Vaginal yeast infection symptoms can include itching, burning, soreness, irritation and a white ‘cheese’ type discharge. Symptoms may also create some tenderness in the vagina, which could become more noticeable when engaged in sexual intercourse.
Vaginal yeast infections affect a large percentage of women during their lives, and many of these will suffer from this infection more than once. Also commonly known as vaginal thrush, the infection normally affects women between the ages of 20-39, and especially those that are pregnant.
One of the causes of vaginal yeast infections that is commonplace, is the use of antibiotics, either short or long term. The antibiotics actually kill off the healthy bacteria and create an imbalance of microorganisms in the vaginal area. Women that have suffered from other conditions or short term illnesses are most at risk of this type of infection.
Vaginal thrush and vaginal candidiasis are just two of the other names that are applied to this common yeast infection, which is caused by a fungus called Candida albicans. This species of fungus lives naturally in the vagina and is usually harmless. However, if bacterial levels change an imbalance can result and Candida albicans can develop.
Candida albicans is a casual organism and is usually easy to cure, although it may reoccur. It commonly tends to appear in people who are ‘run down’ or in those with a depressed immune system who have been taking immunosuppressive drugs (which might be used by transplant patients). Patients suffering from Aids may also encounter this organism, which will also cause yeast infections.
In addition to the causes already mentioned, underlying diseases (like diabetes) can also produce yeast infections. Diabetes is a condition in which the body can not use sugar and carbohydrates from foods, because the pancreas is unable to produce enough of the hormone called insulin. As a diabetic’s blood sugar levels rise, so does the risk of seeing a yeast infection, because Candida microorganisms consume sugar.
Whilst certain foods may not be directly responsible for yeast infections, there seems to be sufficient evidence to suggest that they can play an important part. It has been suggested that alcohol, chocolate, cheese, fermented products like bread, soy sauce and vinegar are worth avoiding when you have a yeast infection, and can be helpful in limiting its recurrence.
Ensuring that a good balance of ‘friendly’ bacteria is present in and on the body would seem to be essential in combating this infection. Despite popular belief, some bacteria are not only good for you, but absolutely necessary.
There are more than a thousand different species of bacteria living in the gastrointestinal system and there are more of these living in the large intestine than there are cells in the whole body.
Bacteria help to break down food and assist with its digestion, converting nutrients for absorption. ‘Friendly’ bacteria also help our immune system to fight certain diseases and infections, which is why antibiotics have been blamed for yeast infections, because these are destroyed along with the less friendly bacteria when taken.
