Yeast Infections

I wanted to do a post on yeast infections since it seems like I get one every couple of months. It seems like a chronic condition for me and I wanted to know a little more about it then I do.

According to an article on AmericanPregnancy.org, "A yeast infection occurs when the normal levels of acid and yeast in the vagina are out of balance and cause a very uncomfortable, but not serious, condition called a yeast infection. If you have never been diagnosed or treated by a physician for a yeast infection and have some of the symptoms, you should see your physician first for accurate diagnosis and treatment, because trying to treat yourself may make symptoms worse."

A yeast infection is caused by one or more of the following:

• Hormonal changes that come with pregnancy or before your period


• Taking hormones or birth control pills


• Taking antibiotics or steroids


• High blood sugar, as in diabetes


• Vaginal intercourse


• Douching


• Blood or semen

That makes sense to me since I always tend to get that burning sensation near my period. (Nice how that list encompasses just about everything that you can possibly come into contact with in that region, no?)

According to Gyno, Chronic yeast infections can be very annoying. The symptoms are vaginal discharge with vulvar itching and burning which occurs 4 or more times a year. These symptoms can also be a sign of irritant vulvitis so it is important to confirm the diagnosis of recurrent yeast infection.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by seeing yeast on a wet prep of the vagina, or by growing candida yeast species on culture. This should be performed for several recurrences in a row, otherwise the condition can easily be an irritant vaginitis which will not respond to anti-yeast treatment. Remember that most episodes of vaginal burning that are assumed to be recurrent yeast infections are really irritant vulvitis due to propylene glycol, methylparaben, butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), cetyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, methyl benzethonium chloride, and fragrance which are present in creams, lubricants, spermicides, scented sanitary products, douches, soaps, bubble baths and condom lubricants. There are also many other vulvar dermatoses that can present with vulvar burning. If the vaginitis always occurs around the time of menses and if you get irritation high up on the mons pubis, the area of skin and fat above the clitoris, and you use sanitary pads, then you should strongly suspect that your symptoms are due to an allergic or sensitivity reaction to the pads themselves rather than a yeast vulvitis.

So, what are risk factors for chronic recurrent yeast infections?

Diabetes and abnormal glucose tolerance or insulin resistance are major risk factors for recurrent yeast infections. Oral contraceptives are also a risk factor. Patients infected with HIV are only at risk if their CD4 counts are less than 100. Chronic antibiotic therapy can also be a risk factor for recurrent yeast infections. As long as you do not have any of these conditions, you should be able to get cleared up of the chronic recurrences of yeast.

According to the US National Library of Medicine the best way to cure Vulvitis is to stop using any products that may contain the irritants. (duh)

I think what I have been getting is yeast related since using Monistat cures it in just about every instance. Besides, I have insulin resistance. This made it hard for me to conceive Willow.

If you are pregnant and get a yeast infection, it is possible to treat it. If you deliver your baby while you have a yeast infection, your baby can become infected. However, only non-oral medications should be used.

Since this article was aimed at the ladies I thought I'd add something for the fellows. Do you need to worry about contracting a yeast infection from your partner? The short answer? Yes.