Holistic Facts - Natural Home Remedies

One of the more uncomfortable things when it comes to being a female involves the experience of vaginal infections, especially infections that are caused by yeast. With this in mind, going through pregnancy and yeast infection at the same time is something that seems to be common. There are several reasons for pregnant women to be prone to yeast infections, a few of which are difficult to control.

When it comes to yeast infections, also known as monilial vaginitis and vaginal candidiasis, the fungus Candida is the main reason for the spreading of the disease. Women that suffer from vaginal yeast infections will find that the fungus called Candida albicans is the cause. This fungus occurs naturally in a woman’s body so a positive test result for Candida alone is not necessarily a cause for concern.

Pregnant women are likely to suffer a yeast infection because of the increase in estrogen they experience during their pregnancy. Higher estrogen levels mean higher production of glycogen, the form of glucose stored in the body. The presence of glycogen is conducive to the rapid growth of yeast. Several studies have shown that glycogen may speed up the growth of yeast and even encourage it to stick to the vaginal walls, making a yeast infection more likely to occur.

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.

Even though treatment for yeast infection is usually the same for pregnant women as for regular cases it is better to consult your doctor because the possible effects of yeast infection medicine on the pregnant women are not entirely known. Your doctor might prescribe a specific product for yeast infection treatment in pregnant women. Over-the-counter antifungal creams are also available.

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.