My Candida Story

For any woman who has suffered a yeast infection, they will tell you it’s uncomfortable and more than just an annoyance. The National Women’s Health Information Service says over 75% of all women will suffer at least one yeast infection in their life. The rate is over 50% for another yeast infection.
The cause of yeast infection is a tiny one celled fungus called yeast. There are many types of yeast but the one most frequently causing yeast infections is the species Candida. When it overgrows it can cause a vaginal infection but it also can cause a mouth infection as well. A yeast infection is not only annoying, it become painful as well.
Now Candida is not a foreigner to the body. It grows normally on and inside the body. Candida especially likes to grow under moist, warm conditions. It can be found growing in the vagina, foreskin of the penis, and in skin folds. Normally the body keeps the level of yeast under control. In the vagina there is a specialized bacteria whose job is to keep the yeast from overgrowing. These bacteria keep the vagina acidic preventing the overgrowth of the yeast.
Circumstances happening in life can overtake the body’s normal defense system. It may be stress, taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, or the hormonal changes of pregnancy. When this happens the yeast do not have the normal check and balances system. They overgrow and the result is what we call a yeast infection.
Symptoms of a yeast infection include itching and burning. There are many different ways of treating a yeast infection. Most prescription medications work decreasing the growing number of yeast. This type of treatment works on the symptoms of the yeast infection, not the cause.
What are some of the causes of yeast infection?
You take an antibiotic for a strep throat or urinary tract infection. When you do you kill not only the bad bacteria but the helpful bacteria which prevents you from getting a yeast infection. Without the guarding effect of the helpful bacteria your body is unable to stop the yeast from overgrowing.
When you are stressed, you tax your body’s defense system. With the body trying to combat the effect of stress it is unable to fight off the overgrowth of yeast.
Tight jeans can also lead to yeast infections. Tight jeans causes an environment where body sweat and heat is held tightly against the body. Since yeast likes warm moist environments, tight jeans can set up the body for a yeast infection.
Hormone levels fluctuate wildly during pregnancy. These changing levels can lead to the ideal conditions for yeast to grow and grow leading to a yeast infection.
When you douche you change the normal acidic environment of the vagina. this can make it easy for the yeast to overgrow and cause a vaginal yeast infection. People who are diabetic and often have high or uncontrolled blood sugars are also prone to yeast infections. That’s because yeast like to feed on sugar.
Yeast infection prevention is a topic you should discuss with your health care provider. There are many natural ways you can use to change your life and lifestyle to prevent yeast infections from happening.

If you are like many, many women the world over, you may have found yourself confronting an uncomfortable yeast infection. In this regard, you likely find yourself experiencing discomfort and a burning sensation in and around your vagina. In addition, chances are you also have to experience an unsightly and rather unpleasant milky discharge from your vagina. The reality is that there are some very effective treatments for yeast infections options that are available to you today.

There are two primary courses you can take when it comes to treatment for yeast infections. The first approach is what one might call a medicinal treatment for yeast infections. The second approach is what might best be described as a natural treatment for yeast infections.

Step1
If you are suffering from a yeast infection, there are some very effective medicinal products that come in the form of oral medications, creams and suppositories. Generally speaking, one type of treatment is not necessarily more effective than another. However, with that noted, different people respond better to one or another of these different medicinal treatments for yeast infections. For example, you may find that you respond most effectively to a cream while someone else with very similar yeast infection symptoms might respond best to an oral medication.

Step 2
Moreover, there are over a dozen different types of medications that actually are utilized in these different products. Therefore, you are well advised to consult with your doctor or with a pharmacist to determine which type of medication will be most appropriate to your particular circumstances.

Step 3
As mentioned previously, there are also natural treatments for yeast infections options that are available in this day and age. More often than not the natural approach to treating – as well as preventing – yeast infection focuses to a large degree on diet. By following a diet that does not include refined sugars, certain fats and bread products that contain yeast, you can have an impact on a yeast infection. Such a diet should also be rich in fresh fruits and vegetables as well as reasonable servings of low fat meats like fish or chicken.

Finally, as part of a natural treatment for yeast infections, some women have also found relief through douching with yogurt that contains a healthy dose of Lactobacillus acidophilus. Douching this way with this type of yogurt can also work to assist in the prevention of a yeast infection in the first instance.

Yeast infection is in addition known as Candida infection or thrush and is an infection triggered by a collection of microscopic fungi (or yeast).

More than twenty varieties of Candida inhabit on all of the surfaces of our bodies and in our intestine. Under specific conditions these fungi can grow and grow to be so plentiful that they grow to be the triggers of yeast infection.

We therefore need to be aware of what can trigger Candida to develop in this way.

Antibiotics

In a healthy person Candida live in balance with other healthy bacteria such as lactobacilli.

The use of certain antibiotics like ampicillin and tetracycline can eradicate the healthy bacteria. This allows Candida to proliferate out of control.

In reality tetracycline and several other antibiotics can in fact fuel the growth of Candida. Antibiotics are for that reason agreed to be a leading cause of yeast infection.

Hormonal Changes

Yeast infections frequently happen in women just in advance of or just following the menstrual period at which time hormonal changes take place.

Hormone therapy and birth control can in addition be a cause of hormonal changes which can cause yeast infections.

Pregnancy

The body creates hormones throughout pregnancy which boost the blood sugar levels and can change the pH balance of the vagina.

The raised blood sugar levels can cause notably more growth of yeast infections. Women often suffer persistent yeast infections in the course of pregnancy.

Diabetes

Diabetes which is badly controlled or not controlled at all can bring on elevated sugar levels in the blood and urine. This can cause yeast to grow.

Persistent yeast infections can frequently be a clue to diabetes that has not so far been diagnosed.

Sexual Contact

Sexual intercourse with an infected partner can bring on the infection to be transferred.

Weakened Immune System

If the immune system is not functioning as efficiently as it should this can be another of the causes of yeast infection. This is for the reason that the natural process which keeps yeast in control is less effective than it should be.

Stress

Stress can be a significant factor in triggering our immune systems to be less effective.

Stress causes elevated blood sugar levels which allow the Candida to develop and can also instigate a reduction in the number of friendly bacteria in our bodies which also permits the Candida to develop.

Poor diet

Too much refined carbohydrates like white flour, white rice and sugar in our diets can cause Candida to increase.

We need a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables in our diet. This helps our bodies natural processes which keep us healthy and bring down toxins.

Our bodies have need of a good balanced diet for the vitamins and minerals that we need to stay healthy.

Our immune system requires these nutrients to operate correctly and avoid the overgrowth of Candidia.

Yeast infections are triggered by the Candida albicans fungus that lives in our bodies. It particularly resides in the warm, moist, dark areas. This is why we see most infections in the genitalia, mouth, anus, gut, arm pits, nail beds, under the breasts, and where there are skin folds, etc.

Your body’s good bacteria normally helps to keep the Candida albicans under control, but under certain conditions this doesn’t happen and the fungus is able to ‘overgrow’ into an infection. The most common yeast infection symptom is severe itching.

The main yeast infection causes are; reduced numbers of beneficial bacteria, too high blood sugar levels, a lowered immune system, hormonal imbalance, and some drug types. Another cause is pH imbalance.

These infections are also called Candida, Candidiasis or Thrush, and can affect women, men and even children, particularly babies. Some common yeast infections are vaginal, oral thrush, and nail bed infections. Some — but not all — diaper rashes can also be caused by yeast infection.

Vaginal is the most common type of Candida in women. The symptoms are chronic itching, burning, white cheese-like discharge, painful urination and painful intercourse. It is advisable to avoid using feminine sprays and douches etc., as these can help to change the body pH. It’s also advisable to stop wearing tight underclothes made with man-made fibers. These don’t allow the area to ‘breathe’ and so retain moisture. Stick to loose-fitting cotton and other natural fibers.

Oral yeast infection is often called Thrush. Most at risk are people who wear dentures and / or are smokers. Also at risk are people who use inhalers. The symptoms of oral Thrush are raised white / creamy spots over the tongue and soft tissue in the mouth. When these are scraped off they can show bleeding underneath. Other signs are difficulty swallowing, and a burning sensation.

You can also get an infection under your nails. On top of the causes given above, this can happen when unprotected hands are in water a lot, perhaps during household chores, perhaps in work. It may also occur when a nail manicure has been done badly. Whatever the underlying cause, the result is painful, swollen, red nail beds. In the worst cases the nail can separate from the bed.

Diaper rashes — more often called ‘nappy rashes’ in the UK — in babies are pretty common and can be caused by yeast infections. The irritating symptoms are red splotchy patches, which are hot to touch, on the baby’s bottom, genitalia, and other areas such as skin folds. One of the key triggers for these infections is the trapped moisture that the Candida albicans loves.

Mainstream treatment is usually by over-the-counter (or prescribed) drug-based medications like creams, pessaries, oral suspensions, etc., depending on where the infection occurs. But they can have some awful side effects and because they tend to just address the symptoms and not the root cause(s) of yeast infections, it’s believed that around 50% of sufferers will have a recurring infection.

More and more sufferers are turning to natural ways to cure yeast infections. This includes natural ways to improve your immune system, reduce sugar levels, replenishing beneficial bacteria, etc., i.e. to fix the key underlying causes.

The cause of yeast infection can be due to several different factors. A yeast infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of the candida albicans fungus, which is a normal inhabitant of the mouth and vagina. Normally, the growth of the fungus is kept in check by certain bacteria, but when things get out of balance, an overgrowth may occur and result in a yeast infection.

Normally, when people think of yeast infections, most often they refer to vaginal yeast infection, though the condition can occur in other areas of the body including the mouth (thrush) and other internal areas of the body. Often, people think of the condition as a problem that only occurs in women, but the infection can occur in men and infants also.

One cause of yeast infection may be due to the type of clothing that is worn. Yeast tends to thrive in warm, moist environments. And women who wear tight clothing or non cotton underwear that cannot wick moisture away from the body or breathe easily seem to be more prone to the condition.

Other causes of yeast infections include chemicals in dyes, inks and perfumes; condoms; and even your diet. If you are allergic to the chemicals in your clothing or bath products, this may result in an atmosphere in which candida albicans thrives and results in a uncomfortable yeast infection. This is the reason that it is best to choose products that are natural and do not contain such chemicals.

Condoms may also result in a yeast infection for many women. Added lubricants that contain the spermicide nonoxynol-9 may have an adverse affect for many women and cause an infection. If you find that you are having problems with these types of condoms, switch to a brand that does not contain the spermicide. Another problem that may occur with latex condoms is an allergic reaction, which can also result in a yeast infection. In this case, you will need to switch to a non-latex brand of condoms.

Whether you realize it or not, a poor diet may also be a contributing cause of yeast infection. A diet extremely high in sugar may cause you to suffer from frequent yeast infections. Since many who suffer from diabetes have elevated glucose (sugar) levels, frequent yeast infections may also be a sign of this disease. If you are consuming high quantities of sugar and suffer from recurrent yeast infections, it may be helpful to reduce your sugar intake.

These are a few of the causes of yeast infections, and you should be aware of any negative behaviors that could be causing your problem. Many times, you may find that you can rid yourself of problematic yeast infections by making a few lifestyle changes.

Take a tampon and dip it in yogurt. Insert in the vagina, twice a day. Continue this remedy for an extra day after your symptoms go away. Make sure that you consult your doctor before you decide to use this yeast infection home treatment method as it is thought to be helpful only in cases of yeast infections and may actually aggravate a bacterial infection. A definite diagnosis is therefore essential before the method of Yeast Infection Treatment can be decided. However, yogurt can be included in a yeast infection diet or a bacterial infection diet to help control the infection. Yogurt is one of the most well known home remedies for vaginal yeast infection. Yogurt is especially useful in treating a Candida yeast infection and must be included in a Candida yeast infection diet.

Home remedies for yeast infection

There are a number of home remedies for Yeast infection. But first let us understand a little more on yeast infection and then go on to the remedies you can try at home. Yeast infection in not restricted to women only as is commonly believed. Yeast infection can affect both men and women, and can occur in any part of the body such as underarms, between toes, etc. Yeast infection in women is very common in the vagina. Although its not a very serious condition, Yeast infection is very uncomfortable and irritating.

Yeast are minute organisms ( known as candida fungus) that live in small numbers on human body. Yeast infection occurs when the number of these organisms increase beyond a certain level.

Typically, the acidity in the vagina keeps the level of yeast low. But with the drop in the acidity level (due to various conditions like menstruation period, pregnancy, diabetes or birth control pills ), the number of yeast grows and causes the infection.

Yeast Infection Symptoms

Itching and Burning in the Vagina

This is one of the most common symptom. It may start as a very mild irritant, but increase gradually. Synthetic innerwear such as nylon or silk panties can aggravate yeast infection symptoms and increase the discomfort. It is therefore very important to wear comfortable cotton panties on a daily basis. It is important to keep in mind that scratching or rubbing the irritated areas will only increase the irritation and inflammation and can cause the infection to spread. The delicate skin tissue of the vagina tears easily and once this happens the infectious microorganism enters the injured skin and the infection is then tougher to eliminate. It is also best to avoid wearing jeans as the material is thick and causes a buildup of heat and moisture which provides a hospitable environment for bacteria and fungi and this increases the severity of yeast infection symptoms.

Swelling, Itching, and Burning Around the Skin Surrounding the Vagina

The skin around the vagina, known the vulva has some swelling and may be itching and become very tender and sensitive to even the lightest of contact. Repeated rubbing of the irritated skin causes chaffing and this in turn increases inflammation and discomfort. Swelling and inflammation is one of the main yeast infection symptoms and this inflammation is the result of your body’s reaction to the infection. While topical applications to reduce inflammation will help to provide immediate and temporary relief from yeast infection symptoms, it is necessary to treat the root cause of the problem, which is the yeast infection, in order to obtain permanent relief.

Find powerful herbal remedies

Herbal Remedies for Vaginitis

Vaginal Discharge

You will experience vaginal discharge. This is typically white and thick and is odorless. The type of odor of the vaginal discharge is one of the simplest methods of differentiating between a vaginal bacterial infection and a vaginal fungal infection. A bacterial infection will generally have a strong fishy odor while the vaginal discharge in a woman with yeast infection may have a slight “yeasty” smell at the most. The vaginal discharge and other yeast infection symptoms would vary in severity and incidence according to several factors such as the woman’s age, her daily hygiene habits, and even her eating habits.

Pain During Sexual Intercourse

Another irritating symptom is the pain and discomfort felt during sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse tends to irritate the already inflamed delicate vaginal tissues and this could cause pain during as well as after intercourse. Some women make use of douches to try and control the problem but this is not advisable as it can actually aggravate the condition. In some cases, a doctor may recommend using a douche alongside other treatment methods to help reduce yeast infection symptoms. However, it is not advisable to use either a medicated douche or a homemade one without first consulting your doctor. It is best to refrain from all sexual activities until the infection has been successfully treated as it is possible to pass the infection on to one’s partner.

In order to prevent yeast infection recurrence or avoid getting infected on a first place, we need to know the most common yeast infection causes. The diploid fungus (form of yeast) are tiny organisms, which live in our bodies without causing any harm, however, under certain circumstances they start growing rapidly and this leads to an infection. The most common form of yeast, which is also the one responsible for the majority of the infections is Candida albicans, is found in approximately 80% of all healthy people. When the surrounding flora in the areas where this fungus lives changes, then it starts growing rapidly and results in Candidiasis. Candidiasis is very common and clears up relatively easily in most people, but could present a great danger to people with compromised immune system.

Listed below are the most common yeast infection causes:

• Weakened immune system cannot successfully deal with the out of control growing of the yeast, and studies have shown that approximately 15% of women and men with compromised immune system suffer from Candidiasis. The immune system could be weakened by HIV/AIDS, cancer therapies, organ transplantation, and the use steroids among other factors. In these cases, the yeast can enter the bloodstream and the infection can affect almost every organ in the human body, but the kidney, heart, eyes, and the brain are the most commonly affected.
• The use and misuse of antibiotics is another common cause of yeast infection. The antibiotics kill the pathogenic bacteria, but at the same time, they kill the bacteria, which are necessary for maintaining the microbiological balance in our bodies. Once these bacteria are gone, the yeast start to grow rapidly and infections occur.
• Using douches could cause disturbance of the vaginal flora and lead to an infection. Close to 20% of all women have Candida albicans in their vagina, but the yeast only starts overgrowing in the cases when physiological or hormonal induced imbalance occurs.
• Diabetes is also a cause of yeast infection. Women with diabetes have vaginal secretion, which is richer on glucose and that provides favorable environment, where the yeast grow rapidly. Diabetes also interferes with the immune system and the infection cannot be easily prevented.
• Sexual contacts also could lead to an infection, although the cases are rather rare. Candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted disease, but having unprotected sex with an infected partner could lead to an infection since the yeast is found in the semen and other bodily fluids.

There are many other factors, which are not yeast infection causes per se, but are linked to Candidiasis – since moisture and heat could lead to yeast overgrowth, wearing tight clothing or wearing bathing suits for long periods could be a contributing factor. Some infertility treatments, hormone replacement therapy, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, and diet are also believed to present a risk. It is important to remember that in order to treat Candidiasis successfully, the infection should be properly diagnosed. In most cases, the infections are superficial and could be taken care of by treating them at home, but you should use such treatments only after you have been properly diagnosed by your doctor.