Yeast Infections And Pregnancy - A Common Condition
At some time during their lives, most women will experience an irritating condition such as yeast infection. Vaginal infections are not uncommon in women, and yeast infections are especially prevalent. It seems that pregnancy and yeast infections are a fact of life for many women, you will be more susceptible to yeast infections and at the same time, there may be less you can do to prevent them.
Monilial vaginitis and vaginal candidiasis are additional terms sometimes used to describe yeast infections. A fungus called Candida is thought to be the cause of the disease. Most vaginal yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Candida is a fungus that is normally found in the human body. In fact it occurs naturally in the body and in most cases is not a problem.
During pregnancy, the most common cause of yeast infections is the change in estrogen levels. As the estrogen levels rise during pregnancy, higher levels of glycogen are also produced, which is the body's method of storing glucose. Glycogen causes the area to be more vulnerable to a yeast infection. According to research, glycogen may be the reason that yeast multiplies faster and also permits the fungus to adhere to the vaginal walls.
Antibiotics kill bacteria in the body that can cause disease, but they also kill good bacteria. The bacteria that can keep yeast organisms in check is also affected by prolonged use of antibiotics. When those good bacteria are gone, yeast can grow out of control and result in a yeast infection.
Symptoms of yeast infection include itchiness, burning, soreness and redness of the genital area. These are the initial signs of the condition. As the yeast continues to grow, there may be a liquid, cottage-cheese like discharge and you may experience discomfort. It is important to refrain from sex while you have this infection.
A positive thing in treating yeast infections with a pregnant woman is that many of the same treatments used in non pregnant women are available for pregnant woman. The best thing would be to consult with your doctor to be sure you obtain the best yeast infection medication for your condition and know of any side effects. It may be that an over-the-counter cream may be recommended by your doctor. Or, the doctor might have a special treatment program designed for pregnant women.
The good news is that a yeast infection in the mother will not have any affect on the developing fetus. It is believed that as much as 15% of all pregnant women end up suffering from a some yeast infection complaint during pregnancy. Indeed it may be difficult to avoid a yeast infection during pregnancy given the changes in the hormone levels. With this said, yeast infection during pregnancy doesn't need to be worrying or miserable as it is fairly easy to treat quickly and successfully.
