Women’s Yeast Infections Symptoms

What Should I Watch For While Using This Medicine

Tell your doctor or health care professional if your symptoms do not start to get better within a few days.

It is better not to have sex until you have finished your treatment. This medicine may damage condoms or diaphragms and cause them not to work properly. It may also decrease the effect of vaginal spermicides. Do not rely on any of these methods to prevent sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy while you are using this medicine.

Is It Safe To Use Over

Yes, but always talk with your doctor or nurse before treating yourself for a vaginal yeast infection. This is because:

• You may be trying to treat an infection that is not a yeast infection. Studies show that two out of three women who buy yeast infection medicine don’t really have a yeast infection.2 Instead, they may have an STI or bacterial vaginosis . STIs and BV require different treatments than yeast infections and, if left untreated, can cause serious health problems.
• Using treatment when you do not actually have a yeast infection can cause your body to become resistant to the yeast infection medicine. This can make actual yeast infections harder to treat in the future.
• Some yeast infection medicine may weaken condoms and diaphragms, increasing your chance of getting pregnant or an STI when you have sex. Talk to your doctor or nurse about what is best for you, and always read and follow the directions on the medicine carefully.

When To Call A Doctor

if you:

• Have pain in your lower belly along with a fever and vaginal discharge. This may point to pelvic inflammatory disease .
• Are pregnant and have symptoms of a vaginal infection or a urinary tract infection .

• Have an unusual vaginal discharge with an unusual or foul odour.
• Have unusual vaginal itching.
• Have pain during sex or urination.
• Have any other symptoms that may point to a vaginal infection.
• Still have symptoms after trying home treatment with a non-prescription medicine.
• Have symptoms return within 2 months, and you have not been taking antibiotics.

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What May Interact With This Medicine

Do not use any other vaginal products without telling your doctor or health care professional.

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

How Are Vaginal Yeast Infections Diagnosed

Yeast infections are simple to diagnose. Your doctor will ask about your medical history. This includes whether youve had yeast infections before. They may also ask if youve ever had an STI.

The next step is a pelvic exam. Your doctor will examine your vaginal walls and cervix. Theyll also look at the surrounding area for external signs of infection.

Each yeast infection is different, so your doctor will suggest a treatment thats best for you. Treatments are generally determined based on the severity of your symptoms.

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What Tests Diagnose Infections By Candida Albicans

Depending on the type of infection, your healthcare provider will test the infection to further diagnose the issue to offer a specific treatment plan. Tests for Candida albicans include:

• Culture test: Your healthcare provider will swab the infected area with sterile cotton and examine the yeast and bacteria under a microscope.
• Endoscopy: In the case of thrush, your healthcare provider may examine your esophagus, stomach and small intestine with a small light and camera mounted on a tube.

Is Candida Albicans An Infection

Candida albicans is the type of yeast that lives in your body. I can overgrow and turn into an infection if the balance of healthy bacteria and yeast is disrupted. Candidiasis is the term used to describe an infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast . Common infections include vaginal yeast infection, diaper rash and thrush.

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Where Should I Keep My Medicine

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C . Do not freeze. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

Yeast Infection In Babies

While yeast infections are commonly associated with vaginal infections, babies can also get them.

The most common yeast infection in a baby is a diaper rash. However, not all diaper rashes are the result yeast overgrowth.

You can tell if the condition is more than just a diaper rash if your babys skin is extremely red and has spots in the diaper/groin area, despite using diaper rash cream. Yeast infections may also be presented in other folds of the skin, such as under the armpits.

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How To Fight Candidiasis

The best way to treat candidiasis and prevent recurring infections is to address the underlying cause.

The food you eat plays an important role in maintaining the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.

Refined sugars, carbs and high-lactose dairy products can encourage Candida and other bad microorganisms to grow .

Eating too many of these foods may promote infection if you have a suppressed immune system.

On the other hand, certain foods have specifically been shown to encourage good bacteria to grow and inhibit the growth of Candida.

The following foods have been shown to help fight Candida infections:

If you require medication, speak to your healthcare provider.

If you require medication, speak to your healthcare provider.

• an antifungal substance called allicin, which has been shown to act against Candida yeasts in animal and test-tube studies (

Common Symptoms In Men

Men can get yeast infections too. They can happen when thereâs an overgrowth of fungus on the skin. This can happen if a man has sex with a female partner who has a vaginal yeast infection. Itâs more common in men who arenât circumcised. The symptoms include:

• Itching, burning, or redness on the
• A thick, white substance in the skin folds of the , and moistness

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Recurring Genital Or Urinary Tract Infections

Candida is found in the vaginal tracts of most women.

Its estimated that 75% of all women will get at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime, and half of those will have at least one recurrence .

Men can also get genital yeast infections, but its much less common.

Although its much less common, Candida can also cause a urinary tract infection .

Candida-related urinary tract infections are most common in the elderly, hospitalized or immune-compromised individuals .

Symptoms of a UTI include a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, cloudy, dark or strange-smelling urine and pain or pressure in your lower abdomen.

Although, other bacteria like E. coli are more likely to cause UTIs.

However, if you suffer from recurring infections and believe they are a result of Candida overgrowth, you can have your urine tested to find out.

Summary:Candida can cause genital and urinary tract infections, both of which can lead to pain and discomfort.

How Are Vaginal Yeast Infections Treated

If you’re using a vaginal treatment and are sexually active, you should not have sex until the infection has been completely treated because these medicines can weaken condoms and diaphragms.

All these types of medicine can clear up your symptoms in a couple of days and cure the infection within a week. It’s important to take the medicine for the whole time its prescribed. If you stop taking it too soon, the infection could come back. If you’re not feeling better within a few days of finishing treatment, call your doctor.

Some medicines used to treat yeast infections are available without a prescription, but you see a doctor for your diagnosis before buying one. You could have another type of infection that might get worse if not properly treated. Also, over-the-counter medicine should not be used by anyone younger than 12 or girls who might be pregnant without talking to a doctor first.

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Yeast Infection Treatment For Women Additional Points To Consider

• Relieving the intense itching is a very important part of the vaginal yeast infection treatment. Constant itching often causes the desire or reflex to scratch which can make the infection and irritation become worse. If you need a relief, see: natural antifungal creams.
• To avoid chronic yeast infections or other complication, it is important to confirm that no other yeast infection symptoms are present in other areas of the body. To see the complete list of yeast infection symptoms broken down by different areas in the body see: candida overgrowth symptoms checker.

Things To Know About Vaginal Yeast Infection

• Most vaginal yeast infections are caused by the organism Candida albicans.
• Yeast infections are very common and affect up to 75% of women at some point in their lifetime.
• The main symptom of a vaginal yeast infection is itching, but burning, discharge, and pain with urination or intercourse can also occur.
• Treatment involves topical or oral antifungal medications.
• It is possible for a woman to transmit a yeast infection to a male sex partner, even though yeast infection is not considered to be a true sexually-transmitted disease because it can occur in women who are not sexually active.
• Treatment of yeast infection in men, like in women, involves antifungal medications.
• Keeping the vaginal area dry and avoiding irritating chemicals can help prevent yeast infections in women. Consuming foods with probiotics also may help.

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Causes Of Yeast Infection In Women

Risk factors and causes of yeast infection in women have been extensively studied and very well documented in the medical literature. As you can see from the list below, some of these risk factors can be easily avoided. Becoming aware of these causes and make the needed changes when possible, can be very helpful in preventing yeast infections.

• Women who carry out vaginal lavage .
• Wearing tight clothes .
• Poor sanitary and vaginal hygiene .
• Women who use tampons or perfumed toilet paper .
• Women who use sanitary pads for menstrual protection .
• Women who use intrauterine device .
• Frequent sexual intercourse, seven or more times a week .

Risk factors and causes of yeast infection in women that are related to systemic candida overgrowth in the body may include:

• Antibiotics and oral contraceptives .
• Weakened immune system .
• Chronic stress .
• Reduced antioxidant capacity .

If any of these causes of candida overgrowth may be related to you, it is very important that they should be addressed during the treatment. To see the complete list of causes of candida overgrowth with treatment options for each cause, see: candida overgrowth causes and how to treat them.

How To Identify A Vaginal Yeast Infection

Not all women will experience noticeable symptoms of a yeast infection. If the infection is mild, the symptoms may be subtle. Knowing whats normal for you will help you identify changes in your vaginal health. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms for the first time, consult your healthcare professional for a diagnosis. Most women have one or more of these yeast infection symptoms:

• Pain when urinating or having sex
• Vulvar inflammation
• Vaginal pain, soreness, or burning
• Vaginal discharge that may be thick, white, and lumpy like cottage cheese

The three most common forms of vaginitis are yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis , and trichomoniasis. Symptoms for all three can include some form of vaginal discharge, itching, and irritation, so it is important to understand how they are different so you can get the right treatment. Use the following information as a guide to help identify a vaginal yeast infection:2-5

If you experience any of the following symptoms, ask a healthcare professional before using MONISTAT®, as they could be signs of another type of infection.

• Lower abdominal, back or shoulder pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Foul-smelling or greenish/grayish vaginal discharge
• Frequent urination, an urgent need to urinate or difficulty passing urine

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Is Candida Albicans An Std

Candida albicans is not a sexually transmitted disease or infection. Candida is a yeast that naturally lives in your body and can overgrow if the balance of yeast and healthy bacteria in your body changes. The balance of yeast could change as a result of sexual activity but having sex does not cause infection.

Changing Your Diet May Help Prevent Yeast Infections

There’s some evidence that sugar may help promote the growth of yeast.

Yeast’s affinity for sweets has prompted some experts to suggest that diet may be a risk factor for some women when it comes to developing yeast infections.

In fact, some people follow a so-called yeast infection diet or candida diet on the theory that eliminating certain foods may eliminate or at least greatly reduce the risk of yeast overgrowth.

Proponents of these regimens claim that a yeast infection diet can help to cure or prevent yeast infections by eliminating:

• Foods containing simple sugars, including many fruits
• White flour and other glutenous grains
• Anything fermented with yeast, such as alcoholic drinks
• Some dairy products, including whole milk

The diet recommends sticking to foods like green vegetables, protein , nuts, and herbal tea.

While anecdotal evidence abounds, the candida diet is not supported by rigorous scientific research.

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How Is Vaginal Thrush Diagnosed

Thrush can be confused with other conditions that cause itching and redness with or without discharge. These other conditions include herpes infections and bacterial infections.

Your doctor will examine you and take a swab or do further tests to confirm the diagnosis. If you get thrush a lot, they may also want to rule out other medical conditions like diabetes or HIV.

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What Is A Vaginal Yeast Infection

A vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidiasis, is a common condition. A contains bacteria and some yeast cells. But when the balance of bacteria and yeast changes, the yeast cells can multiply. This causes itching, swelling, and irritation.

Treating a vaginal yeast infection can relieve symptoms within a few days . In more severe cases, it may take longer.

Vaginal yeast infections arent considered a sexually transmitted infection , commonly known as sexually transmitted disease . Sexual contact can spread it, but women who arent sexually active can also get them.

A specific kind of yeast called Candida albicans causes most yeast infections. These infections are easily treatable.

If youre having recurring yeast infections or problems getting rid of a yeast infection with conventional treatment, a different version of Candida might be the cause. A lab test can identify what type of Candida you have.

Tests That Help Determine Yeast Infection Presence

The two most common tests for a yeast infection are the vaginal wet mount and the KOH test.

For the vaginal wet mount, your doctor or a lab technician will mix a sample of your vaginal discharge with a salt solution, put it onto a glass slide, and look at it under a microscope.

If there are an abnormally large number of Candida microbes and white blood cells , you have a yeast infection.

The wet mount can also help rule out other infections, including bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.

Instead of using a salt solution, the KOH test uses potassium hydroxide.

If, after diagnosis, your infection doesn’t get better with treatment or comes back several more times within a year , your doctor may order a culture test of your yeast.

A culture test will help determine if a Candida species other than C. albicans is causing your chronic infection some yeast species are resistant to the drugs used to treat a C. albicans infection.

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Should I Call My Doctor Or Nurse If I Think I Have A Yeast Infection

Yes. Seeing your doctor or nurse is the only way to know for sure if you have a yeast infection and not a more serious type of infection.

The signs and symptoms of a yeast infection are a lot like symptoms of other more serious infections, such as STIs and bacterial vaginosis . If left untreated, STIs and BV raise your risk of getting other STIs, including HIV, and can lead to problems getting pregnant. BV can also lead to problems during pregnancy, such as premature delivery.

What Should I Do If I Have Frequent Yeast Infections

If you get more than four vaginal yeast infections per year, have a discussion with your healthcare provider. Your provider may:

• Test to confirm that you have a vaginal yeast infection.
• Order a blood sugar test for diabetes.
• Test for HIV/AIDS.
• Discuss any possible hormonal changes .

Your healthcare provider will use your test results to make sure you receive the right treatment. It can be important to treat the underlying cause while treating your yeast infection. Controlling the reason for the infection can help prevent future vaginal yeast infections.

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