Yeast Infections Overview

Vaginal yeast infections are diseases, which are called candida vaginal infections and candidiasis, and are seen commonly and are also cured easily in most women. Candida is a type of fungus which occurs in vagina mouth and also gastrointestinal tracks. The more fungus overgrows the more yeast infections occur in the vagina. Uncomfortable symptoms like vaginal itching, burning and discharge are seen in the vagina as a result of yeast infections. Among the yeast infections’ effects, there are uncontrolled diabetes, antibiotics using, the contraceptive sponge, the diaphragm and spermicides. Using birth control pills, hormonal birth control, the birth control patch and the vaginal ring raise the risk of yeast infections for women.

Characteristics of Yeast Infections
At least %75 of the women can have the diagnosis of yeast infections once in their lifetime. Yeast infections, which are also called yeast vaginitis and vaginal candidiasis, can occur as a result of vaginitis, also inflammation of vagina affected by discharge and irritation. Yeast infections are frequently seen in pregnancy. It is suggested that the estrogen level is at the higher level in pregnancy and this situation causes the vagina to produce more glycogen feeding the yeast. The people having diabetes come across with yeast infections more frequently.

Recurrent Yeast Infections
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) develops in 5 to8 percent of women and also it is defined with lots of symptomatic vaginal yeast infections in 12 months time period. Even though RVVC is seen more frequently in diabetes women and immune system problem women, the women with RVVC did not have a related illness with yeast infections which streamline them to recurrent candida infections.

Conditions Mistaken for YEAST Infections: Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomoniasis
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) cam also cause yeast infections, and it is the vaginitis’ most frequent cause in women of productive age. Furthermore, Trichomoniasis is transmitted with sexual way. BV and Trichomoniasis are among the reproductive health problems like premature birth and the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. While these infections can have the same symptoms with yeast infections, they can have more serious reproductive effects. It is necessary to apply to a health care expert to make any vaginal symptoms diagnosed.

Diagnosis
Because of the fact that the yeast infections are so frequent in women, they can diagnose the yeast infections by themselves and with over the counter products, they can cure themselves.
However, they can diagnose themselves wrongly with self diagnosis. Only %11 of women can diagnose the yeast infection accurately in the study which was hold previously. And also %35 of women who had yeast infections before diagnosed the yeast infection rightly in the study. Moreover, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Trichomoniasis have also the same symptoms with vaginal infections.
Yeast infections can have the following symptoms:
• Vaginal pain and/or itching
• A thick cheese-like vaginal discharge smelling like yeast. Fishy smell is the symptom of BV, not of yeast infection. The discharge is generally produced by the vagina and this discharge is generally clear or slightly cloudy, non-irritating, and with a mild smell.
• If the urine contacts with the area, there is also a burning discomfort around the vaginal opening.
• While having sex, there is dryness, discomfort and soreness.
• Vulva and vagina have redness and swelling

If you have at least one of these symptoms, apply to your health care expert.
The amount and consistency of vaginal bleeding can change during the normal menstrual period. At the first time you can have a small amount of very thin discharge and at the other time you can have thicker discharge. These changes are normal during the menstrual cycle and the normal mid-cycle discharge is slithery.
But, an offensive smell vaginal discharge with irritation is not normal. The itching or burning or both can be described as irritation and these irritations can be worsening at night. Characteristically, the sex relations can make these irritations worse.
Your health care expert applies a gynecological survey and checks your vagina for inflammation or abnormal bleedings to diagnose your vaginal symptoms. The doctor takes a sample from the vaginal bleeding and this sample is examined under the microscope to understand whether yeast infection, fungus can develop under laboratory conditions or not.

Treatment
To treat yeast infections, antifungal medications are used. These drug treatments are suitable for various over-the-counter (OTC) preparations and they involve:
• Tercanozole (Terazol)
• Butoconazole (Gynazole Femstad 3)
• Miconazole (Monistat)
• Tiocononazole (Vagistat-1)
• Clotrimazole (Gyne-Lotrimin)
If you see any of the following conditions, do not try to self treatment, instead apply to a doctor.
• If there is fever or a abdominal pain
• If the vaginal bleeding is foul-smelling
• If you have never had a yeast infection
• If you are diabetes, HIV positive patient or pregnant
• If you already used over the counter treatment but your symptoms have not gone away
If you take drug treatment to cure the yeast infection, be sure that you take the full course of prescription. Even if you feel better, do not stop to use them. If your symptoms do not respond to the treatment, apply to your health care expert. Do not try another over the counter treatment; your symptoms can not be as a result of yeast infection.
OTC drug treatment can have minor side effects like burning, itching, headache and irritation of the skin. Besides, with any medications more serious side effects can be rarely seen like hives, shortness of breath and facial swelling.
If you are using medications, it can damage the condoms and diaphragms. To protect yourself from pregnancy and sexual transmitted diseases, take other precautions. While having treatment of yeast infection, do not use tampon inserted into the vagina.
Your health care expert can prescribe a single dose of oral fluconazole (Diflucan) or generic equivalent; however it is not suggested during the pregnancy period. Furthermore, do not take fluconazole if you using cisapride (Propulsid), because this drug combination can cause fatal heart problems. And also there are less serious side effects. These are:
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Stomach pain

If you have yeast infections, your sex partner does not need to be treated. If the male sex partner shows the symptoms of irritation or itching at the tip of the penis, he needs to use antifungal creams.
Approximately, %5 to 8 of women can have recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in four or more times per year. The treatment can last longer the 10-14 days with a topical cream or oral fluconazole followed three or six days later by second or third dose. You should also be suggested by the doctor that you keep using the preventative treatments after the infection has solved. There are 150 mg doses of fluconazole or 500 mg of topical clotrimazole once a week in this treatment.