Most women will have one or two yeast infections in a lifetime. For the unfortunate few they may have several recurrent infections every year. But many other vaginal disorders are also easily mistaken for a yeast infection when they are in fact something else e.g. bacterial vaginosis. Let’s take a closer look.
What Is a Vaginal Yeast Infection?
Your vagina naturally contains many different types of bacteria, as do other parts of our body, including yeast. Under normal circumstances they help to keep each other in check. But sometimes the yeast can overgrow (particularly after antibiotic use) unhindered and cause an infection.
Symptoms
The main symptom is an itching sensation. The entire vulva can become inflamed and red and sore to the touch. When you urinate and the urine touches those parts then it can sting. Note that this is different from a urinary tract infection where the pain would be felt as the urine passes down the urethra.
Some women feel pain during intercourse and you can also have a discharge, however this affects only 20% of women. It usually looks white and lumpy like cottage cheese. Ordinarily there is little to no odor. If you have a very strong and fishy smell then you don’t have a yeast infection but bacterial vaginosis instead.
Causes
One of the biggest causes is antibiotic use. If you are given a course then I highly recommend drinking probiotic yogurts during and after in order to repopulate yourself with healthy bacteria.
Bad clothing can also contribute to yeast infections. If you are prone to getting repeated infections then you need to wear more loose trousers. Also, you should wear cotton panties and never wear synthetics.
Treatment
If you only get one or two in your lifetime then antifungal medications are best. These normally come in the form of a cream. These will wipe out the yeast.
The problem with antifungals is that they wipe out the yeast but do not stop it from coming back again. If you are one of these women who suffer from frequent infections then the environment of your vagina is still prone to a new infection. In your case, I would consider some natural therapies instead.