July 12, 2008
Vaginal Yeast Infection, Yeast Infection and Pregnancy
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Most women suffer from yeast infection at some point or the other in their lives and those who chronically suffer from this disease usually are not overly bothered when another bout yeast infection strikes them. But if they are pregnant, these same women become terribly worried about it. This sudden change in attitude is not difficult to reason out. Vaginal infection can very quickly spread to uterus and, if it does so, it might harm the yet to be born baby a great deal.
Just to compound the worries of a pregnant woman, it has been found women are more vulnerable to yeast infection during the advanced stages of their pregnancy. There is a clear cut scientific reason for this to happen. The female body experiences hormonal changes during pregnancy. The level of female hormone estrogen increases and this leads to increase in the concentration of glycogen in the vaginal zone. This creates an environment very conducive to growth and multiplication of yeast. So, a woman sometimes becomes a victim of yeast infection during pregnancy in spite of her best efforts to maintain proper hygiene and remaining extra vigilant about what she eats.
If you feel you have actually contracted yeast infection while you are pregnant, don?t waste any time and consult your doctor at the earliest. Any delay on your part may harm your unborn child though such chances are extremely remote. In ninety percent of the cases the doctor might also prescribe you an over-the-counter cream which you already knew of but don?t take chances and try self medication. The issue at hand is too delicate for you to take any chances.
In case you feel no reduction in irritation within forty eight hours after applying prescribed medication, rush to the doctor once more for him to do another round of extensive inspection. During pregnancy the hormonal balance of your body changes radically and it may very well happen that what once worked almost miraculously might be completely ineffective now.
Though the chances of your yet to be born baby catching this infection is extremely remote, if you have vaginal yeast infection when the child is being born there are chances that the infection is transferred to the child as it passes through the vaginal passage. So, it is extremely important that the birth passage remains totally free from any yeast infection when the child is being born. In case, you still have a yeast infection when the child is being born, don?t feel remorseful or guilty, such an infection in the child can be cured very easily. But it is always better not to have an infection rather than have one and then get it cured.
There are certain basic steps in hygiene which you must follow while you are pregnant. Try to avoid wearing synthetic underwear and go for white cotton ones instead. Also try to keep the vaginal area as clean and dry as possible. Though it sounds and at time looks also extremely glamorous when a woman lounges around in wet bikinis around a swimming pool, never do it. Wet or moist clothes are an open invitation to yeast infection. Also avoid tight fitting clothes which sit tightly around the groin, go for loose skirts and sweatpants instead. And, avoid spraying perfumes or sprinkling scented powders or applying sweet smelling lubricants in that area.
Bubble baths are a luxury few women can resist but they are an open invitation to yeast infections too. So, at least as long as you are pregnant, try to avoid perfumed bubble baths as much as possible. If the affected area itches too much, apply an ice pack. It would not eliminate the infection that?s for sure but you’ll definitely feel a lot relieved after putting an ice pack for about half an hour on the affected area. There is another option available for you too. You can take a cool bath with baking soda for an immediate relief.
July 6, 2008
Vaginal Yeast Infection, Yeast Infections cure
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Vaginal yeast infection is dreaded by almost every woman, more so those who have suffered repeatedly from it. These women are prepared to go any lengths to avoid an infection of this sort.
Usually it takes about a week to ten days to get cured from a vaginal yeast infection and though irritating and painful and at times downright embarrassing, there isn?t much cause to worry. In majority of the cases it is not that serious an affliction which might cause a permanent damage to your system.
Vaginal yeast infection, or for that matter, any infection can attack your body with greater ease if your natural immunity barriers are low. So, the first and foremost thing you should do to regain a healthy body is to increase the levels of immunity of your body.
Stress is the biggest culprit which lowers your level of immunity. The unrelenting pressure of sticking to impossible deadlines and working for abnormally long hours generate a tremendous amount of stress which results in many an ailment and vaginal yeast infection is surely one of those. Gulping fast food while rushing from one meeting to another, finding no time for proper rest, let alone exercise; and ceaselessly popping antibiotics to keep stealthy infections at bay create an unhealthy cycle where people become more and more dependent on ever increasing dosages of antibiotic to keep their systems from collapsing. This lowers the natural immunity levels in your body and it becomes an easy prey for vaginal yeast infection.
The situation turns bleaker if you happen to be a diabetic or suffer from some form of immunodeficiency syndrome as AIDS. In such situations the body as it is has lowered levels of immunity and increased levels of stress makes the situation even more critical and you start suffering from repeated bouts of vaginal yeast infection.
These days medical science has made tremendous improvement and treating vaginal yeast infection is no big deal, it can be cured without too much of a hassle.
Vaginal creams and suppositories are the most commonly used treatment against vaginal yeast infection. They are available in convenient single use packs and are very popular with women. Creams are a better option since they can be used both inside and outside the vaginal area. The soreness and itching outside the vaginal area which is an unerring symptom of vaginal yeast infection can be temporarily reduced through application of these creams. But you should not use these creams indiscriminately if you are pregnant since they might affect the fetus.
If you have never had an attack of vaginal yeast infection before and on top of it if you are pregnant, it is better if you go and visit a doctor instead of attempting self medication. Diflucan Oral is possibly the most effective single dose oral medication among all the medicines which are available in the market for treatment of vaginal yeast infection. Other medicines which are often prescribed by doctors are Nystatin, Clotrimazole, GyneCure, Femstat, Terazole and Monistat. A 100mg fluconazole tablet is often prescribed if the vaginal yeast infection becomes immune to other form of medications.
Some people prefer the natural route and opt for herbal remedies even though they take longer to eradicate vaginal yeast infection. But do not use herbal medicines indiscriminately. Some of them do surely have side effects and many a times have negative reactions with other herbs. So, before you opt for an herbal remedy, surely ask your doctor about it.
July 3, 2008
Vaginal Yeast Infection, yeast infection cure
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Generally yeast infections are not a serious ailment and if proper hygiene is maintained along with a moderate diet control, an over-the-counter medication is enough to get rid of yeast infection. But if yeast infection is left untreated, it might spin out of control and cause serious repercussions. At least that is what a sizeable number of medical practitioners believe.
Candida albican is the fungus which is responsible for yeast infection. It usually resides in lower intestine and is a small fungus which multiplies asexually through budding process. To the naked eye it bears an uncanny resemblance to cottage cheese and is also found in vagina. If the population of Candida albican is within tolerable limits, the body experiences no problem. Troubles start only when this fungus starts multiplying at an alarming rate and if not treated in time could lead to a potentially hazardous situation called Candidiasis. Most acute cases of vaginal yeast infection are examples of advanced stages of Candidiasis.
The first negative impact of Candidiasis is it upsets the delicate balance of various bacteria and fungus which form the fragile ecosystem within a human body. This upsets the normal functioning of the body and it becomes less immune to attacks from various harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses. In really critical cases of Candidiasis, the mucous lining of intestines tends to get eroded and gets punctured in places. This brings the gastrointestinal and blood stream of the patient perilously close to each other. If dangerous toxins and allergens escape into the blood stream, the situation can become grave and degenerate into a life-threatening condition.
But this situation will suddenly not crop up overnight. Your body will give you enough warning signals that all is not well. You will start suffering from abnormal constipation, blurred vision, mood swings, depression, headaches, anxiety and a perpetual sore throat. If you do not pay heed to these disturbing indications you are sure heading for some big trouble.
It has been found that some people are more susceptible to Candidiasis than others. Women who have had multiple pregnancies or suffer from diabetes or are undergoing chemotherapy for treating cancer are particularly vulnerable to this disease.
There are certain simple things which you should do to prevent the situation from aggravating further. You should avoid alcohol and starchy food because both alcohol and starch favor rapid multiplication of yeast. If possible, avoid canned or bottled fruit juices too. Fresh fruit juice is however an antidote to yeast infection so go for it whenever you can. Take some over-the-counter antibiotics and have plenty of sleep. Your body recovers in leaps and bounds when you are sleeping.
June 30, 2008
Vaginal Yeast Infection, yeast infection cure, yeast infection treatment
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Yeast infection, though extremely irritating and at times painful too, is not really something so serious as to rush to the doctor immediately. There are certain age old remedies (which our grandmothers have also used) you can take help of. They aren?t costly and the ingredients can be found in almost every household. So, why don?t you try these before going over to a doctor? But if you feel these remedies are failing to have any effect, don?t delay it anymore and surely visit a registered medical practitioner. It can very well be the case where what you thought to be a yeast infection is something else altogether.
Now let’s take a look at these home grown remedies.
The best option would be to daily eat a cup of yogurt ? especially one with active cultures, mainly acidophilus. People have actually got a considerable amount of relief from mild to medium attacks of yeast infection by consuming a cup of yogurt every day. There is no absolutely side effect whatsoever; on the contrary, your body gets a much welcomed dose of calcium and protein if you include a cup of yogurt in your daily breakfast.
While on food, let me give you another simple yet highly effective tip. If you eat garlic your body gains immunity from yeast infection and if you can supplement it with cranberry juice your urinary tract remains clean and less vulnerable to yeast infection. It is quite obvious you should avoid foods which yeasts love. That is, refrain from gulping down alcohol and restrict intake of sugar, potatoes, pasta and bread to the extent possible.
There are several other home grown remedies though these are not related to food. Dilute white vinegar (roughly one part of vinegar to three parts of water) and apply it to the affected area. It stings a bit when applied, but is indeed a very effective remedy for yeast infections. But if you simply can’t tolerate the thought of a burning sensation on your skin, you can opt for a refreshing bath with a few spoons of tea tree oil thrown for good measure in the bath tub.
There are certain things which don?t claim to cure yeast infection but indeed provide a fair amount of relief. It?d be better if you know what they are.
Put an ice pack on the swollen area and you will feel instant relief. Also, a bath with a few spoons of baking soda sprinkled in water makes you feel better. But these are temporary reliefs only and don?t cure the infection.
There are certain basic rules of hygiene which need to be followed to avoid and, in some cases, even cure a mild yeast infection. Use fresh underwear every day and if you happen to work in such conditions which induce a lot of perspiration and sweat, it?d be better if you change your undergarments more frequently. The basic idea is to keep the affected area as dry and clean as possible. So, try and avoid tight garments, especially those that sit too tight in the groin region. Don?t lounge around the swimming pool in wet bathing suit (no matter how glamorous it might be made to look in TV advertisements!) and try to change over into clean and dry clothing as soon as you climb out of the pool.
Synthetic fabrics don?t absorb sweat, so change over to white cotton underwear and never, even through mistake or oversight, use tampons or toilet papers which are perfumed and have colorful designs on them. Always wipe from front to back while using toilet paper so that yeast residing in your intestine don?t get a chance to sneak into vagina. During periods, change sanitary napkins as frequently as possible to keep the area dry and clean. And, most surely, give those highly enticing perfumed, bubble baths a go-by till you’re completely cured of the infection.
In some cases, women who take oral contraceptives complain of vaginal yeast infection and they must visit the doctor as soon as possible.
There are certain over-the-counter drugs which you can try out while treating your vaginal yeast infection. Mycostatin, Femstat, Vagisal and Gyne-Lotrimin are some of the more popular medicines used by women to get rid of this problem.
However, if all these remedies don?t provide you relief or you don?t notice any appreciable reduction in your yeast infection; visit your doctor at the earliest.
June 24, 2008
Vaginal Yeast Infection
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Almost three quarters of the entire female population of the world suffer at least once from vaginal yeast infection during their lifetime. So it is always helpful to know how this basically innocuous but surely painful and embarrassing infection can be avoided by following certain simple procedures.
You must first know that yeast multiplies rapidly under warm moist conditions where there is hardly any air flow. Though yeast is an important constituent of the ecosystem inside a human body, if it starts growing uncontrollably the delicate balance of the ecosystem is disturbed and we start suffering from the ill effects of such an imbalance. So, a general rule is to try and keep the body dry and clean a far as possible. It is needless to say vagina presents all the ingredients yeast would like to have in an environment. In fact, yeast is a natural cleanser of the vaginal canal and resides in large numbers in the canal, but once they increase beyond tolerable limits you start experiencing problems.
So, try to avoid tight pantyhose or any other tight fitting clothing and opt for cotton panties for they tend to absorb moisture and keep the area dry. Instead of full pantyhose you may try out high stockings and see whether your tastes and fashion sense permit such a change. If indeed it is not quite possible for you to shun pantyhose, get out of them as soon as possible. Make it a habit of changing underwear a couple of time in a day. If possible don’t wear panties in bed and try to get into the habit of sleeping in loose pajama bottoms. Also choose toilet paper without any designs printed on them and try to wipe from front to back to restrict any yeast residing in the intestine from entering into the vagina. I’m sure it is superfluous to say you should change your sanitary napkin and tampon as often as possible during your periods.
Also don’t wander around the swimming pool for too long a time in your wet bathing suit for yeasts prefer warm and moist areas for multiplying rapidly. Try to have a bath as quickly as possible after you come out of a swimming pool and change into something clean and dry.
There are a few more things which you should avoid if possible. Don’t use petroleum jelly to lubricate your vagina since this type of jelly encourages growth of yeast. You may try out water-based lubricants instead - they do not help in yeast growth. Ensure that your partner does not have any sort of yeast infection since in quite a few cases this infection is sexually transmitted from the partner. Last but surely not the least important instruction is never use douches since the natural mucus which protects the vagina tends to get washed away by these douches.
Diet plays an important role in controlling yeast infections in the vagina. Try to include a cup of yogurt with active cultures in your daily diet and keep a strict eye on blood sugar levels - never let it spiral out of control.
Yeast infection is really nothing so serious. If you simply follow the basic rules of hygiene you will be free from such attacks.
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