subject: Top Reasons: How To Determine The Cause Of Vaginal Yeast Infections [print this page] If a yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, what is the cause of vaginal yeast infections? Yeast is already a part of your body composition, whether male or female. When the body's normally alkaline balance becomes out of balance, yeast production increases beyond the norm. The fungus Candida albicans is at the heart of a yeast infection.
People have yeast on their skin in relatively minor amounts. Because of its nature, fungi congregate, live and reproduce in warm, moist areas, including the vagina. The vaginal areas of anywhere from 20% to 50% of women house yeast. These numbers include women who are not sexually active.
What happens in a yeast infection is that fungi multiply rapidly and become out of balance to their normal, healthy presence. Yeast fungi are parasitic microscopic organisms which cannot produce their own food, and consequently exist by absorbing nutrients from humans.
Men are not spared from a yeast infection. Although a male is typically asymptomatic, he may have an infection. Of the 12% to 15% of men with yeast infection symptoms, such as a penile rash or itching, these occur after sexual contact with someone infected. Men with a compromised immune system are more likely to become infected by a yeast outbreak. Upon sexual contact with an infected person, a person with a lowered immune system typically becomes infected.
A person with a yeast infection who has unprotected sex may infect his or her partner. This person may then pass the infection back to the original person, or to a new partner. Safe sex practices can prevent infections, and prevent re-infection of those who are treated.
Many potential culprits can cause or contribute to a spike in yeast cells, causing a yeast infection. Yeasts infections can result from changes on a personal, chemical, biochemical, hormonal, or pharmaceutical level. A yeast infection can also appear or become exacerbated by impaired health.
On a personal level, poor diet, improper hygiene, and clothing choices can cause or contribute to yeast infections. An imbalanced diet may contribute excess sugar, yeast or acidic foods. Wiping from rear to front, after using the toilet, can cause or promote yeast infections. Tight or poorly ventilated clothing, including bathing suits, pantyhose, and tight, non-cotton, hot, moist or dirty undergarments may promote yeast growth.
Introducing chemical agents to the vaginal area can cause a yeast infection. Hygiene sprays, perfumes and vaginal douches can disrupt the vagina's natural biochemistry. The vagina might also not be receptive to the material latex and respond with an allergic infection. Hormones are another biochemical change that disrupt the vaginal chemistry, including menstrual changes or contraceptive chemicals.
If a person is in not healthy, he or she can be predisposed to vaginal yeast infections. People with diabetes, for instance, have high levels of sugar in urine, which can promote yeast growth. Chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, immune system drugs, and other drugs create or promote yeast infections.
Recognize that the vaginal environment has a uniquely balanced biochemistry. This informs questions concerning what is the cause of vaginal yeast infections.
