Suffering From a Yeast Infection: How to Fight Back

Yeast infections are a common ailment, affecting the sexual wellness and wellbeing of millions of women every year. They tend to recur as well, and can make having a normal sex life quite difficult and uncomfortable.

 

One of the reasons that yeast infections are so common is that most of us take antibiotics at some point in our lives (and most of us at several points in our lives). Antibiotics are designed to kill off the bad bacteria that is causing an infection in our bodies, but unfortunately, in so doing, they also kill off the good bacteria in the gut and the good bacteria in the vagina. You might find that if you are on a course of antibiotics, a bout of thrush soon follows. It’s always a good idea to see your doctor, though, as self-diagnosed yeast infections can turn out to be other things.

 

There are some very simple steps that you can take to help you steer clear of a yeast infection. Don’t use feminine hygiene sprays and don’t wash your vaginal area with any kind of perfumed soaps. Steer clear of perfumed sanitary pads, tampons and bubble bath too, as these seem to negatively affect the balance of acid in the vagina, leading to a thrush infection.

 

Wear cotton pants and avoid tight-fitting clothing too, as well as remembering to wipe from front to back, and you will also significantly reduce the number of yeast infections that you suffer from. Yeast thrives in warm, wet environments, so make sure you stay cool and dry ‘down below’.

 

If you are on the birth control pill, you could also find yourself more susceptible to thrush. Researchers have now found that certain types of birth control may cause a susceptibility to thrush as well.

Categories: Birth Control, infection, Infections, nbsp, steer clear, thrush, vagina, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

Feeling Uncomfortable? A Yeast Infection Could be to Blame

Yeast infections are a common sexual health hazard, affecting the wellness and wellbeing of both men and women all over the world. Women are most commonly affected by the condition – in fact, around 75 percent of all women will have a yeast infection such as thrush during the course of their lifetime, and around 45 percent of women will have at least two or more yeast infections.

 

In the United States, vaginal yeast infections are the second most common cause of reportedly abnormal vaginal discharge. The first most common cause is bacterial vaginosis.

 

Yeast infections are particularly common during pregnancy, perhaps due to the chemical changes which occur in the vagina during pregnancy. During this time, there is basically more sugar in the vagina for the bacteria spores to feed on.

 

Around five percent of the women who have vaginal yeast infections develop recurrent infections, which is known as vulvogainal candidiasis, which is defined as having four or more episodes of thrush in a one year period. Most women who suffer from this do not have any underlying medical conditions which make them more likely to get the condition.

 

During episodes of thrush, women experience thick or clotted discharge which may have a slight odour. Whilst vaginal discharge is normal, it is usually clear or cloudy and should be non-irritating. Thrush and other yeast infections cause itching and inflammation and can be quite uncomfortable.

 

One way to avoid getting a yeast infection is to avoid washing the vagina with perfumed soaps, or using perfumed deodorants or even bubble bath as this can upset the normal Ph. and bacteria balance in the vagina.

 

Many vaginal yeast infections can clear up without any treatment, however, there are cases when it can develop into something more serious, so you should make sure that you treat any and all episodes of vaginal yeast infection.

Categories: Infections, nbsp, thrush, vagina, vaginal, vaginal discharge, vaginal yeast, Women, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

Natural Ways to Help You Beat Your Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are unpleasant and uncomfortable, but are actually one of the most common sexual health problems affecting women. They affect your wellness and wellbeing through itching, discomfort and the release of a thick, white discharge.

 

All of these uncomfortable symptoms are caused by a fungal infection called Candida, which is the biological name for thrush. Candida flourishes in warm, moist areas and this means that unfortunately the vagina is the perfect environment for it. Normally, other microorganisms in the body help to keep Candida in check, but when there is an imbalance, then this is when a yeast infection occurs.

 

There are many herbal remedies that can help to relieve the symptoms of thrush, and some simple things that you can do, too (such as cutting down on fruit) in order to help make you more comfortable and reduce the chances of it recurring.

 

Yeast thrives on sugars, so depriving your body of sugar whilst suffering from an attack of thrush can help to reduce it. Cut down on fruit and instead eat plenty of vegetables, which boost your immunity through their nutrients. Echinacea can also help to improve your immune system.

 

Many herbs can also be used to help fight against yeast – things like Calendula, goldenseal, cedar, myrrh and rosemary all have antifungal properties. If you make up strong infusions of these herbs, you can use them either internally on the vagina or externally to help soothe the burning and itching caused by thrush.

 

Garlic is also great at fighting against yeast and fungus, and is particularly good at fighting against Candida and stopping it from growing. If you can tolerate it, try to chew or swallow at least one clove of raw garlic every day. You can mince it if you prefer and sprinkle it over a salad.

Categories: candida, infection, Natural, nbsp, thrush, yeast, yeast infection

What Do You Need To Know About Vaginal Thrush?

Vaginal thrush is a common infection which is the result of a yeast known as Candida Albicans. Thrush is also referred to as candidiasis, and the majority of women get this condition at least once in their lives. The symptoms of vaginal thrush include a general itch, which often gets worse before your period, soreness or burning of the vagina during or after sex, change in the smell and colour of your discharge, redness and inflammation of the vulva, pain when you’re urinating, and small white spots on the vaginal wall. Vaginal thrush is diagnosed based on your symptoms, but there are many other conditions of the vagina and vulva that could result in similar symptoms, so your doctor should be the person who diagnoses you to ensure that it is indeed thrush that requires treatment. This usually involves taking a swab to diagnose the bacteria. There are plenty of treatments available in the anti-candidal creams which soothe the inflammation on the skin and kill the bacteria. Such creams are readily available from pharmacies and have proven to be very effective. You can also take anti-thrush tablets which are taken orally, but these are usually reserved for more severe cases of thrush. However, if you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t take these.

 

You should seek medical advice from your GP if this is the first time you’ve experienced thrush symptoms, if you’re not sure what you have is thrush, if you’ve had thrush more than once in the past year. if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding or if you’ve not responded to the treatments. Make sure that your diagnosis done through a swab test if you’re not responding well to the treatment, in case you’ve been misdiagnosed. The yeast that causes thrush enters the body through the food that you eat, and can live in the bowel without causing any problems. It then spreads to the vagina from the anus via the perineum, which is the area between the vagina and anus. This is known as a perineal spread and other species of yeast often colonise in the vagina but aren’t damaging.

 

Women are more prone to vaginal thrush between puberty and menopause because the cells lining the vagina produce sugar under the influence of the hormone oestrogen. The yeast bacteria is attracted to these sugars and thrives. This is why thrush is so rare before puberty, because these hormones haven’t developed yet. There have been a number of lifestyle changes which have been suggested to help reduce the risk of thrush, such as avoiding sugar in your diet, limiting the wear of tight clothing and altering your sexual practices. Antibiotics also promote the growth of yeasts, so unless they’re really necessary these should be avoided. It’s been thought previously that the oral contraceptive pill increases the risk of thrush, but this isn’t actually true. However, long-lasting contraceptives such as the implant and the contraceptive injection do lower the incidence of thrush because they suppress the production of oestrogen. Most women will get thrush a couple of times in their lifetime, but a minority of women will get thrush more than a couple of times a year. This is known as recurrent candidiasis and will require medical intervention in order to treat it. You’ll probably need to see a specific doctor who specialises in this condition, if you’re suffering regularly with thrush.

Categories: thrush, Women, Yeast Infections

Thrush: What Is It and Do You Have the Signs?

The majority of women will deal with a bout of thrush at some point in their lives, and it is a common infection. Thrush is caused by a yeast fungus which is known as Candida spp. There are a number of treatments available, including an oral tablet and pessaries which are inserted into the vagina to treat the infection internally. There is also an anti-thrush cream which staves off the itching symptoms which are commonly associated with this problem. Although treatment is usually effective, some women repeatedly develop thrush. Small numbers of candida spp live on the skin and in the vaginal area, which are normally harmless. Your immune system generally stops the bacteria from developing further, but due to the nature of where the bacteria thrives it can sometimes develop because the vagina is a warm and moist environment where bacteria can develop. Other areas where candida infections can be caused include the groin, mouth and nappy area in infants, for the same reason.

 

The second most common reason for vaginal discharge is thrush, with the first being bacterial vaginosis. The discharge from the vagina is usually creamy and white, but it can also be thin and watery. This can lead to itchiness and redness, as well as pain and discomfort in this area. You may find that having sex or passing urine is painful as well. Although thrush doesn’t harm the vagina, it can be uncomfortable – it sometimes clears itself without the need for treatment, but often it requires an anti-fungal treatment in order to clear the infection fully. If you’re pregnant, there is no risk to your baby. More than half of all women get at least one bout of thrush in their lifetime, usually with no specific cause. There are conditions which increase the risk though, such as new medications, the vagina naturally making mucus which gives the bacteria a place to thrive, or if your natural defences are down and your internal balance is shifted. Although you don’t always need a test to diagnose this problem, don’t assume that all vaginal discharge is thrush – there can be many causes for discharge, so you will need to speak to your GP in order to determine if what you have is indeed vaginal thrush.

 

As previously mentioned, there are several forms of treatment, which work quickly and effectively to treat the infection and stave off the itchy symptoms. But there are also ways you can prevent vagina thrush from developing. These include wearing cotton underwear, as opposed to polyester, so that the skin can breathe and your genital area doesn’t become too moist and hot. You should avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes for the same reason. It may also be helpful to avoid using perfumed products in the vaginal area, such as soaps and shower gels which may cause further irritation. There are some ‘natural’ remedies which offer little scientific proof of effectiveness, but that some women find to be soothing and helpful with regards to symptoms. These include inserting live yogurt into the vagina, adding a little vinegar or bicarbonate of soda to your bath to alter the acidity of the vagina, or using a tampon which has been impregnated with tea tree oil. Thrush is not a sexually transmitted disease, and male partners don’t need to be treated unless they have symptoms on the tip of their penis – these include redness or itching of the penis, or a soreness in the foreskin. However, women can’t catch thrush from men who have no symptoms.

Categories: area, Bacteria, candida spp, female health, thrush, vagina, vaginal, vaginal area, vaginal discharge, Women

Think about Thrush: Are You at Risk of a Yeast Infection?

Thrush is a yeast infection that can affect the wellness of both men and women. Even though it’s not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you still need to guard your sexual health against thrush, as it can still sometimes develop after you have sex. To do this, you need to know the causes, recognise the symptoms and make sure you get prompt treatment.

A fungus called Candida albicans is responsible for causing thrush. It usually lives inoffensively on your skin or in your mouth, gut and vagina, and harmless bacteria normally keep it under control. However, if conditions change and the yeast increases rapidly, this can cause the infection of thrush to occur. You are more likely to develop thrush if you are pregnant, wear tight clothing, such as jeans or nylon underwear (as this prevents natural ventilation), take certain antibiotics, are having chemotherapy, have uncontrolled diabetes, HIV or other illnesses that affect your immune system or use products that irritate the vagina, such as vaginal deodorant or bubble bath.

You might be worried that hormonal contraception could affect your wellbeing with thrush, but there is no evidence to support this. However, the infection can occasionally be passed on after vaginal, anal or any kind of oral sex, because intercourse can irritate the genital area, and partners can transfer the yeast to one another. Symptoms include irritation, soreness and redness around the genital area or anus, pain or discomfort when passing urine or having sex, and a thick or thin discharge, like cottage cheese, under the foreskin or from the vagina.

A test for thrush is free on the NHS from your GP, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or sexual health clinics, and a pharmacist can also give you one. This is the only way to be certain that you have the infection, and simply involves a painless swab of the genitals as well as an examination. If you’re sure you have thrush, treatment involves antifungal cream, pessaries, pills or a combination.

If left untreated, your body may fight it off naturally, but if you don’t have treatment, vaginal thrush may trigger inflammation of the urethra (urethritis) in a male partner. However, bear in mind that some antifungal treatments weaken condoms, diaphragms and caps, and if you think you might be pregnant or are pregnant, or if you’re breastfeeding, tell your doctor as this will affect the type of treatment you’re given.

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Think about Thrush: Are You at Risk of a Yeast Infection?

Categories: thrush, treatment, yeast infection

Effective Ways of Reducing the Risk of Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are a common condition affecting most women at some point in their lives. The infection, known as thrush, causes redness, swelling and itchiness in the vagina and produces a thick discharge. A vaginal yeast infection is known as candidiasis and is caused by the fungus candida albican.

Some yeast infections will clear up without any medication but persistent infections will require anti-fungal creams and pessaries that can be bought over-the-counter in pharmacies. The infection is likely to clear up within a week. If you do get persistent yeast infections, do talk to your doctor in case there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Your doctor can prescribe oral or topical anti-fungal medications if an infection does persist.

There are some simple but effective things you can do to avoid contracting a yeast infection. Candida albican, like all fungi, will thrive in damp and warm environments so switch your underwear from nylon to cotton panties that can absorb any moisture more effectively.

Don’t wear tight-fitting underwear or trousers, particularly during warm weather, as they can make you perspire more and encourage the yeast infection to thrive. Good personal hygiene is important – wash your private parts thoroughly every day and, after using the toilet, wipe from front to back so you keep any bacteria away from the vagina.

Scented tampons, perfumed deodorant sprays and vaginal douches are a no-no. The chemicals and perfumes they contain can upset the natural balance of “good” bacteria and yeast in the vagina, leading to yeast infections.

Some research pinpoints a link between stress and yeast infections because stress is known to have a negative effect on the immune system. Beat stress by relaxing through regular exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet and ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.

The friendly bacteria found in natural yogurt with live cultures can help restore the balance of “good” bacteria in your body that is reduced by taking antibiotics.

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Effective Ways of Reducing the Risk of Yeast Infections

Categories: condition, thrush, Yeast Infections