What is Vaginal Yeast Infection?
Candida albicans, often known as "Candida vaginal infections," is the fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections. 75 per cent of all women will have at least one vaginal Candida infection in their lives, and up to 45 per cent will have two or more. When a woman's body is under stress from a bad diet, lack of sleep, sickness, or being pregnant or taking antibiotics, she is more prone to develop vagina yeast infections. Women with immune-suppressing illnesses like diabetes and HIV infection are also more vulnerable.
Symptoms
A vaginal yeast infection can cause the following symptoms:
Itching or soreness in the vaginal area
Discharge that is thick, white, and cheese-like.
Burning" sensation around the vaginal entrance, especially if urine comes into contact with the region.
During sexual intercourse, there is pain or discomfort.
Diagnosis
Based on your symptoms, your doctor will suspect an infection. Your doctor will perform a pelvic exam to check for inflammation and a white discharge in your vaginal opening and surrounding areas. Your doctor may also collect a sample of your vaginal discharge for a brief inspection in the office under a microscope.
Recovery
Up to 90% of vaginal yeast infections can be cured with proper therapy in two weeks or less, frequently in only a few days. Only a small percentage of people will get infected again. Usually, with continued therapy, they will improve. Patients with unexplained, recurring episodes, on the other hand, should be checked for diabetes or HIV, both of which depress the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
You might try the following tips to help avoid vaginal yeast infections:
Maintain a clean and dry exterior genital region.
Soaps (including bubble baths), vaginal sprays, and douches might irritate the skin.
Tampons and sanitary napkins should be changed often.
Wear underwear made of loose cotton (rather than nylon) that does not collect moisture.
Instead of sitting in your wet bathing suit for lengthy periods of time after swimming, change swiftly into dry clothing.
Antibiotics should only be taken as directed by your doctor, and never for longer than recommended.
If you have diabetes, strive to maintain your blood sugar levels under strict control.
Treatment
A single dosage of oral fluconazole is the easiest and most convenient therapy for a vaginal Candida infection (Diflucan Oral, generic versions). It should not be used by women who are pregnant.
Antifungal medications that are put directly into the vaginal canal as pills, lotions, ointments, or suppositories can also be used to treat vaginal yeast infections. Butoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, tioconazole, and terconazole are some of the medicines available.
Most vaginal yeast infections are not transferred sexually, therefore treatment of sex partners is typically unnecessary. If a male sex partner develops Candida balanitis (redness, irritation, and/or itching at the tip of the penis), he may require antifungal cream or ointment treatment.
A woman should see a doctor if she is experiencing signs of vaginal infection for the first time. This is necessary to rule out sexually transmitted diseases such gonorrhoea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis as the source of vaginal discharge and pain.
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is characterized as four or more vaginal yeast infections in a year in about 5% of women with vaginal yeast infections. Despite the fact that RVVC is more prevalent in women with diabetes or weaker immune systems, the majority of women with RVVC have no underlying medical condition that would make them susceptible to recurrent Candida infections.
Medical researchers are still trying to figure out the best method to treat RVVC. One treatment option is to take oral fluconazole for 10 days or use a topical agent for 10 days, then take one dosage of oral fluconazole once a week for six months. Following the initial 10-day treatment, you can use clotrimazole cream twice weekly for six months.
