What Causes a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
Vaginal yeast infection is caused by yeast known as Candida albicans. In a healthy state, the vagina contains candida in small quantity and bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus. The bacteria prevent the overgrowth of the yeast by keeping them under control. When some risk factors like diabetes, taking oral contraceptives, antibiotics, immunosuppressive medicines, pregnancy, or impaired immune system etc. disrupts the bacteria-yeast balance, the yeast then begin to multiply and increase in quantity. Excessive yeast then eventually causes the symptoms of yeast infection.
This yeast infection is not considered to be a sexually transmitted disease (STD) although having sexual intercourse can be a risk factor. Women that are not sexually active can also develop vaginal yeast infections.
Medical/ Clinical Treatment of a Vaginal Yeast Infection
Vaginal yeast infection can be treated medically with antifungal medications. The medicines come in form of suppositories, ointments, tablets and creams that can be inserted or applied directly into the vagina and taken orally. You need to consult your doctor and may use prescription medicines if this is the first time you have the infection, if you have a severe yeast infection or if the infection recurs more than four times in a year.
If this isn’t the first time you’ve had this infection and you know for sure it is a yeast infection, you may not need to visit your doctor. You can easily purchase over-the-counter antifungal medicines. A single dose of Fluconazole can be taken by mouth can be prescribed. If you are pregnant, avoid the use of this oral drug for treating yeast infections. Intravaginal medications like nystatin, terconazole, miconazole, butoconazole, etc. can be used directly into the vagina.
According to Wikipedia, using antifungal medication to treat vaginal yeast infection is ineffective in up to 20% of cases. Condom or diaphragm is not dependable for birth control if you use suppository or cream to treat vagina yeast infection. The oil in these medicines is very much capable of weakening the latex which is used to make condom and diaphragm.
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