Avoid Yeast Infections

Avoiding Yeast Infections

Approximately 3/4 of all women will experience a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their life. The causes of these infections are many and varied. A good understanding of what yeast and yeast infections are can play a significant role in identification, treatment and prevention.

A yeast is essentially a fungus that is present on the human body in a variety of locations. The common yeast organism is named Candida albicans, and can be found predominately in the vagina, as well as the oral cavity.

Under normal circumstances, the Candida microorganism can inhabit various surfaces on the human body without causing any symptoms or problems. This is largely due to an intact immune system that keeps unwanted microorganisms at bay. When the immune system is compromised, or when conditions exist that provide an opportunity for the fungus to grow, it can proliferate rather rapidly.

One example of an opportunistic situation is frequently found in infants who are on prolonged or repeated doses of antibiotics for problems such as chronic ear infections. While these antibiotics are certainly beneficial in eliminating the offending microorganisms, these drugs often claim other, beneficial bacteria as collateral victims. When this happens, it provides a perfect environment for the opportunistic yeast cells to begin to grow without any restraint by elements such as the pH of the vaginal tissues or the presence of beneficial bacteria in the mouth.

Other situations that have been found to increase the likelihood of a yeast infection include diseases such as diabetes, poor personal hygiene, repeated sexual intercourse within a short time frame, and different types of clothing that, when worn, have the tendency to trap moisture and heat in various areas of the body, which in turn provides the perfect environment for yeast to grow.

Obesity is also a common problem that can cause the development of yeast infections, in that excessive fat and skin folds provide a warm, moist environment for these infections to materialize.

Maintaining good overall health, making sure that chronic diseases and conditions (such as diabetes) are under proper control and maintaining good personal hygiene all contribute to the reduction of incidence and even the prevention of yeast infections.

If sexual intercourse is with the same partner each time, making sure that neither one has an infection will prevent the unintentional and repeated reinfection. Otherwise, make it a point to exercise good common sense and make sure both parties use proper protection to avoid direct contact with the yeast cells. If you have a history of long-term antibiotic usage for conditions such as bladder infections, be on the lookout for the development of itching and discharge in the vagina or even in the mouth (a condition known as thrush).