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Vulvovaginal candidiasis is commonly referred to as a yeast infection and affects nearly 75% of all adult women at some point of time in their lives.

Symptoms

Women who have vulvovaginal candidiasis complain of the following symptoms:

• Itching around the vagina and vulva
• A thick, white vaginal discharge
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or burning during urination
• Swelling and redness of the vulva

Symptoms can vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. If you have not had a vaginal infection before or if the symptoms persist in spite of treatment contact your doctor at the earliest. Other reasons to seek immediate medical care include:

• If you are pregnant and suspect a vaginal infection
• If you are worried about a sexually transmitted infection
• If you are bleeding and are pregnant
• If you experience other symptoms such as high fever, chest pain, breathing problems, and severe abdominal pain
• If you suffer from uncontrollable nausea or vomiting in addition to the symptoms of vaginal candidiasis

While Vulvovaginal candidiasis is rarely a life-threatening condition, it is possible for the infection to spread to the bloodstream and prove fatal if not treated in time. Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are also similar to other more serious pelvic infection that requires immediate medical treatment. It is therefore important to seek a proper diagnosis at the earliest.

Causes

The most common cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis is Candida albicans – a type of fungus or yeast that naturally occurs in the mouth, vagina and digestive tract. Under normal circumstances, there are a number of bacteria and yeast that co-exist peacefully in the body. External factors such as antibiotics, pregnancy, hormonal changes, or high sugar levels can cause an imbalance in the amount of yeast and bacteria and result in an overgrowth. When an overgrowth occurs, several unpleasant symptoms follow that require medication and other forms of treatment to remedy the situation. Vulvovaginal candidiasis may be caused by other species other than Candida albicans but these cases are not that common.

Treatment

Most cases of yeast infections are treated with anti-fungal medications. These can be taken in the form of tablets, suppositories or topical creams. Some anti-fungal treatments are available over-the-counter while others require a prescription.

In addition to the medications prescribed by your doctor, you can also control and reduce symptoms of candidiasis by:

• Not douching as this can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina
• Not using bath and skin care products such as perfumes, powders, creams and feminine hygiene sprays
• Keeping the genital area dry and clean at all times
• Wearing loose fitting clothes made of natural breathable materials that prevent irritation and encourage the flow of air
• Avoid wearing wet swimsuits and sweaty work out clothes as this can aggravate the symptoms and cause bacteria to flourish
• Using sanitary pads instead of tampons
• Not having sexual intercourse until the symptoms clear up
• Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by treating diabetes and eating a low-sugar diet
• Changing your contraceptive method as oral contraceptive pills and the use of spermicidal gels can increase the risk of developing recurring infections
• Sitting in a warm bath to help relieve symptoms such as itching and burning.
• Eating more yoghurt with live cultures to increase the amount of healthy bacteria in the body and fight the infection

The proper treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis usually results in a resolution of the symptoms. In cases of recurrent infections, it may indicate that there is another underlying cause for the symptoms or that the yeast has become resistant to a particular type of treatment and alternative methods are necessary.

References:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001511.htm
• http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candidiasis/genital/

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.