Yeast Infections
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What is a vaginal yeast infection?
Many women experience vaginal yeast infections during their lifespan. Often resulting in uncomfortable symptoms like burning, itching, and a white discharge, this infection impacts the vagina and the area around it, the vulva.
What causes a yeast infection?
A yeast infection is caused by several different fungi that normally grow in the body. (Yeast is a kind of fungus.) A change in the chemical balance in the vagina allows the fungus to grow too rapidly and cause symptoms.
Yeast infections most often occur in a woman's vagina. Yeast infections can occur in other parts of the body and in men. Though uncomfortable, yeast infections are not serious and can be cured. It is not considered a sexually transmitted disease.
What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?
Common symptoms:
- Intense vaginal and or vulvar itching
- Thick, odorless discharge (might resemble cottage cheese)
Less common symptoms:
- Sore vagina
- Vulvar rash
- Burning during urination
- Painful sex
Why do yeast infections occur?
The fungus that causes yeast infections is a normal inhabitant of the vagina. Usually it exists in small numbers and causes no symptoms. At certain times, these normal fungi overgrow the healthy bacteria and symptoms of a yeast infection occur. Some factors that can contribute to the fungi growing more than they should are:
- Hormonal contraceptives
- Pregnancy
- Antibiotic treatment
- Weakened immune system
- Diabetes
- HIV\AIDS
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