Most women will suffer from a vaginal yeast infection sometime during their lifetime. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of the organism Candida albicans, and symptoms include vaginal discharge, itching, burning and painful intercourse. However, some women may experience several vaginal infections each year. This is not normal, and there are usually specific causes of this condition that you should be aware of.
Medications
Certain medications may increase your risk of developing multiple vaginal yeast infections. These include antibiotics, oral contraceptives and steroid drugs. If you are taking a medication that is believed to be contributing to yeast infections, it may be beneficial to take a probiotic vitamin daily. Probiotics help to rebuild the good bacteria in the intestinal system and vagina to decrease the risk of yeast overgrowth.
Diabetes
If you are experiencing chronic yeast infections, your physician may test you for diabetes. Many women with undiagnosed diabetes suffer from recurrent yeast infections. If you are diagnosed as a diabetic, you will need to get your blood sugar under control using diet, exercise, medication, insulin or a combination of treatments. Once your blood sugar is regulated, you should experience a decrease in recurrent yeast infections.
Lifestyle and Diet
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stress, lack of sleep, illness and poor eating habits, including eating extreme amounts of sugary foods, may lead to recurrent vaginal yeast infections. If you are suffering from vaginal yeast infections that are not caused by medications or illness, you may need to focus on lifestyle and diet modification.
