Causes
A one-cell fungus, Candida albicans normally lives in the vagina, mouth, and digestive tract as a "friendly" fungus that causes no symptoms of active disease. For a number of reasons, however, candida may overgrow and change from a harmless one-cell fungus into long branches of yeast cells called mycelia. This condition is known as candidiasis.
The causes of candidiasis are wide ranging. They include:
- Changes to the vagina’s normal acidic environment from pregnancy, contraception, menopause, and other hormonal factors.
- Diet, especially too much sugar. Diabetic women often suffer from chronic yeast infections because of their blood sugar levels.
- Other health factors including stress, fatigue, anemia, allergies, and low thyroid levels.
- Antibiotics, which kill not only harmful bacteria but also the friendly bacteria that live in the vagina to ward off infection.
- Immune deficiency. HIV infection, steroid drugs, radiation, and chemotherapy can compromise the body’s natural immunity, leaving the vagina prone to yeast development.
- Menstruation. The warm, moist conditions that menstruation provides encourage yeast growth.
- Regular douching or use of vaginal sprays, tampons, panty liners, commercial bubble baths, nylon underwear, and nylon tights.
Symptoms
Classic symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection include severe itching of the external and internal genitalia and a white discharge that may resemble cottage cheese. Other symptoms may include swelling, redness, and irritation of the outer and inner vaginal lips, painful sex, and painful urination due to irritation of the urethra.
|
|
