28 Nov, 2008
Yeast Infection Test For Women
Posted under: Health | Subscribe by RSS | Subscribe by Email
The most definitive method of diagnosing a yeast infection is through a yeast infection test. This requires a visit to your doctor or health care provider. On visiting the doctor, you will be asked about the symptoms, the length of time you’ve had these symptoms and possibly any medications you are taking. Your honesty in answering these questions is critical, particularly if this is not the first time you’ve had this problem. If you’ve had this before, it is very possible you can have it again.
Your doctor can administer culture sampling tests to confirm or rule out yeast infection. One yeast infection test is referred to as the vaginal wet mount or a vaginal smear. After receiving the lab results from this test, the doctor will diagnose you with a yeast infection if you have an excessive amount of yeast in your sample. A blood test is another means by which your physician can confirm a yeast infection. Blood tests can determine if you developed a yeast infection as a result of diabetes or other health problems.
Some physicians may conduct a pelvic exam to check for inflammation of the vulvar skin. Any dry areas or white plaques located on the vaginal wall are what the doctor will be looking for during this procedure.
Your doctor will be able to give you a prescription that will cure a yeast infection in around seven days, if the test for yeast infection comes back positive. Depending on what your doctor recommends, you may be able to use tablets, suppositories or creams if it is a recurring yeast infection.
According to medical research results, having a yeast infection increases vulnerability to contracting a subsequent sexually transmitted disease. This is because the yeast infection causes vaginal irritability and rawness which can allow additional bacteria or viruses into the body through broken membranes. While this is not common, it can happen, and other causes should be investigated in women who do not respond readily to treatment. One of the reasons for this is unnecessary prolonged antibiotic use.
Commonly used home remedies for yeast infections include cranberry juice, apple cider vinegar, yogurt, olive leaf and grapefruit seed extracts, and potassium sorbate. Although a number of these remedies can alleviate some of the symptoms of yeast infection, they are ineffective in treating the underlying cause which is to reduce the outgrowth of yeast. Worse still, unless you are positive that your condition is in fact a yeast condition, these remedies may actually do more harm than good. That is why, if you suspect you may have a problem, even if it looks very much like a yeast infection, you really should consult a medical doctor first.
Keep in mind that you should refrain from sexual intercourse during your entire course of treatment for yeast infection. There is a very real danger that you could transmit the disease to your partner even if he wears a condom. Some of the creams prescribed for the treatment of yeast infections can damage latex, the material from which condoms are made. As a result, if you engage in sexual contact, you risk both passing on the infection and becoming pregnant.