How to Prevent, or Treat, a Yeast Infection

If you've ever had a yeast infection, you know the deep-down itchy feeling that is its main symptom.

Dr. Michele Curtis, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, says you can often successfully self-treat a yeast infection with an over-the counter remedy from the drug store. However, if your infection returns just days or weeks after you've applied that remedy as directed, you shouldn't keep trying that same approach. It's time to check out the situation with your family physician or gynecologist.

"An over-the-counter product frequently deals effectively with the most common of vaginal infections," she says. "So if the problem returns, you need to learn whether you have a less common form of vaginal infection, a lesion, a resistant form of yeast infection, or perhaps an infection of your genital tract."

About 75 percent of women, during the full course of a lifetime, experience a yeast infection. To understand why, it's important to realize that the warm, dark, moist vagina is an environment perfectly suited to the growth of yeast. Many women have a colonization of yeast in the vagina without noticeable symptoms, explains Dr. Curtis. Only when some change takes place, to "knock out of kilter" the balanced environment, does an excess colonization of yeast takes place.

"Among the factors that might prompt a change in the normal pH of the vagina are pregnancy, diabetes, the wearing of tight underwear or skin-tight slacks, taking an antibiotic, using a feminine hygiene product, or coughing," notes Dr. Curtis. Therefore, she advises her patients to try wearing cotton underwear that permits some breathing room, dry themselves thoroughly after bathing or showering, avoid perfumed soaps, and use mild soap and plenty of water for cleansing.

"Although douching provides no health benefit - and in fact may do mischief in the system - some women still continue the practice," says Dr. Curtis. "I tell my patients that the body naturally cleans itself by means of minor, harmless discharges and any attempt to flush the vagina out by douching may have the unwanted effect of flushing bacteria into the cervix, uterus and pelvis."

For those women who self-diagnose a yeast infection but find that an over-the-counter product fails to give relief, a thorough medical evaluation is the answer.

"First, I ensure that no other medical problem, such as undiagnosed diabetes or HIV is involved," says Dr. Curtis. "If we're dealing with a resistant yeast infection, frequently a more potent prescription is effective; however, any infection that recurs four times a year or more requires our doing a fungal culture to identify the exact nature of the infection."

To clarify the misconceptions held by some of her patients, Dr. Curtis is quick to explain that a yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, so a male sexual partner need not receive treatment. And although some people swear by yogurt as a preventive, she reports that clinical studies are inconclusive on the matter.

"Eat yogurt if you wish - it's certainly healthy for you. Even if it doesn't prevent yeast infections, it won't hurt."

- Courtesy of The University of Texas Health Leader webzine (http://www.healthleader.uthouston.edu)

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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