05 Jan, 2009
Causes Of Yeast Infections
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Ask any woman who has had a yeast infection and they will tell you it’s a real problem. And for those women who repeatedly have yeast infections it becomes more than an annoyance. Yeast infections are fairly common, in fact according to the National Women’s Health Information Service 75% of women have at least one yeast infection in their lives. Over 50% will have at least two yeast infections.
It’s hard to believe but a yeast infection is caused by a tiny one cell fungus called yeast. Although there are many different types of yeast the one most frequently causing infections in people is the species Candida. The yeast infection is not an infection really but an overgrowth where the yeast takes over the vagina or wherever the yeast infection is. The yeast infection can cause pain as well as be annoying.
Candida yeast is a normal organism growing on and in the body. It prefers the warm moist areas of the body like the vagina, penis foreskin, and skin folds. Under usual conditions the body keeps the yeast level under control. In the vagina specialized bacteria keep the vagina acidic preventing the yeast from growing too much and too fast.
Many factors can contribute to the yeast taking over the body’s defense system. It could be stress, antibiotics for a strep throat, pregnancy’s hormone changes or illness. When these events occur the body is often not able to moderate the growth of the yeast cells. This is when we see a yeast infection.
Symptoms of a yeast infection include itching and burning. There are many different ways of treating a yeast infection. Most prescription medications work decreasing the growing number of yeast. This type of treatment works on the symptoms of the yeast infection, not the cause.
Conditions Favoring Yeast Infection
You take an antibiotic for a strep throat or urinary tract infection. When you do you kill not only the bad bacteria but the helpful bacteria which prevents you from getting a yeast infection. Without the guarding effect of the helpful bacteria your body is unable to stop the yeast from overgrowing.
When you are stressed, you tax your body’s defense system. With the body trying to combat the effect of stress it is unable to fight off the overgrowth of yeast.
You may look great in tight jeans, but you may be setting yourself up for a yeast infection. Tight jeans hold sweat and body heat next to the body creating a perfect place for yeast to grow. Yeast grows best in warm moist places.
When you are pregnant your hormone levels vary wildly. The changing levels can lead to the perfect condition for yeast to overgrow.
When you douche you change the normal acidic environment of the vagina. this can make it easy for the yeast to overgrow and cause a vaginal yeast infection. People who are diabetic and often have high or uncontrolled blood sugars are also prone to yeast infections. That’s because yeast like to feed on sugar.
Talk with your health care provider about ways of helping your body protect itself against yeast infections. Most often a natural approach with lifestyle changes can help you make yeast infections a thing of the past.