curing yeast infections

Candida Albicans is a fungus that resides on the skin inside and outside vagina. The acidic environment checks growth of this fungus. But when there is a decrease in this acidity, there is an imbalance in the ratio of normal bacteria to yeast. This leads to increased breeding of fungus causing yeast infection, also called thrush if related to oral cavities.

What are Vaginal Yeast Infection Symptoms?

The common reasons for vaginal thrush in women include antibiotics, change in menstrual cycles, unhygienic vaginal sponges or douches, improper use of contraceptives such as IUDs etc. Vaginal yeast infection shows up with several uncomfortable and painful symptoms which are important to be detected on time.

Common vaginal yeast infection symptoms are as given below:

• Vaginal itching
• Vaginal bleeding
• Swelling of the vulva
• Bad fishy smell from vagina i.e. bad vaginal odor
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Vaginal soreness, irritation or burning
• Rashes on skin outside the vagina or red patches on it
• Burning sensation during urination
• Thick, white and cottage cheese like discharge from vagina

Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment

An apropos vaginal yeast infection treatment, as soon as any vaginal yeast infection symptom is detected, is essential because untreated infection can spread in entire body. In absence of proper treatment the infection becomes immune to normal and less severe remedies and causes recurrent yeast infection. However, utmost care should be taken while vaginal yeast infection treatment, because at times the treatment relieves only symptoms and does not heals the root cause of infection.

Vaginal yeast infections can be treated by antifungal medications which are applied to vagina directly as ointments, creams or are prescribed as tablet doses. Common drugs used in the medication of this treatment are:

• Butoconazole
• Clotrimazole
• Miconazole
• Nystatin
• Tioconazole
• Oral fluconazole
• Terconazole etc.

But care should be taken that no doses of fluconazole are given to the patient if she is pregnant or is recovering from recent pregnancy. The patient should wear loose fitting cotton undergarments. Also, she must rigorously ensure that hygiene of her private parts is maintained. Use of antibiotics and steroids should be immediately stopped. Take care to control your diabetes and take steps to improve your immunity.

Although all the above medications are available and used without a medical prescription from a qualified doctor, they should be used only for healing of recurring infection and not for first occurrence of the infection. If you are observing the vaginal yeast infection symptoms for the first time, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. This visit will ensure that the observed symptoms are due to yeast infections and not due to any other vaginal disease like gonorrhea or trichomoniasis.

Prevention is always better than cure. Always make a habit of maintaining personal hygiene and avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. A few easy guidelines will keep you miles away from this dreadful infection.