Yeast Infection

Overview
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 80 percent of all women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives. In fact, it is estimated that 50 percent of college women in the United States have been diagnosed with at least one yeast infection by the age of 25.

Candida, which is a type of yeast or fungus, is a normally recurring fungus found in the body. When your body is in balance it usually causes no problems. When the internal environment is out of balance from stress or fatigue, the yeast can overgrow.

Yeast infections can also be caused by an excess of glucose, the body's form of sugar, in the body. Yeast feeds on glucose so anything that increases your blood sugar or changes the hormonal balance that regulates blood sugar can cause yeast to grow out of control.

These conditions include:

• Diabetes
• Pregnancy, especially in the third trimester
• Birth control pills
• Steroids (legal and illicit)
• Antibiotics
• Immuno-compromised states, such as with HIV infection or with cancer treatment

About 80 percent of yeast infections are caused by a specific species of Candida, called Candida albicans. The remaining 20 percent of yeast infections are caused by other types of Candida. These infections may require treatment with special medications that are different from the usual treatment. While yeast infections are not usually considered sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they can still be transmitted sexually so try to avoid intercourse until you have completed treatment and symptoms have subsided.

Symptoms
• Thick, white, odorless vaginal discharge
• Vaginal itching and burning
• Pain or discomfort with urination or sexual intercourse
• Redness or irritation of the vulva

Treatment
Luckily, yeast infections are fairly easy to treat. Since yeast is a fungus, treatment involves an anti-fungal medication. Several vaginal creams are available over the counter. Sometimes an oral medication is prescribed by a health care provider if the condition is very severe, or not responding to cream treatment.

Just treating the irritation and itching will not cure the infection. If you're using an oral medication or a vaginal cream, you may also need a topical vaginal cream to soothe the discomfort until the infection has been properly treated. If you're using vaginal creams or suppositories, don't use a tampon. They can absorb the medication. Use pads or panty-liners instead.

Over-the-counter products for vaginal yeast infections have one of four active ingredients: butoconazole nitrate (Femstat 3), clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin and others), miconazole (Monistat 7 and others), and tioconazole (Vagistat). These drugs are in the same anti-fungal family and work in similar ways to break down the cell wall of the Candida organism until it dissolves. They are also available in generic form.

Prevention
Make the environment less favorable for its growth. Here are some tips:

1. If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible.

2. Keep the genital area clean, cool and dry.

3. Avoid tight-fitting clothing, such as jeans and pantyhose, that retains heat and traps moisture.

4. Wear cotton panties to allow for better air circulation.

5. Dry off well after a shower or swimming.

6. Change out of wet clothes as soon as possible, especially bathing suits.

7. After urinating, wipe from front to back: yeast can exist in the intestinal tract and be swept into the vagina, along with E. coli and other bacteria, when wiping from back to front.

8. Avoid douching and using other irritants such as perfumed bath products and colored or scented toilet paper.

9. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular consumption of yogurt can help prevent and treat yeast infections.

Ask your physician
While nonprescription, over-the-counter medications for yeast infections are readily available, be sure that you do indeed have a yeast infection before using them as other vaginal infections can have symptoms similar to those associated with yeast infections.

If this is your first infection, be sure to have your health care provider check the discharge under a microscope to make an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms such as pain or burning with urination could indicate a urinary tract infection, which would require prescription antibiotics. If you have recurrent yeast infections, discontinue self-medication and see your health care provider.

For more information, see additional suggestions for treatment and diagnosis of yeast infections.