Most women will get a yeast infection at some point of their lifetime. Learn how to recognize and how to stop itching down there at night.

Yeast infection causes

Vaginal thrush is an infection caused by yeast fungi of the genus Candida. According to statistics, 75% of women face it at least once in a lifetime.

Normally, the fungi are present in the body without any clinical manifestations. Changes in the vaginal pH can promote fungal growth and cause disease symptoms.

Thrush is not an STD. It can be triggered by low immune function, antibiotic intake, pregnancy, diabetes, etc.

Can virgins get a yeast infection?

Yeast infection (candidiasis) can occur in girls and women regardless of their age and the presence of hymen.

The infection, which can manifest itself as white thick clumpy discharge and itching, does not belong to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and, in many cases, has nothing to do with sexual activity.

Fungi of the genus Candida are part of the vaginal microbial flora. When they are few (their growth is restrained by the body’s defenses), there is no harm.

When the body is weakened, there is a risk of a yeast infection. Candidiasis can be triggered by frequent colds, stress, inadequate nutrition, poor hygiene, taking antibiotics, etc.

Yeast infection responds well to special antifungal medications.

Yeast infection and periods: what are the connections?

Periods do not cause a yeast infection, but can trigger it.

When you are on your period, the pH balance of your vagina changes. The vaginal environment becomes alkaline, which promotes the growth of Candida.

In addition, menstruation alters the hormonal balance and local immunity is weakened, which can also contribute to the development of a yeast infection.

To prevent candidiasis during menstruation, you should:

enrich your diet with fruits, vegetables, and fermented milk products

practice proper hygiene (replacing pads every 4 hours, and changing your panties at least once a day)

avoid wearing thongs

avoid using tampons, if you have symptoms of a yeast infection (clumpy discharge, itching, and burning)

how to stop itching down there at night?

Yeast infection may seem harmless at first.

However, if you do not pay attention to the symptoms but ignore treatment, the infection can become chronic under certain conditions (low immunity, diabetes, etc.)

If you have had candidiasis four or more times during a year, this suggests a recurrent or a chronic yeast infection. In this case, it is much more difficult to cure.

It is necessary to undergo further examination; for example, take a smear test to identify a specific pathogen (determine the type of fungus).

The results of the tests will help the doctor prescribe the correct treatment and halt the progression of the infection

Yeast Infection Treatment

Can antibiotics really cause a yeast infection?

Yeast infection may be one of the side effects of antibiotic therapy.

Antibiotics kill not only pathogenic bacteria, but also beneficial microorganisms. This creates favorable conditions for the growth of the fungi that cause candidiasis or yeast infections.

To prevent a yeast infection during or after antibacterial therapy, many doctors recommend taking probiotics.

They are contained in food (yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, sour cream), as well as in specifically designed medications and biologically active additives.

Probiotics help balance the flora in the body, including in the vagina, and prevent pathogenic microflora from reproducing.

They also positively affect digestion, produce vitamins (vitamin K, folic acid, etc.), normalize cholesterol, and stimulate the immune system.

Medications containing probiotics can be bought in a pharmacy, but you should consult a doctor before taking them. They will determine the adequate regimen and duration of treatment for you.

Can you have sex when you have a yeast infection?

If you have a yeast infection, it is better to abstain from sex.

Although candidiasis does not belong to the group of sexually transmitted diseases, there is a risk of your partner with weak immunity getting yeast infection from sex if it’s unprotected.

In addition, having sex can cause your inflamed mucosa to get microtraumas, which may aggravate the condition.

There can be discomfort because a yeast infection is usually accompanied by itching and soreness.

If you were not experiencing those symptoms before sexual intercourse, you are likely to afterwards.

Most women will get at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime.

It’s pretty much a given that no woman wants to deal with a vaginal yeast infection. But unfortunately, they can and do happen way more often than you’d like (which would be never).

Most women will get a vaginal yeast infection at some point in their life, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, making this a pretty common issue women grapple with.

Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida, explains Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an ob/gyn at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. You can have yeast in your vagina without causing an infection, but the infection happens when candida grows unchecked by the normal bacteria that grow in your vagina, he says.

Yeast infections can be caused by something that kills off the normal bacteria in your vagina, like antibiotics, or something that promotes the growth of yeast, like having high blood sugar, or trapping moisture against your skin with tight-fitting, non-breathable fabrics, Dr. Schaffir says.

 When you do develop a yeast infection, it’s not comfortable, says women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD. However, yeast infections can be confused with other vaginal issues like STIs, a skin allergy to latex or feminine hygiene products, a lack of estrogen in the vagina, or tears in the vagina, says Sherry A. Ross, MD, a women's health expert and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period. Still, there are a few distinct symptoms to have on your radar:

Burning, redness, and swelling of your vulva and vagina.

Pain when you pee.

Pain when you have sex.

Vaginal soreness.

A thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge.

The symptoms all boil down to this: Yeast can be irritating to the sensitive mucus membranes of your vagina and labia. That can cause burning, itching, and all of the other symptoms, Dr. Schaffir says. And, since the tissue in your vagina and labia becomes irritated and sore from a yeast infection, it can make sex and peeing painful, too. The unique discharge is caused by Candida, Dr. Wider says, but not every woman with a yeast infection experiences it.

Worth noting: How much you experience these symptoms ultimately depends on you. Some women don’t notice them at all, Dr. Schaffir says, while others can be in agony.

If you suspect that you’re struggling with a vaginal yeast infection, you can use over-the-counter antifungal medication to try to clear it up, Dr. Wider says. But if that doesn’t do the trick or you think you’re struggling with recurrent yeast infections, talk to your ob/gyn. They can do a vaginal culture to confirm that you do, in fact, have a yeast infection and recommend next steps from there.

This article was first published on  www.prevention.com