Causes Of Yeast Infections
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.
A tiny one celled fungus is the cause of yeast infections. There are many kinds of yeast but the most common cause of problems is the species Candida. It can overgrow in the vagina, mouth, or in skin folds causing an infection. The overgrowth can cause pain and be annoying.
Candida grows normally on and inside the body. It especially likes to grow in warm moist conditions. This means it grows especially well in the vagina, men’s foreskin, and in skin folds and mouth. Normally the yeast growth is kept under control. It grows without taking over. In the vagina specialized healthy bacteria keep the yeast from taking over. These bacteria work by keeping an acid environment in the vagina.
Unfortunately with things like stress, taking antibiotics, hormone changes of pregnancy and illness the yeast can overtake the body’s defenses. This is when the yeast overgrow and the result is what we call 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.
What are some of the causes of 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.
Stress also can lead to yeast overgrowth. Stress taxes our bodies’ defenses so the body is less able to fight the yeast overgrowth.
Tight jeans can also lead to yeast infections. Tight jeans causes an environment where body sweat and heat is held tightly against the body. Since yeast likes warm moist environments, tight jeans can set up the body for a yeast infection.
Hormone levels fluctuate wildly during pregnancy. These changing levels can lead to the ideal conditions for yeast to grow and grow leading to a yeast infection.
The body has a natural cleansing system in the vagina. When you douche you upset the natural balance and then the vagina can’t stop the overgrowth of yeast cells. Diabetes especially those with high or uncontrolled blood sugars are another cause of yeast infections. Yeast likes sugars as a food.
Yeast infection prevention is a topic you should discuss with your health care provider. There are many natural ways you can use to change your life and lifestyle to prevent yeast infections from happening.