subject: Symptoms Of A Yeast Infection And Finding Treatment Options [print this page] Are you suffering from and are tired of the itching, scratching, inflammation, soreness and excess vaginal discharge from a yeast infection? A vaginal yeast infection is one of the most common vaginal infections that are suffered by women at one time or another. About 3/4 of the female population have suffered from candidiasis and about half of those suffer from recurring yeast infections. This article discusses the symptoms of a yeast infection and finding treatment options.
A yeast infection also known as candidiasis is the result of a the overgrowth of a certain type of fungus or yeast known as Candida Ablicans. This fungus as well as other fungi are commonly found all over the body and mainly gravitate to warm and moist areas such as the mouth, skin folds, vagina, etc. Up to 50% of all women can have this fungus in their vagina without it resulting in a vaginal infection.
For reasons not yet known, in some women, candida albicans can multiply and lead to a yeast infection.
Causes
When the environment of a vagina is out of balance or the pH balance is destroyed, it can lead to the development of candidiasis. Some of the factors that can change the vaginal environment and increase the risk of developing this vaginal infection include but are not limited to, vaginal douching or the use of other feminine hygiene products, tight undergarments, the use of antibiotics or steroids, suffering from certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, a weakened immune system, etc.
Symptoms of a Yeast Infection
Many women do not experience any symptoms of a yeast infection and may not even realize that they have candidiasis because they are without symptoms. In these cases, candidiasis will only be detected and treated after a normal pelvic exam.
Many other women report having symptoms of a yeast infection that include having a vaginal discharge that is greater than normal. This excess vaginal discharge is noted to be thick, gray or white in color and looks a bit like cottage cheese. It may also smell a little like beer.
Another one of the symptoms of a yeast infection is having an irritated or inflamed vaginal area and vagina with intense itching leading to soreness after scratching. This soreness can cause pain during urination. Other symptoms include pain during sexual intercourse.
It is important to note that other vaginal infections may have the same or similar symptoms and only a medical professional will be able to determine whether you are suffering from candidiasis or some other vaginal infection.
Treatment Options for Candidiasis
In many cases, candidiasis is not that serious and can be treated with various medications. Although candidiasis does not pose any health risks, it can lead to the development of other serious health conditions if left untreated. Having recurring yeast infections can mean that the woman has a more serious health condition such as diabetes, AIDS or leukemia. In very few cases can the infection spread though the blood stream leading to a condition known as systemic candidal disease which can be fatal.
Conventional medicine seeks to treat the symptoms of a yeast infection with various topical and oral medications. The most commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of this particular vaginal infection is Fluconazole which is an oral medication that can lead to various side effects such as stomach pain, headaches and nausea.
Since only the symptoms are treated with conventional medications, this vaginal infection is bound to return over and over. Conventional treatment options in addition to being expensive can cause various side effects as noted above.
Natural Solutions for Candidiasis
There are various natural remedies and treatments for yeast infections that have proven to work successfully in many women. Natural methods are usually preferred by many women because they do not come with the various side effects that are associated with conventional treatment options. Natural remedies are also relatively inexpensive and usually suggest various lifestyle changes in addition to using various natural ingredients that are readily available at local health stores.
Natural solutions for candidiasis seek to treat the root cause of the vaginal infection so that a recurrence of this infection does not occur. The remedies do not only seek to treat the symptoms of a yeast infection which is what conventional medical practices seek to do.
