Yeast infections are an uncomfortable, at times painful, condition caused by an overgrowth in fungi in the vaginal tract. You may be particularly prone to a yeast infection after taking prescription antibiotics, which kill both good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are good bacteria that occur naturally in your vagina and may be useful in helping to restore balance.
Yeast Infections
Yeast infections, or candida, are a form of vaginitis that occurs due to an overgrowth of yeast. The most common form of yeast infection is Candida albicans. According to Mayo.Clinic.com, yeast infections are common, experienced by as many as three out of every four women. Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include itching, swelling of the vulva, burning and a thick, white discharge.
Antibiotics
A common cause of yeast infections is the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics upset the balance of good bacteria, creating the opportunity for an overgrowth of bad bacteria and fungi by killing 99 percent of good bacteria in the gut. MayoClinic.com reports that antibiotics are responsible for decreasing the healthy lactobacillus bacteria and changes the pH balance in the vagina, allowing yeast to overgrow.
Treatment with Acidophilus Pearls
Acidophilus pearls are a supplement that delivers healthy bacteria through tablets taken orally. These tablets deliver the good bacteria through your digestive system, promoting balance of healthy bacteria. Acidophilus, or Lactobacillusacidophilus, is a commonly used probiotic. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that numerous studies support the use of this strain of probiotic for vaginal infections, though they suggest further research is required regarding yeast infections. MayoClinic.com also reports some positive support for lactobacillus in reducing the amount of vaginal yeast cultures while providing relief of symptoms.
Cautions
Probiotics are living microorganisms, inherently unpredictable in how they might interact with your body. Although most people tolerate probiotics well, there is the potential for mild side effects such as stomach upset, abdominal bloating and gas. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports rare circumstances of more severe side effects, including an over-stimulated immune system, infection or gene transfers, the insertion of gene material into cells. Do not chew or break open acidophilus pearls; they are intended to be taken intact.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Lactobacillus Acidophilus; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; 2009
- Probiotic: Probiotics Side Effects
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Probiotics
- MayoClinic.com: Yeast Infection (Vaginal)
- EMedicine Health: Candidiasis (Yeast Infection); Melissa Conrad Stoppler, M.D.
