Vaginal yeast infections are so common that you can purchase medication over the counter to treat them. Some women may never experience a yeast infection, while others deal with them over and over. The tiny organism that causes the infection, candida albicans, is a fungus that thrives in moist, warm places. Candida lives in the vagina all the time, along with bacteria and other organisms, but some conditions can trigger the organism to grow and take over. Then you need to treat the fungus in order to get rid of the infection.
Avoid Antibiotics
If you have a yeast infection, don't try to treat it with antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not funguses. Taking antibiotics to treat other illnesses can trigger a yeast infection in some women, since the antibiotics kill off healthy bacteria in the vagina that keep yeast under control. If you have to take antibiotics for an infection and you are prone to yeast infections, ask your doctor about ways to prevent a yeast infection caused by antibiotic use.
Symptoms
Yeast infections are characterized by vaginal itching and a white discharge, which may be thin or thick like cottage cheese. If you've never had a vaginal yeast infection before, you should consult your doctor for a correct diagnosis. Bacterial infections and a parasite called trichomoniases can mimic yeast infections. If you treat one of these infections with yeast medication, you won't get rid of your symptoms and you could create an environment for drug-resistant yeast infections that will be more difficult to get rid of should you have a real yeast infection in the future.
Acidophilus
Acidophilus is the common name for Lactobacillus acidophilus, a bacteria found in your intestines, stomach and a healthy vagina. This so-called "good" bacteria aids in digestion and kills off excess yeast to keep your system in balance. Yogurt with live, active cultures contains acidophilus, and eating yogurt puts this good bacteria into your system. You may also apply plain, unsweetened yogurt directly to the vagina, inserting about 1 tbsp. at a time with a syringe or tampon applicator. You can do this several times a day until symptoms resolve.
Prevention
Regularly consuming yogurt or acidophilus capsules helps prevent yeast infections in some people. Look for yogurt that contains live, active bacteria. Some physicians recommend eating yogurt when you're taking antibiotics to help repopulate the acidophilus that antibiotics kill off. If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar makes you less susceptible to yeast infections.
