For any woman who has suffered a yeast infection, they will tell you it’s uncomfortable and more than just an annoyance. The National Women’s Health Information Service says over 75% of all women will suffer at least one yeast infection in their life. The rate is over 50% for another yeast infection.
It’s hard to believe but a yeast infection is caused by a tiny one cell fungus called yeast. Although there are many different types of yeast the one most frequently causing infections in people is the species Candida. The yeast infection is not an infection really but an overgrowth where the yeast takes over the vagina or wherever the yeast infection is. The yeast infection can cause pain as well as be annoying.
Candida grows normally on and inside the body. It especially likes to grow in warm moist conditions. This means it grows especially well in the vagina, men’s foreskin, and in skin folds and mouth. Normally the yeast growth is kept under control. It grows without taking over. In the vagina specialized healthy bacteria keep the yeast from taking over. These bacteria work by keeping an acid environment in the vagina.
Circumstances happening in life can overtake the body’s normal defense system. It may be stress, taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, or the hormonal changes of pregnancy. When this happens the yeast do not have the normal check and balances system. They overgrow and the result is what we call a yeast infection.
Burning and itching are the most commonly reported symptoms of yeast infection. There are many medications, treatments and ways of treating a yeast infection. Most prescription medications work to decrease the number of growing yeast cells. That means the symptoms are treated but not the underlying cause of the yeast infection.
Conditions Favoring Yeast Infection
Antibiotic use is the most frequently named cause of yest infection. That’s because the antibiotic kills not only the harmful bacteria, but the helpful bacteria as well. Without the helpful bacteria the yeast is free to grow wildly.
When you are stressed, you tax your body’s defense system. With the body trying to combat the effect of stress it is unable to fight off the overgrowth of yeast.
Tight jeans can also lead to yeast infections. Tight jeans causes an environment where body sweat and heat is held tightly against the body. Since yeast likes warm moist environments, tight jeans can set up the body for a yeast infection.
Pregnancy has lots of hormonal ups and downs. With the changes in hormones the growth of yeast is favored.
When you douche you change the normal acidic environment of the vagina. this can make it easy for the yeast to overgrow and cause a vaginal yeast infection. People who are diabetic and often have high or uncontrolled blood sugars are also prone to yeast infections. That’s because yeast like to feed on sugar.
Protection against yeast infections is something to discuss with your health care provider. Talk about ways of helping your body protect itself. You’ll find natural lifestyle changes can make yeast infections a memory best forgotten.
