wat is a yeast infection?

Question

describe it nicely and seriously....

i mean i dont think i have it now but i'm thirteen

Answer 1

Assuming you are talking about a vaginal yeast infection (contrary to one in your mouth or other areas or one in men). A yeast infection is when you have an over growth of yeast (candidia) in your vaginal area. It can be caused by several things including but definitely not limited to an imbalance in diet, Ph levels, or the flora in the vaginal area being disturbed through things like trauma or douching. It can also be sexually contracted. Because of the amount of things that can cause one, it is possible to have them at any age or even if you are not sexually active, though, age and levels of sexual activity do increase the risk of getting them. This overgrowth/infection can sometimes be very mild and sometimes more severe. In mild cases you may simply have some white discharge or mild itching in that area. It may go away on its own, it may not and it may get worse. Severe cases can be reoccurring (they keep coming back) and can cause heavy curd like discharge and/or severe discomfort, burning, itching, redness and swelling in the vaginal area. Although this overgrowth is usually characterized by it's discharge and internal itchiness, sometimes the "infection" does not cause discharge and sometimes it's not internal and is only external. A severe infection can also cause fissures (small hair like cuts) in the external vaginal area (around the lips and outer sides). It is very important to note that a yeast infection is not bacterial in nature, and should never be treated with antibiotics. In fact, what keeps yeast "under control" is a good bacteria in your vaginal area. Many times, while under antibiotic therapy women experience yeast infections due to the bacteria levels in their bodies dropping (including the good bacteria that prevents them from having an over abundance of yeast).

Bacterial infections and yeast infections, however, share many commonalities in how they present themselves in the body. Bacterial infections likewise have a discharge (though usually (but not always) it is tinged yellow or green in color and has an odor, yeast is usually odorless), and can cause itchiness, burning and redness in the vaginal area. If you think you have a yeast infection and it doesn't seem to go away on its own or gets worse, you should see a gynecologist and ensure that's what you have. Don't try to diagnose it yourself unless you've had one before and know for sure that's what it is.

Yeast infections, once you know the symptoms and how they occur for you, can be treated by several methods. Some methods work better for different people. Over the counter medication such as Monistat are available for mild to moderate infections. These medications work by treating both the inside area with a suppository and outside with a cream. It's important to follow the regimen prescribed in the pamphlet to ensure that the infection is treated both in the inside and outside of the vagina, otherwise you could wind up with an dermatological infection in the outer skin but no longer inside the vagina. While these OTC medications work for some people, others experience more irritation from them should avoid them. Some people also claim that borax suppositories work as well as putting yogurt on the area. However, following this advice can prove risky and shouldn't be done without talking to a doctor first. Medically, there are several things that are prescribed for yeast. There are suppositories and creams to treat the inside and outside areas. There are also pills available such as diflucam which work to quickly (within a weeks time) and get the yeast under control. The pills should be use sparingly though as they can be hard on the liver.

If you have yeast infections bad enough a doctor may prescribe a regimen such as taking a course of diflucam every few months followed by Nystatin cream at any signs of redness or itching, a diet change, and a change in your bathing habits, all of which can contribute to an abundance of yeast. To prevent yeast infections good advise is to wear loose fitting white cotton underwear and breathable clothing at most if not all times, take L-Acidophilous supplements (acidophilous is also found in yogurt, but not in the quantities shown to help with yeast infections), keep the vaginal area clean and dry, after showering take a hair dryer and dry the vaginal area using the cool setting on the hair dryer, and though you're only 13, when you reach an age where you're sexually active, after intercourse take your finger, moisten it lightly and gently clean the inside of the vaginal area to help the flora return to a normal state, avoid an abundance of sugary foods, exercise, and do not ever douche.

There are an abundance of websites out there that describe yeast infections and ways to treat them. I've included one that I was using earlier this year to help with just this thing before seeing my doctor. However, as a caveat, websites aside, where I finally was able to get help to get rid of the horrid thing was at my gyneo's office and with the diflucam pills, but I had an underlying problem that was causing the area not to want to get back to normal *shrug* once my doctor treated that diflucam saved the day.

http://www.truestarhealth.com/members/cm_archives14ML3P1A8.html

Answer 2

If you've never had one, DO NOT self-diagnose! See a doctor first.

But here's a description for general information purposes:

I've only had them after taking antibiotics, which killed off the beneficial bacteria that keep the vagina in balance. Something happens to get rid of good bacteria, and bad "yeast", which is a fungus (like jock itch or athlete's foot, though without the sporty associations) taking over the vaginal area.

It's super-itchy. I didn't get a discharge, though that was probably because the itch drove me crazy and I treated the infection before it went very far. Now, a smelly discharge usually indicates another condition, like a bacterial infection. That's why you HAVE TO SEE A DR. your first time so you know what you're dealing with. Anti-fungals won't help a bacterial infection!

After you've had one, you'll know how to recognize it. Common triggers are hormonal changes (especially during pregnancy) and taking antibiotics, also, if you have a high concentration of sugar in your urine (not as common, usually from diabetes or something like that.)

Gross, but treatable. I think if there's a "jock" and an "athlete" in other areas, there should be a similar sports term for a woman's yeast infection.

Sexism at work.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

What is a vaginal yeast infection?

Vaginal yeast infections are caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. Yeast are tiny organisms that normally live in small numbers on the skin and inside the vagina. The acidic environment of the vagina helps keep yeast from growing. If the vagina becomes less acidic, too many yeast can grow and cause a vaginal infection.

The acidic balance of the vagina can be changed by your period (menstruation), pregnancy, diabetes, some antibiotics, birth control pills and steroids. Moisture and irritation of the vagina also seem to encourage yeast to grow.

Yeast infections can be very uncomfortable, but are usually not serious. Symptoms include the following:

Itching and burning in the vagina and around the vulva (the skin that surrounds your vagina)
A white vaginal discharge that may look like cottage cheese
Pain during sexual intercourse
Swelling of the vulva


Hope this helps.

Answer 5

my dr once told me if it looks cottage cheeseish its a yeast infect.

Answer 6

Yeast Infection Cure Secrets : http://YeastCured.uzaev.com/?dUNK

Answer 7

when you have whitish discharge that smells and is ichy. Witish discharge that is NOT ichy and does NOT smell is normal for most girls before/after/durring their period.

How old are you?

Answer 8

How about nicely, seriously and truthfully?