What Are Vaginal Yeast Infections?
Vaginal yeast infections, also known as candidiasis, are a common female condition. Yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida. This fungus is associated with intense itching, swelling, and irritation.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 3 out of 4 women will experience a yeast infection at one point in their lives. Once you get a yeast infection, you’re more likely to get another one.
Vaginal yeast infections can be spread by sexual contact, but in general they aren’t considered a sexually transmitted infection. Treatment for yeast infections is relatively simple, depending on how severe they are.
What Causes Vaginal Yeast Infections?
The Candida genus of yeast is a naturally occurring microorganism in the vaginal area. Its growth is kept in check by the lactobacillus bacteria. However, these bacteria can’t work effectively if there is an imbalance in your system. This leads to an overgrowth of yeast, which causes the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections to be present.
Most yeast infections are caused by Candida albicans — a specific strand of yeast. These yeast infections are easily treatable. If you’re having recurring yeast infections or problems getting rid of a yeast infection with conventional treatment, then a different version of Candida might be the culprit. A lab test can let your doctor know which type of Candida you have.
The imbalance that allows the overgrowth of yeast to happen can be due to:

antibiotics (they lower the amount of lactobacillus, or good bacteria, in the vagina)
pregnancy
uncontrolled diabetes
weak immune system
poor eating habits, including a lot of sugary foods
hormonal imbalance near your menstrual cycle
stress
lack of sleep
The Symptoms of a Vaginal Yeast Infection
Vaginal yeast infections have a common set of symptoms. Usually the length of time your yeast infection is left untreated can have a direct impact on how severe your symptoms are.
Frequent symptoms include
itching
burning
large or small amounts of vaginal discharge, often whitish gray and thick (although there are also times the discharge can be watery)
pain during sex
soreness
rash
Getting a Vaginal Yeast Infection Diagnosis
Yeast infections are simple to diagnose. Doctors will normally begin by getting information regarding your medical history. This will include whether or not you have had prior yeast infections. Normally, doctors will also ask if you have ever had a sexually transmitted infection.
The next step is a pelvic exam. Your doctor will examine your vagina and the surrounding area to see if there are external signs of infection. They will also examine your vaginal walls and cervix. Depending on what your doctor discovers, they will take a vaginal culture to send to the lab for confirmation. Tests are usually ordered only for women that have yeast infections on a regular basis or for infections that won’t go away..... For more info click http://ucintor..com.ng/2016/09/vagina-yeast-infection.html