Yeast Infections - What Are They And How Do They Grow?

Yeast Infections in Women

The fungus yeast actually normally lives inside of vaginas. Normally, this fungus doesn't cause any problems. It's called a "yeast infection or fungal infection" when the yeast gets out of control in the vagina. It's quite common for women to get a yeast infections. It's very rarely an issue, and the treatment of this condition is usually simple and effective.

Factors That Cause Yeast Infections

There are many different types of yeast, but the kind that causes yeast infections the most often is known as Candida albicans. Vaginas that are healthy have a variety of different bacteria in them, including some kinds of bacteria, such as Lactobacillius acidophilius that keep the bad kind of yeast in check. Generally, bacteria like these are called "microflora" since they are microorganisms too small to see with the naked eye.

Yeast infections happen when there's a microfloral imbalance between the good bacteria and the bad bacteria like Yeast. The yeast gets out of control and grows so large that the good bacteria can't keep it in check anymore. This can be caused by a few different things. For example, if you get sick with a different disease that requires you to take antibiotics, sometimes these drugs can kill off good bacteria in the vagina that allows the yeast to grow unchecked and cause problems.

Additionally, anything that makes estrogen high in women can be a cause as well. Being pregnant or having therapy to replace hormones can make high estrogen happen. A high level of estrogen in your body can make yeast grow way more than it should, causing the imbalance that leads to infections.

Anything that affects your body's ability to fight against diseases can make yeast infections more likely as well. This includes conditions like diabetes or an HIV infection.

Keeping Your Body Healthy

It's important to do everything you can to avoid or cure yeast infections as soon as symptoms manifest themselves. Some of the symptoms include itching, or any kind of soreness in the vagina. It can be especially obvious you have the infection if it burns when you pee or engage in sexual intercourse.

It's not a required symptom, but a clumpy white discharge can show itself as well, and this is a sure sign that treatment is required.

If you don't treat this problem when it occurs, then sex will be much less pleasant. Life in general will be much less pleasant as well since it makes a burning sensation occur while peeing. Even beyond all of this, a healthy vagina is a critical component in having a healthy body, and yeast infections are the real barrier to that goal.

How to Treat

Fortunately, yeast infections are easy to treat with a good "intimate wash," as it's called. If you wash regularly with an effective intimate wash, it will keep the internal pH of the vagina at a healthy level of 3.8 - 4.5, which will guard against any sort of infection occurring. They will also help decrease the symptoms and the infection itself by creating an inhospitable environment for the infection.