman thinks she has a yeast infection, there’s a very high likelihood she doesn’t.”
If you do go the self-diagnosis route and pick up over-the-counter treatment for yourself, see an OB-GYN if your symptoms don’t clear up in three to four days.
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How to Cope With a Yeast Infection originally appeared on usnews.com
