Yeast Infections in Women Are Very Common

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Yeast infections in women are very common and very annoying but totally treatable. An estimated 75 percent of all women will get an infection at least once in their lives and many will be predisposed to get them more often. Certain factors may also precipitate a bout with an infection. One of the problems though are that women are self-diagnosing yeast infections and running to the drug store for an over-the-counter medication (such as Monistat 7 or Gyne-Lotrimin) to treat the first signs or symptoms of an infection when it may not be what they have at all.

Yeast is a type of fungus that normally lives in the vagina in normal levels. It is estimated that 20 to 50% of healthy women have yeast in the vaginal area. If it overgrows it can cause an infection with associated itching, burning and discharge. The most common symptom is itching which is present 95 percent of the time in all cases.

Causes of vaginal yeast infections:

- When antibiotics are taken to treat a urinary tract infection or a respiratory infection (or other types of infection) vaginal yeast can multiply to unhealthy levels and cause infection.
- Women with suppressed immune systems (when taking cortisone-related medications for example) tend to develop infections more frequently than women with normal immune systems.
- The use of douches or perfumed vaginal hygiene sprays can increase the risk of developing vaginal infections.
- Women who are pregnant, have diabetes or are taking oral contraceptives may be predisposed to developing vaginal yeast infections.

A vaginal infection is not considered a sexually transmitted disease or infection, however, men can develop symptoms of an infection after having intercourse with an infected partner. Also, in rare instances a man can develop a yeast infection due to a weak immune system or prolonged use of antibiotics.

Treatments:

If it is the first time you are experiencing an infection, a visit to the doctor should be in order so they can take a culture, look at it under a microscope and confirm it's an infection. Any subsequent infections will typically have the same annoying symptoms and can be treated with an over-the-counter medication. If symptoms persist, however, it is important to make an appointment with your doctor right away as you may have something other than a yeast infection. Also, doctors are able to prescribe a stronger medication than what you will get over-the-counter which will take care of the infection much faster.

Wearing 100% cotton underwear is also a good practice to help with moisture since moisture trapped against your skin will encourage the growth of yeast. Many women also eat yogurt with "active cultures" as part of their diet to help avoid infections.

Yeast infections can also affect other areas of the body. It is common for women to develop an infection under the breasts. It is referred to as Intertrigo where the folds of skin, such as those under the breasts, come into contact with each other and due to the warm, moist environment a yeast infection can develop. Symptoms are redness, swelling, oozing and itching. Untreated infections in the folds of the skin can persist and take a long time to go away.

Babies can also get yeast infections in their mouth which is called thrush. Signs of thrush can be seen in the form of white patches and sores on the inside of the mouth. A pediatrician must diagnose thrush and prescribe the proper medication for its treatment.