Yeast Infection
A yeast infection is caused by an overgrowth of naturally occurring yeast organisms in the genital area. Women usually get yeast infections in the vaginal area. Men can get a yeast infection on the penis.
Yeast infections are usually not sexually transmitted. Although many women get a yeast infection without any noticeable cause, it can be triggered by anything that changes the natural balance of micro-organisms in the vagina, such as taking prescription antibiotics. The human body is filled with what are described in simple terms as "good bacteria" and "bad bacteria". When you get any infection, yeast included, your body has an overabundance of bad bacteria and that has overwhelmed the healing and balancing capabilities normally handled by the good bacteria and your body's immune system.
The second biggest cause of yeast infections for women is the clothing they wear. Wearing tight pants for instance or underclothing that does not let air circulate can create a super friendly breeding environment for the bacteria to populate and grow.
Another common cause of vaginal yeast infections in women is colored dies and perfumes. If you use perfumed toilet paper for instance, or feminine hygiene products, you may be more susceptible to a yeast infection then ordinary people.
Dirt will help create yeast infections too, particularly if there is an open cut or sore in the affected area. This is actually a very common cause of oral thrush in young children, because they tend to play in the dirt and sometimes even eat it. Women are more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections if they wear dirty clothes, or have intercourse with men who work with dirt, grease or oil during the day and haven't cleaned up first.
People with certain diseases, including diabetes and HIV infection, are also especially vulnerable to yeast infections.
Things like unbearable itching, a burning sensation of the irritated area, painful sexual intercourse, hurting during urination, yeasty smell or cottage cheese-like discharge, and a rash are all indications that you might be suffering from a yeast infection, or bacterial vaginosis.
For women, your doctor or other health-care provider will collect a sample of fluid with a small swab from the vagina and have it tested at a laboratory. For men, a yeast infection can usually be diagnosed by a simple visual exam.
Medicated creams, vaginal suppositories, or prescription antibiotic pills taken by mouth can be used to cure a yeast infection. These medicines are quite strong, and their job is to kill all bacteria in your body. Antibiotics don't differentiate between good or bad bacteria, so when you take these medicines - particularly for an extended period of time - all the good bacteria in your body is destroyed in the process. This leaves you more vulnerable to other types of infections, and vaginal yeast infections are common ones woman suffer with after taking prescription antibiotics. Many of these treatments are available without a prescription at drugstores. You should see a doctor if your yeast infection won’t go away after you’ve taken a full course of medication, or if it keeps returning, as there may be other causes of your symptoms such as colloidal silver.
If a yeast infection is left untreated, discomfort and inconvenience are the worst problems experienced.
In general, sex partners do not need to be treated unless they have symptoms. However, women can also get yeast infections from men. So it's important to treat both partners if a yeast infection is suspected. To minimize the risk of passing the infection to a partner, it is generally recommended that you abstain from sexual activity until all of your symptoms are gone
Humans don’t know of any serious effects on pregnant mothers of a yeast infection, but during pregnancy, you should tell your doctor that you’re pregnant when you seek treatment for a yeast infection as colloidal silver.
A yeast infection is not usually sexually transmitted. However, all pregnant women should be tested for diseases that ARE sexually transmitted (STDs), including HIV, as early as possible in pregnancy. You should be tested again during your pregnancy if you or your partner engages in activities that increase your risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). For example, you are at higher risk for STDs if you have a new sex partner during pregnancy, or if you have more than one partner. If left untreated, STDs can be devastating for your baby. To protect yourself and your baby against HIV and other STDs, use a latex condom whenever you have sex. However, condoms can actually create yeast infection too. The use of condoms which have spermicide on them known as nonoxynol-9 has been proven in studies to be linked to increased yeast infections. Women allergic to latex may have increased chances if they use latex condoms.
Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic medication may help reduce the risk of a yeast infection. You can reduce your risk of getting most other infections that are sexually transmitted, including HIV, by having sex only in mutually monogamous relationship with a partner you are sure is not infected. If you are having sex outside of such a relationship, you can reduce your risk of STDs by:
1) Always using a latex condom (or other type of latex barrier) whenever you have sex vaginal, anal, or oral. Condoms made of “natural” materials, such as lambskin, protect against pregnancy, but not against STDs. If you are allergic to latex, you can use condoms made of polyurethane or other synthetic materials.
2) Limiting the number of people you have sex with. The more partners you have, the higher your risk.
3) Avoiding alcohol and drugs when you have sex. Drinking or getting high makes it much harder to remember to use condoms to protect yourself and other.