Yeast infections?

Question

Hello.. i was just wondering if anyone could give me details on yeast infections. I'm a bit confused with the symptoms and how you get them. It may sound like a silly questions to ask, but I really have no idea! If you could let me know, I'd really appreciate it! Thank you, Charlene x

Answer 1

What is a Yeast Infection?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 80 percent of all women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives. In fact, it is estimated that 50% of college women in the United States have been diagnosed with at least one yeast infection by the age of 25. Luckily, yeast infections are fairly easy to treat. Yes, they can be very ITCHY and uncomfortable.

What is it and why so common?

Candida, which is a type of yeast or fungus, is normally found in the body. When your body is in balance it usually causes no problems. When the internal environment is out of balance from stress or fatigue, the yeast can over grow. Symptoms include:

thick, white, odorless vaginal discharge (described as resembling cottage cheese).
vaginal itching and burning.
pain or discomfort with urination or sexual intercourse.
vulvular redness or irritation.

About 80 percent of yeast infections are caused by a specific species of Candida, called Candida albicans. The remaining twenty percent of yeast infections are caused by other types of Candida. These infections may require treatment with special medications that are different from the usual treatment. While yeast infections are not usually considered sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they can still be transmitted sexually -- so we have also included them in the STD section. Try to avoid intercourse until you have completed treatment and the symptoms have subsided.

How Do I Know if I Have a Yeast Infection?

Self-diagnosis of a yeast infection may not be as obvious as one would think. A 1997 study at Temple University Medical School reported in the July issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that only 28 percent of female participants presenting with recurrent yeast infections had candidiasis. Eleven percent actually had a bacterial infection and that requires a different treatment.

Predisposing Factors to Yeast Infections

Yeast feeds on glucose, (the body’s form of sugar), so anything that increases your blood sugar or changes the hormonal balance that regulates blood sugar can help yeast to grow out of control.

These conditions include:
diabetes
pregnancy, especially in the third trimester
birth control pills
steroids (legal and illicit ones)
antibiotics
immunocompromised states, such as with HIV infection or with cancer treatment.


Antifungal Medications

Since yeast is a fungus, treatment involves an anti-fungal medication. Several vaginal creams are available over the counter. Sometimes an oral medication is prescribed by a health care provider if the condition is very severe or not responding to cream treatment.

Just treating the irritation and itching will not cure the infection. If you’re using an oral medication or a vaginal cream, you may also need a topical vaginal cream to soothe the discomfort until the infection has been properly treated. If you're using vaginal creams or suppositories, don't use a tampon. They can absorb the medication. Use pads or panty liners instead.

While nonprescription, over the counter medications for yeast infections are readily available, be sure that you do indeed have a yeast infection before using them. As described below, other vaginal infections can have symptoms similar to those associated with yeast infections.

The OTC (over-the-counter) products for vaginal yeast infections have one of four active ingredients: butoconazole nitrate (Femstat 3), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin and others), miconazole (Monistat 7 and others), and tioconazole (Vagistat). These drugs are in the same anti-fungal family and work in similar ways to break down the cell wall of the Candida organism until it dissolves. They are available in generic form also and those work just as well.

If this is your first infection, be sure to have your health care provider check the discharge under a microscope to make an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms such as pain or burning with urination could indicate a urinary tract infection, which would require prescription antibiotics. If you have recurrent yeast infections, do not continue to self-medicate: Get to your health care provider.

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Decrease Your Risk of Yeast Infections
First, make the environment less favorable for its growth. Here are some tips:

If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible.
Keep the genital area clean, cool, and dry.
Avoid tight-fitting clothing -- jeans and pantyhose, that retains heat and traps moisture.
Wear cotton panties to allow for better air circulation.
Dry off well after a shower or swimming.
Change as soon as possible out of wet clothes, especially bathing suits.
After urinating, wipe from front to back: yeast can exist in the intestinal tract and be swept into the vagina, along with E. coli and other bacteria, when wiping from back to front.
Avoid douching and using other irritants such as perfumed bath products and colored or scented toilet paper.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

those who are saying that yeast infections have a bad odor are WRONG. If you have a "fishy" smell you need to go to see a gyno. It is not normal, dispite the countless jokes and myths, and it's not a yeast infection. Yeast infections are not the culprit. It's possible to have a yeast infection AND another infection at the same time. Bacterial vaginitis infections are common and need antibiotics to cure them. These are the kids of infections that, left untreated that can cause more serious problems, like infertility. there are a couple of answers here that are completely correct, and list the discharge as odorless...that is correct, listen to them.

Answer 5

Yeast infections can be caused by taking antibiotics, for one thing. I'm not sure what the other causes are. Your "lady parts" get really itchy and I think you can also get discharge. To get rid of a yeast infection, go to the tampon/pad aisle of a store (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) and buy some medication. You can get different types (1-day, 3-day, 5- day, etc.). I've used the 3-day kind and have had the symptoms go away by the third day. The medication comes in a tampon-like tube that you have to insert. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful about the causes and symptoms. Luckily, it's been a while since I've had one!

Answer 6

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Answer 7

yeast infection is an infection of the vagina and vaginal area. It is caused by a type of fungus called yeast. When this yeast increases it can cause an infection.

Three out of four women will get a vaginal yeast infection during their life. Some women will have it more than once. A vaginal yeast infection is NOT a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

you can find out a bit more about it and some remedies as well at:

http://www.healthandlifestylenews.com/home-remedies-for-yeast-infection-do-they-work/

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Burning, itching discharge from vaginal area. At worse it actually looks like cottage cheese curds.Horrible fishy smell.Need to seek medical attention if it gets that bad so it does not go up inside your other female organs. If that happens it can become more serious and lead to PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) hospital stay for you if it gets that bad. You will need to sustain from intercourse or another sexual activity involving the vaginal. It is contagious to your partner. Wear cotton panties they are "breathable". Cause is from moisture in the area and not being able to breathe, so to speak. Dietary changes and disorders such as diabetes. If you have just become sexually active or have not been for some time and have recently returned, will also cause a flare up.You will need to be treated by mouth with an anti-fungal drug called difflucan. Wonderful drug. And also treated vaginally with a bacterial or fungal cream that is inserted vaginally at night time only for several days. Yeast infections are fungal.Some women get them often and some never. Can be very uncomfortable. Also change in hormones such as puberty, or pregnancy. If the infection is common in a child, there is cause to worry about child molestation, sorry but its a fact. Good luck and get well.

Answer 10

Please see the webpages for more details on Candida Esophagitis, Cutaneous candidiasis, Vaginal yeast infection, Yeast infection and Yogurt, Diaper dermatitis-candida associated, Thrush, Oral thrush and Candidiasis.
Yeast Infection in women- A treatable fungal infection of the vagina.
Symtoms:-
White cottage cheese-like thick discharge, but no strong odor.
Swelling and pain around vulva.
Intense itching and burning.
Painful sexual intercourse.
Yeast infection in Men- Incubation Period: Anywhere from 12 hours to five days A treatable fungal infection of the tip of the penis, called balanitis.

Answer 11

The first one I ever had was after taking an anti biotic and i didn't do what my mother told me---eat yogurt!

The itching is terrible. You think you are going to go nuts. You have a discharge--thick like mucus and well.....it really smells.

The reason that you have to see a doctor is because a yeast infection is a LOT like an STD symptoms. So see the Dr. and make sure before you get something over the counter.