Chronic Vaginal Yeast Infections

Yeast infection is annoying, but boy, if you’re dumb enough to let it reach a chronic stage, you’ve really got yourself in thick soup. The searing irritation inside your vagina and the itching and burning on the vulva, the area around the vagina; the abhorrent and disgusting vaginal discharge; and a complete loss of self-esteem can really make you climb walls.

Yeast infections are normally not life-threatening, but they may ruin your sex life and indicate the onset of a more serious health condition, like diabetes. Although, it may seem the end of the world, there are some really effective cures. But, before that let’s see what chronic yeast infection is and how best can it be tackled.

Cause of yeast infection

Signs of pregnancy yeast infection can hardly be ignored! Ask any woman who has undergone the trauma of this infection and you’ll know what we mean. Early symptoms of pregnancy yeast infection usually manifest themselves as itchiness, irritation, soreness, burning and redness in vagina, vulva the area around the vagina and labia the lips of the vagina. This may be followed by an odorless, white, creamy or cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge. Experiencing pain during sex and urination are some other symptoms.

However, the fear of every would-be mother is the safety of the baby in her womb. The good news is this infection has no effect on your developing baby. However, at the time of labor, there's some chance of the newborn baby contracting this infection as he or she passes through the birth canal. This infection, called thrush, manifests itself as white patches in the baby's mouth. However, this is not a serious condition and is easily treated.

Symptoms of yeast infection

Chronic yeast infection symptoms are no different from normal yeast infection, but only more severe. Women with chronic vaginal yeast infection usually experience genital itching or burning, with or without cottage cheese-like vaginal discharge. However, if yeast infection remains untreated, chronic symptoms may set in. They may include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching, muscle aches, fatigue, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches and dizziness. Whew! That’s quite a bag of miseries!

Treatment for chronic yeast infection

During diagnosis your physician would ascertain whether your ailment is a chronic yeast infection or a recurrent one. This distinction is important. Whereas chronic condition will be present most of the time for a long time, possibly for the rest of your life, recurrent comes on again and again, even after treatment. So, before your physician prescribes something for chronic yeast infection cure, he or she’ll generally recommend a complete medical checkup, including that for all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This will help determine what, if any, systemic problem is causing this infection.

Once the chronic yeast infection is established, your physician will recommend the best line of treatment that may include the following:

a. Long-term therapy with antifungal agents, like terconazole ketoconazole, fluconazole and nystatin. The other effective medications generally recommended are Candisil, vaginal creams, boric acid vaginal suppositories, tea tree oil vaginal suppositories, and the like.

b. Diet modification including restriction of sugar and other simple carbohydrates. Follow a low carbohydrate diet with almost no simple carbohydrates, only a small amount of complex carbohydrates.

c. If allergy occurs during chronic yeast infection, take Candida allergy shots.

Preventing chronic yeast infection

Since prevention is better than cure, start with body care and changes in your living habits. Let’s see what they are:

a. Avoid synthetic clothes, like pantyhose and tight pants, such as jeans which trap moisture. Wear loose, cotton clothes and undergarments that absorb sweat and help the skin to ‘breathe’.

b. Always dry the genital area after bathing or swimming.

c. Wipe front to back when you urinate or have a bowel movement. Bowel bacteria and yeast can cause vulvar skin breakdown and vaginal infection.

d. Use tampons instead of sanitary pads. The chemicals in many pads can cause skin irritation. However, natural cotton pads are most suitable.

e. Don’t shave the vulvar area, as pubic hairs prevent the chemicals from making contact with the skin.

Yeast infection is bad enough, but a chronic one can cause havoc in your life. So, never let this simple infection take a turn for the worst. Consult your physician at the first instance. This may well be a ticket to your continued happiness!