Do you know 70% of women report to having vaginal candidiasis? Yes 2 out 3 women get vaginal candidiasis and it is a common problem that women come across atleast once in her lifetime.
What is vaginal candidiasis?
Candidiasis is a vaginal yeast infection and is a common condition that affects the vaginal area of women. This infection is caused by a fungus called candida. When these fungus multiply and grow without any control it causes a yeast infection.
The other common names of vaginal candidiasis are vaginal yeast infection or volvovaginal candidiasis.
What are the causes?
Your vagina contains a balanced amount of yeast cells and bacteria this helps to keep your vagina healthy. Due to some environmental changes in the vagina the yeast multiplies and this causes vaginal yeast infection.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms are itchiness and dryness. You may also experience various other symptoms such as,
- Swelling, burning sensation
- It all starts with this symptom; the area around your genitals starts swelling and burning. You will have difficulties walking. Wearing tight clothes will make it even more painful. Also it is important to wear clean and dry under garments to prevent worsening of the condition.
- Soreness and rashes
- When you have vaginal candidiasis soreness and rashes are the most common symptoms, sitting in the same place or travelling when you face discomfort in your private parts is horrible, you need to be more conscious and prevent yourself from rashes. Do not let the area become dry, coconut oil might sooth the rashes and prevent from drying.
- You might also feel pain or burning sensation when you urinate
- Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated to avoid the burning sensation when you urinate. However vaginal candidiasis is not about dehydration, consulting a physician will be the best solution to over the issue.
- Heavy white discharge
- Few women even experience abnormal flow of white discharge, this can have a foul smell and can also be sticky. In this case wash your genitals regularly and pat the area dry, keep changing the under wear often.
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- There is a high risk of transmitting the infection to your partner when you have sexual intercourse, so it is better to avoid sexual activity when you have an infection. Also you could experience pain in your vagina because of the dryness and rashes, which makes you and your partner uncomfortable.
Why do you get vaginal candidiasis?
- Chemicals from the sanitary pads
- Commercial sanitary pads contain harmful chemicals such as dioxin and SAP materials. These chemicals are hazardous to your health. It causes rashes and itchiness in your vaginal area. If you neglect it might cause serious health problems.
- Stress and environment changes
- Women are often stressed with too many responsibilities; they are required to do multi-tasking handling more than one thing at a time. This causes stress and hence affects the immune system. This result in the multiplication of yeast called candida. Thus vaginal candidiasis occurs.
- Unhygienic vagina
- It is essential to keep your genital areas clean. Unhygienic conditions will lead to infections. Keep you’re under garments dry, wash the genitals with plain water. Avoid using soaps and other chemicals to clean your vagina. The soap makes your skin dry and causes itchiness and rashes, and prolonged usage causes infection.
- Intake of antibiotics
- Antibiotics can cause yeast infection in your vagina, this is because it prevents the growth of the good bacteria called lactobacillus. This causes infection in your genitals.
- When you are pregnant
- When you are pregnant you will experience hormone fluctuations, this will promote the multiplication of fungus called candida in your vagina, this results in an infection called vaginal candidiasis.
- When you have a weak immune system
- Having a weak immune system can increase the possibility of such infections; maintain a healthy and balanced diet in order to avoid getting vaginal candidiasis.
- Eating too much sugar
- Sugar in the body affects the immune system; this leads to the growth of yeast and has all possibility of getting vaginal candidiasis.
- Inadequate sleeping habits
- A report says about 45% of women are under the risk of getting vaginal candidiasis because of inadequate sleeping habits. Lack of sleep is also one of the reasons for a weaker immune system; this could develop the possibility of infections in our body.
Check your partner
Either you or your partner could be transmitting the infection to each other. be careful when you have an intercourse. Remember to use the condoms to be on the safer side and do not hesitate to get help from the doctors.
Try out these home remedies if you have a mild yeast infection
Coconut oil
This is a magical oil when it comes to infections; it reduces the dryness and heals the rashes. Regular application of coconut oil on your genitals can even cure the yeast infection. Use pure organic coconut oil, because contaminated oil can be more dangerous and will shoot-up the growth of yeast.
Tea tree oil
Various studies show that tea tree oil contains anti fungal properties and has been used to treat vaginal infections for over a century. For best result apply the oil elaborately on the infected area and let the skin absorb the completely. If you are allergic to tea tree oil, avoid using it and consult your doctor to treat vaginal candidiasis.
Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactobacillus, which can be effective in curing your vaginal yeast infection. This good bacteria helps in reducing the growth of the yeast and protects your skin against harmful infections. Applying yogurt is one of the easiest and affordable remedies to cure vaginal candidiasis, which is followed by many women around the world. You can apply yogurt on the infected area or even regular intake of yogurt will give you a positive result.
Lactobacillus is also found in fermented food and other dairy products.
Things to avoid
- Avoid using harmful chemical based creams, razors to remove the pubic hair
- Avoid wearing tight pants/ clothes
- Don’t use cosmetics such as talcum powder to get rid of the odor
- Don’t remain in the wet undergarments for a long time
- Don’t scratch the genitals if you have itching
- Don’t use harsh soaps to clean up
- Don’t rub the area too much when you want dry using a towel.
What is the cure?
Yeast infections are different and can be treated according to the severity of the infection. You need to consult with your doctor and let him/her examine your vaginal walls. If you have a mild infection then your doctor will prescribe you an anti fungal ointment and some medicines for 2 to 3 days.
In case of severe infections then you need to take regular treatment, you doctor might prescribe you an ointment for 14 days or more and ask you to visit for regular follow-up checkups.
However, it is important to get it diagnosed at the earliest possible. The more you delay and leave it unattended the more severe consequences you will face.
Seek assistance from a medical professional and take good care of your body, be mindful of what you eat, and when you sleep. Also wear clean and dry under garments to protect yourself from vaginal yeast infection.