Pregnancy And Yeast Infection - Why Does It Occur ?

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.

Use of antibiotics can cause fungi to proliferate. Long-term use of antibiotics kills bacteria, both good and bad and can weaken the body's natural ability to fight infection. This allows the bad bacteria to grow uncontrollably because the good bacteria have been reduced in number and is unable to fight the bad bacteria. This is when an infection may occur.

Early signs of infection include itchiness, irritation, soreness, burning, and redness of and around the vagina. Cheese-like liquid discharges might be a symptom of the infection's further development. As this could bring along some pain and is transmittable to others, it is advisable to abstain from sex while suffering from a yeast infection.

Treating yeast infections during pregnancy does not differ substantially from standard treatment. However, it is wise to check with your doctor to determine if any treatment might be harmful to your or the fetus. Antifungal creams are available over-the-counter and your doctor can tell you which will be helpful for your. It is possible that he or she will recommend a particular product meant just for pregnant women.

Statistics suggest that one out of every six women will experience some form of yeast infection during the term of their pregnancy. Whilst this may be alarming, the good news is that yeast infection will not harm your baby. It's hard not to worry but while pregnancy and yeast infection are very common, the condition is generally easy to treat fast and successfully.