What are the symptoms of yeast infection in women?

Yeast infection has now become a common condition in women. Yeast infection can develop very easily and multiply very fast. It is a condition which occurs when there is an abnormal balance of bacteria and yeast in the vagina. A fungus called candida is responsible for the abnormal growth and goes out of control and leads to yeast infection. It further leads to swelling, itchiness, and irritation.

What causes yeast infection?

There are various factors which contribute to the development of yeast infection inside a woman's body. Some of the causes may include:

• Weak immune system: A weak immune system will allow the infection to develop easily and grow very fast as the body will lose its ability to fight infections 
• Excess consumption of antibiotics: When you consume antibiotics it may kill the healthy bacteria that your body may require
• Diabetes: Increased sugar level in the blood will make the yeast infection grow very rapidly
• Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal imbalance can create disturbance between the healthy and healthy bacteria in the vagina  
• Consumption of food high in sugar: Diet which is high in sugar can also affect the vaginal health and can create an environment for the infection to grow

Symptoms of yeast infection

Itchiness and slight discomfort are the first symptoms which you might notice. Symptoms can be divided into two major categories according to the severity of the disease.

Symptoms for simple yeast infection:

• Itchiness and irritation
• Burning sensation while passing urine
• Rashes
• Redness and swelling

Symptoms of complicated yeast infection:

• Severe signs and symptoms
• More than four yeast infections in a year
• Unpleasant smell
• You can have a complicated yeast infection when you are pregnant or have uncontrolled diabetes

If you experience any symptom of yeast infection, you must consult a doctor before it reaches a complicated stage. If you experience only minor symptoms then you can treat it naturally with coconut oil or tea tree oil. You can also try antifungal creams. But if the minor symptoms also stay for a longer period then you must consult your doctor.

How to prevent a yeast infection?

You must consider few points to stop any possibility of development of yeast infection inside your body. Some of the things you must consider are:

• Eat a balanced diet
• Try to wear natural fibers like cotton
• Wear only clean clothes
• Do not use unnecessary creams or powders
• Add more probiotics in your diet like curd to increase the intake of healthy bacteria
• Do not use scented feminine products
• Do not over consume antibiotics
• Do not stay in wet clothes for too long
• Do not take frequent hot baths
• Do not wear clothes that are too tight

Treatment for yeast infection

Yeast infection can be treated easily. The treatment depends on the severity of the infection. For simple infections, prescribed medications can work well. But it may take time to treat a complicated case. You need to be very careful if you are suffering from a complicated yeast infection. You need to take medications regularly and apply the prescribed creams and ointments. You may also need to make dietary changes to control yeast infection.

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