Over-the-counter suppository medications can usually treat vaginal yeast infections. However, if this is your first yeast infection or first recurring yeast infection, you may want to see your doctor. They can rule out the possibility of other infections.
Once treated, you can help keep genital yeast infections from returning by keeping good hygiene habits and promoting normal vaginal bacterial balance. Here are some tips:. Like the genital area, Candida is naturally occurring inside your mouth. But if Candida levels get out of control, you may develop thrush.
Symptoms include thick, white lesions that grow on the insides of the cheeks, tongue, and back of the throat. You may also have an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in your mouth.
This can cause difficulty eating and swallowing. Wearing dentures or taking antibiotics can also lead to Candida overgrowth in your mouth. Poor oral hygiene can lead to recurring thrush infections. Chronic oral thrush can also occur in babies who need to continue breastfeeding. Mucocutaneous candidiasis is behind this type of yeast infection. It affects the mucous membranes in the throat and esophagus.
These types of yeast infections are also most common in people with weakened immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mouth and throat yeast infections occur in about a third of people living with HIV.
Treatment and preventive measures for yeast infections in the throat and esophagus are similar to that of oral thrush. Your doctor will likely prescribe an antifungal called fluconazole. The sooner you treat a yeast infection, the faster you can get rid of the associated discomfort.
Call your doctor if your yeast infection seems persistent. This will also help manage the possibility of chronic cases. Consider the following tips to manage chronic yeast infections:. Yeast infections are complex, but they can be cured.
Severe or recurring yeast infections will just take more time. Keep in touch with your doctor if symptoms of a yeast infection get worse or come back. Can you have sex with a yeast infection? Keep reading to learn why you may be dealing with recurrent yeast infections, plus how to get some much-needed relief.
A yeast infection typically happens when a fungus called Candida albicans overgrows in your vagina and causes severe itchiness and other annoying symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lactobacillus bacteria produce acid to prevent an overgrowth of this yeast and generally help keep your vagina happy and healthy.
According to the Mayo Clinic , yeast infection symptoms usually range from mild to moderate and include:.
If you have a complicated yeast infection—potentially including chronic yeast infections—your symptoms might be more severe and include things like extensive redness, swelling, and itching that can lead to tears, cracks, or sores on your vulva. Ross , M. Antibiotics: Antibiotic use is a huge one, since it can kill the healthy bacteria in your vagina that help to ward off infections, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Scented products: In some cases, a new soap or laundry detergent with fragrance can set you up for a yeast infection by disrupting your natural pH balance. Hanging around in damp clothes: Wearing sweaty workout clothes or a wet bathing suit for too long can also contribute to yeast infections.
Yeast loves warm, moist environments, and your workout gear or a wet bathing suit can trap heat and sweat, allowing yeast to flourish, Christine Greves, M.
High estrogen levels: Having elevated estrogen levels due to pregnancy , taking high-estrogen birth control pills, or using estrogen hormone therapy can increase your risk of yeast infections.
Excess estrogen can promote higher levels of glycogen a stored form of glucose, also known as sugar in the vagina. Yeast loves sugar, Dr. Greves explains, which is extremely relatable and also why people with diabetes who have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels are often at a higher risk of getting yeast infections. Uncircumcised men are more susceptible to balanitis. But Candida can be passed between sexual partners, according to the Mayo Clinic. The symptoms of yeast infection are similar to those of trichomoniasis , the most common, curable, sexually transmitted disease in young, sexually active women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.
The federal agency estimates 7. Trichomoniasis is caused by a parasite and must be treated with an antibiotic — not an anti-yeast medication. You could be pregnant. Because of hormone changes, the vaginal secretions of pregnant women contain more sugar, which can feed Candida albicans, according to the American Pregnancy Association. But topical treatments for frequent yeast infections are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, she says.
Your panty liners might be making it worse. If moisture makes yeast grow, then keeping panties dry should help fight yeast infections, right? Yes — but not if you use panty liners. Another problem: Yeast can become concentrated on a panty liner, making the infection worse, Nelson says. Your immune system might not be up to par.
Steroids also can make it hard for your immune system to fight a yeast infection, Nelson says, because they counteract the inflammation that is a necessary first step in your immune response. Diseases that attack the immune system, like HIV and leukemia , can let yeast grow wild, according to a University of Utah study. Senapati says. Your blood sugar could be high. Many of the same conditions that cause vaginal yeast infections can also cause yeast to flourish in your intestines, Murray says.
If you have low energy, depression, irritability, worsening PMS, and heightened sensitivity to foods, chemicals, and other allergens — in addition to chronic vaginal yeast infections — ask your doctor whether you might have an overgrowth of Candida albicans in your intestines.
You might be approaching menopause. In the years immediately before menopause , your hormones undergo some radical changes — and according to Dr. Senapati, hormonal shifts can cause an imbalance in your vaginal bacteria, which may boost Candida growth.
Rogo-Gupta says.
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