Yeast Infection Causes
Common Causes of Yeast Infections
If you've ever had a yeast infection, you know that there's nothing funny about it. Few health problems are more frustrating or uncomfortable. To make matters worse, an unrelenting yeast infection is embarrassing too. Break a leg or come down with influenza and at least you're guaranteed a certain amount of sympathy from people close to you, but develop a pernicious yeast infection and even your best friend and your partner probably don't want to hear about it.
It's not fair, but you can take back control of your body. Yeast infections are preventable, and the first step to getting back on track is to understand what causes them.
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Technically speaking, most yeast infections are caused by the microorganism candida albicans (sometimes called monilia); a type of microscopic fungus. Candida is always present in small quantities in the human body and normally presents no problem because it is kept in check by other friendly microorganisms (like bacteria), but under some conditions, this candida multiplies so rapidly it takes over, causing the uncomfortable symptoms of a yeast infection. Since candida can cause problems in many other body systems, and since the symptoms can be wide-ranging a subtle, many people (both women and men) have active candida infections and don't even realize it.
Lots of different triggers can kick off an infection.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Antibiotics.
Antibiotics kill not only unwelcome germs but also the welcome organisms in the vagina and elsewhere in the body that normally keep yeast in check. Overprescription of antibiotics is one of the most common causes of yeast infections today. Most colds and flu are caused by viruses which are unaffected by antibiotic drugs, yet physicians routinely prescribe antibiotics anyway because their patients want to go home with pills. The antibiotics then kill the healthy bacteria in the body, leave the cold or flu raging, and kick off a yeast infection. - Tight Clothing.
Yeast thrives in moist, warm environments. So when clothing is tight and poorly ventilated, keeping the skin next to it constantly moist, a yeast infection is more likely to take hold. Avoid tight jeans and choose cotton over nylon or synthetic underwear. - Chemicals.
Scented toilet papers, vaginal deodorants, fabric softeners, and worst of all, commercial douches, all contain chemicals that aggravate the skin and the vaginal tract, which can trigger a yeast infection. Ironically, while many women believe that commercial douches keep them ‘fresh,' when in fact using a commercial douche practically guarantees a yeast infection. The healthy vaginal tract is not dirty, and washing it out with harsh chemicals actually causes the problem the product claims to prevent. - Diet.
While some experts insist that diet has no impact on yeast infections, a direct correlation has been shown in diabetic women between sugar in the urine and susceptibility to candida infections. A diet high in sugar and preservatives is a diet that yeast loves. Eating more alkaline foods such as dark leafy greens, raw vegetables, most fresh fruits, and staying away from a lot of refined starch and chemicals will not only starve yeast, it will give you a healthier immune system overall. Most people in developed countries could stand to clean up their diets anyway, so if you are prone to yeast infections, it's definitely time to start eating more healthfully. - Condoms/Nonoxynol-9.
Nonoxynol-9 is a spermicide that is commonly used on condoms and that has been linked to frequent yeast infections. While using a condom and getting a yeast infection is far preferable to not using one and getting an STD, if you use condoms frequently and are prone to yeast infections, you might want to look for a brand without the spermicide. - Injury during Sex or from Other Friction.
Vagina tissues are delicate and are easily irritated by friction from tight clothing or lack of lubrication during sex. Oil based products like Vaseline can break down latex, and lotions designed for the outside of the body usually contain chemical irritants, so if insufficient lubrication is a problem, look for a product specially designed for sexual activity such as Astroglide or even KY Jelly. - Hormones.
Normal hormone fluctuations can make a woman more prone to yeast infection. Pregnant women are more susceptible because of hormone changes, and many women get yeast infections right before their periods. Usually the onset of a woman's period will end the imbalance causing the infection, since blood is chemically hostile to the candida organism. - Sex.
Candida can also be transmitted by sexual activity. Men can and do get candida infections, but often in a man such infections are asymptomatic. Most men won't be bothered by the presence of candida the way women are, (or at least won't notice it as quickly if it presents as fatigue or whole body symptoms) so if you have recurring, baffling yeast infections and a steady partner, try treating both of you. - Compromised Immune System.
If you have an autoimmune disease, HIV, AIDS, or any other chronic illness that impacts how your immune system functions, you are more likely to struggle with yeast infections. Knowing this can help you to take measures to counteract those issues with diet and lifestyle changes so you can be more comfortable.
Once you understand some of the more common reasons you might be getting yeast infections, you can start to systematically take practical steps to reduce the likelihood that they will recur. In doing this, you will most likely learn what the specific issue is in your specific case, and that's definitely worth knowing. If a simple change is required (i.e., cotton instead of nylon underwear), you can make the change, and if it turns out to be a more complex cluster of circumstances, at least you have a way to approach them
Like so many things is life, conquering yeast infections is a matter of understanding your own body, and then taking whatever measures are necessary to restore its natural balance.