What Can Cause Yeast Infections During Pregnancy
While pregnancy with a yeast infection is common, it is helpful to know what may cause it. Here are some factors that may contribute to an overgrowth of yeast leading to yeast infection early pregnancy:
- Normal changes in hormone levels
- A reaction to your partners natural yeast or bacteria
- Pre-existing conditions that weaken the immune system, such as HIV
- Taking immunosuppressant medication, like steroids
- Taking antibiotics, which can disrupt the vaginal PH
- Birth Control Pills
- Allergic reaction in the vaginal area
- STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea
- Another common infection called BV, or bacterial vaginosis
How Is Candidiasis Treated
Most of the time, vulvovaginal candidiasis is easy to treat with an antifungal cream or suppository. The medicine should relieve your symptoms within seven days. However, during pregnancy, you should see your doctor before starting treatment. They can confirm that you actually have a yeast infection and ensure you get a treatment thats safe to use during pregnancy.
Both oral and topical antifungal drugs are used to treat yeast infections in nonpregnant women. However, oral drugs may not be safe to use during pregnancy. A 2016 study in found an association between higher risk of miscarriage and oral fluconazole use during pregnancy. Oral antifungal drugs have also been linked to birth defects.
Topical antifungal drugs that are safe to use during pregnancy include:
| Drug |
How Is Candidiasis Diagnosed
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will use a cotton swab to take a sample of the vaginal discharge. The sample will be checked under a microscope for signs of the yeasts that cause infections.
In certain cases, your doctor may want to culture or grow in a lab a sample of your vaginal discharge. Cultures help them rule out other types of yeast, such as C. glabrata and C. tropicalis.
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What Is A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
Yeast infections are common in women, especially when you’re pregnant. Increased estrogen in your pregnant body can throw off the normal balance of yeast and bacteria in your . This may let the yeast overgrow. Most yeast infections during pregnancy result from the fungus candida albicans. Two other kinds of yeast that can also cause them are candida glabrata and candida tropicalis.
Yeast infections aren’t pleasant, but they won’t hurt you or your baby. And they can be safely treated, usually with a topical cream.
Some Of The Most Common Causes Of Candida
For women, it is not only irritating but very painful.
It can also result in a serious condition and if not treated at the right time, could lead to other complications.
And it is known that when Candida albicans are in an excessive amount, they can overgrow into fungus which can cause various illnesses and is also known as candidiasis.
In order to avoid such illnesses, it is very important for women to know more about the causes of this uncomfortable disease.
Knowing why cramps are caused can help women prepare the necessary measures to prevent and cure the condition.
This is very necessary because if women are able to know the basic reason for their condition, they will be able to do something right in order to stop it or at least treat it well before it gets worse.
Here are some of the most common causes of candida.
1. Moisture.
This is the most common reason for Candidiasis or yeast infection.
The area around the genitals, mouth and diaper area contains a high amount of moisture.
Yeast fungus feeds on the excess moisture in these areas.
The use of contraceptive pills can also cause Candidiasis.
Diaper rash is also another cause of dry skin in women.
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How Can A Yeast Infection Be Prevented
Prevention is always better than cure. It is best to prevent the infection from happening in the first place rather than to cure the damage done by it. To prevent a yeast infection from happening, you should try to consume food that is rich in probiotics, or taking a supplement with cranberry in it might be of great help as well. Other than these, some other preventive measures are:
- avoiding very tight clothes
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Treating A Yeast Infection While Pregnant
While its possible to treat a yeast infection when pregnant with over-the-counter antifungal vaginal creams or suppositories, its best to seek the advice of your doctor before starting any treatment.
It is especially important that you get diagnosed accurately if youre pregnant because many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions such as bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.
However, Your doctor can recommend safer medications to use if youre pregnant or nursing.
Typically, antifungal medications are recommended. These may be topical or oral. In some cases, a single dose of oral medication is sufficient to treat a yeast infection.
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What Is A Yeast Infection
Yeast infections are a common type of vaginal infection, and they’re especially common in pregnant women. These infections – also called monilial vaginitis or vaginal candidiasis – are caused by microscopic fungi in the Candida family, most often Candida albicans. These fungi thrive in warm, moist environments.
Are Yeast Infections Harmful
Other than being uncomfortable and sometimes painful, yeast infections do not usually cause complications in pregnancy or for the baby during pregnancy over the background risk. We know that every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect and 10-15% chance for miscarriage. This is called the background risk.
If left untreated, however, a yeast infection could pass to your babys mouth during labor and delivery and may cause the baby to have a condition called thrush. Baby may then return the yeast infection back to you if the baby breastfeeds . Very rarely a yeast infection in babies can become serious because their immune systems are not yet well-developed.
Yeast infections can also cause body-wide infections and serious complications in pregnant people, especially those who have a weakened immune system because of other health problems.
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Preventive Measures For Yeast Infection In Pregnancy
You can lower your chances of getting yeast infections in the future by doing the following:
- Use your blow dryer on a low, cold setting to gently dry the outside of your genital area after a regular wash
- Properly wipe down the toilet after using it
- After swimming, take a shower right away. Change out of your swimsuit, gym clothes, or other damp clothing as quickly as possible.
How To Treat A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
For a yeast infection in pregnancy, treatment is generally an over-the-counter vaginal cream or suppositories. These might include Clotrimazole Miconazole or Terconazole. Oral medications such as fluconazole are not recommended during pregnancy.
If you have to wait a few days to see your doctor, Tahery says you can apply 1 percent hydrocortisone externally to help control itching. If you are desperate, you can use a small amount just on the lips of the vulva, which will offer some relief, he says.
But Tahery cautions against using boric acid suppositories to treat yeast infections during pregnancy. Boric acid and other homeopathic treatments havent been tested in pregnancy, so I wouldnt recommend them, he says.
If you have a yeast infection that somehow goes undetected, it will likely clear up after you deliver. These will usually self-resolve after pregnancy, unless you were having chronic yeast infections before you got pregnant, perhaps due to a condition such as diabetes, says Tahery.
Sometimes having one yeast infection during pregnancy can cause repeated ones until you deliver. If you are having recurring yeast infections during pregnancy, its best to work with your doctor to figure out a plan. Along with medication, you may need to make lifestyle changes like wearing more breathable clothing or changing your underwear more frequently, since yeast thrives in wet, humid conditions.
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How To Treat A Yeast Infection When You’re Pregnant
Even if youve had yeast infections before and are a pro at self-diagnosing, its best to call your provider before using an over-the-counter medication. Why? Some women who think they have a yeast infection actually have a bacterial infection like bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, and a yeast infection medication will only prolong the issue.
If you have a yeast infection, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription antifungal cream or vaginal suppository. The following over-the-counter and prescription yeast infection treatments are generally considered safe during pregnancy, but be sure to check with your practitioner before starting treatment.
Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent A Yeast Infection
There are some things that can be done to help lower the chance of an infection developing. Make sure to talk to your OB or midwife about other ways to lower the chance for yeast infections.
Some of these include:
Unfortunately, you cannot control the pregnancy hormones, so it is not possible to completely prevent yeast infections! But the sooner you get it treated, the sooner you can go back to enjoying the regular miseries of being pregnant during the summer!
For more information please see:
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How Are Yeast Infections Treated During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, physicians recommend vaginal creams and suppositories only. The oral medication, Diflucan , has not been proven safe during pregnancy and lactation. Not all vaginal creams and suppositories are okay to use during pregnancy, so it is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist to get the right one. If left untreated, yeast infections can pass to your babys mouth during delivery. This is called thrush and is effectively treated with Nystatin.It may take 10-14 days to find relief or completely clear up the infection while you are pregnant. After the infection has cleared up and any sores have healed, it may be helpful to use a starch-free drying powder, or Nystatin powder to prevent a recurring infection.
What Can You Take For A Yeast Infection When Pregnant
10 Tips for Getting Rid of a Yeast Infection While Pregnant
What happens if a yeast infection goes untreated? An untreatedyeastinfection can get very bad. The very first thing that will happen is that the yeasts will keep on multiplying and the condition will certainly get worst. The infection could pass to the intestinal tract making discomfort and itching even worst.
How do you treat a yeast infection during pregnancy? Some of the home remedies for yeast infection during pregnancy include use of apple cider vinegar, garlic, honey, cranberry juice, calendula, olive leaf extract, coconut oil, yogurt, to name a few. Pregnancy is a beautiful yet challenging phase of a womans life.
Is a yeast infection an early sign of pregnancy? If you rarely experience yeast infections and you suddenly suspect you have one, it may indeed be an early sign of pregnancy. However they may also occur for a variety of reasons including dietary changes and stress.
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What Is The Safest Way To Deal With A Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
To treat a yeast infection, pregnant women should refrain from oral treatment methods and instead make use of creams, ointments, and other topically used medicines. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during pregnancy, women should use azole topically for seven consecutive days to treat a yeast infection. This method has been accepted as safe by the CDC.
Topically used azole are available over the counter without any need for a doctors prescription letter, and studies regarding their efficacy also back them. According to the College of Family Physicians of Canadas one study, a milder version of corticosteroids can be applied topically to relieve the symptoms of a yeast infection. They are considered safe to use while pregnant however, they need to be used only for a short period.
As per one study on the other hand, the use of the prescribed medicine oral Fluconazole is to be avoided by pregnant women as it has been seen to cause spontaneous abortion in those who were exposed to it. The study talked about how pregnant women that took Fluconazole were 48 percent more likely to face pregnancy-related complications like a miscarriage than those who did not take it.
Before taking any type of treatment, it is always a good idea to consult a doctor treating a yeast infection is important. If it is left untreated, it can even be transmitted to the baby through the mother during the delivery process. This is known as thrush.
Does Your Vag Taste Different When Pregnancy
Some pregnant women are simply more sensitive to the smell, but unless theres vaginal itching or burning, theres nothing to worry about. And then theres the change in taste, also related to pH changes. According to the Journal of Perinatal Education, pregnant women tend to taste more metallic or salty.
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How Many Months Can An Ultrasound Detect Pregnancy
An ultrasound is a painless, noninvasive medical test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. Ultrasounds are used to diagnose or monitor many medical conditions.
Ultrasounds are generally used to detect pregnancies during the first trimester. The most common method for detecting a pregnancy is a blood test, which can detect a pregnancy as early as 10 days after fertilization. However, blood tests are not always accurate. An ultrasound can be used to confirm a pregnancy at any time.
Ultrasounds are not 100 percent accurate, and they cannot determine the sex of the baby. They can also not determine the exact age of the baby. However, they can give a good estimate of the babys age.
An ultrasound can be used to detect multiple pregnancies, such as twins or triplets. It can also be used to detect miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies.
An ultrasound is a painless, safe, and noninvasive way to detect a pregnancy. It is the most common way to detect a pregnancy during the first trimester.
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Advice From Our Practice
At University Park OBGYN, we are fully equipped to guide you through the comprehensive care you deserve. From treating a pesky yeast infection while pregnant to delivering your infant, we guarantee thorough, compassionate care. Give us a call or visit our website today to learn more about the various services we offer in gynecological, preconception, obstetric, and postpartum care.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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How To Prevent Yeast Infections
Consistently practicing good genital hygiene is the key to preventing vaginal yeast infections. Here are some ways to avoid yeast infection pregnancy symptoms:
- Avoid wearing tight bottoms and undergarments made of synthetic materials, especially overnight.
- Wear loose, cotton underwear to keep things dry and airy in the vaginal area
- Change out of workout garments, sweaty clothing, and wet swimsuits immediately.
- Avoid scented soaps and body washes, especially in the vaginal area
- Refrain from using scented toilet paper and scented sanitary napkins and tampons
- Always wipe from front to back
- Avoid added sugars in your diet
- Eat probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt
- Maintain a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole-grains
These methods of yeast infection pregnancy symptoms are avoidable when you take the proper precautions. But remember, there is usually no cause for concern because yeast infections during pregnancy are common and treatable overall.
How Do I Treat A Yeast Infection
Good news is that yeast infections are usually easy to treat and there are treatments that can be used in pregnancy! Yeast infections are treated either topically or orally .
- Oral Medications: The most common oral antifungal used to treat yeast infections is called fluconazole and is typically given once in a single 150mg dose. It is unlikely that the use of a single low dose of oral fluconazole during pregnancy would greatly increase the chance of birth defects or complications. However, the use of high dose fluconazole for many weeks in the first trimester of pregnancy might be associated with an increase in the chance of birth defects and miscarriage. Because of this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted guidelines for treating vaginal yeast infections in pregnancy and these guidelines recommend topical therapies rather than oral medication. For more details, visit our Fluconazole Fact Sheet.
- Topical Medications: Most common topical therapies include antifungals called azoles and are usually used over a 7-day period. There are many types of azole medications, but the most common ones used are clotrimazole or miconazole . For more details, visit our Miconazole | Clotrimazole Fact Sheet.
Rarely, some individuals may have more complicated yeast infections that last for a long time or come back more than four times a year. These may have to be treated differently.
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