What Is VYI?

Vaginal Yeast Infection

It’s very common, but you rarely hear it in conversations between women. So let’s talk about thrush, a common yeast infection caused by a simple imbalance of natural vaginal fungus, predominantly Candida albicans.

Normally, the things that keep Candida in check are: a good immune system, good bacteria (called Lactobacilli), and a healthy pH level. However, when the conditions in your vagina change to less acidic, bacteria start to overgrow. This, in turn, could lead to a yeast infection¹.

It’s common enough that every 3 out of 4 women get thrush at least once in their lives. Many women also suffer from a recurring infection² . However, there are some situations that can make you more prone to getting this yeast infection.

You are more at risk of getting thrush if:

• You are pregnant
• You have recently finished a course of antibiotics
• You have diabetes
• You are on your period
• You take birth control pills
• You have been diagnosed with HIV³

Don’t worry! Thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection.

Symptoms

There are some common symptoms of vaginal thrush that are easy to spot and recognize. You should remember that everyone is different, so yeast infection symptoms can vary and can be mild, moderate or more complicated.

You should watch out for these common symptoms:

• Feeling of itchiness, burning, soreness of your vagina and redness and swelling of vaginal lips
• Cottage cheese-like discharge – whitish, thick and odorless discharge
• An uncomfortable feeling when having sex⁴

If you are experiencing vaginal infection for the first time, you should see your OB-GYN, and if you happen to be diagnosed, you can start treatment at home right away.

Fortunately, the condition doesn’t take long to clear up. But it is recommended to see an OBGYN especially if:

• You are under 16
• You’ve experienced vaginal yeast infection more than twice in 6 months
• Treatment has not worked
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Your immune system is weakened, for example you have diabetes, HIV infection or are undergoing chemotherapy⁵

Prevention

Some women suffer from recurring thrush, which may be caused by their lifestyle choices. If thrush fungal symptoms are a problem, you can change some habits to stop the yeast infection from coming back.

First of all, you should remember that your intimate area has a different pH than the rest of the body so using regular, perfumed soaps, and shower gels can disturb the pH balance in your vagina.

Wearing very tight and synthetic underwear and clothes, such as tight leggings, can encourage the growth of Candida because of the trapped moisture. It is also recommended to change wet clothes, like swimwear or sweaty gym wear, right away.

Other tips for avoiding vaginal yeast infection include:

• Avoid using deodorants and douches in and around your vaginal area
• Avoid stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your immune system strong
• Avoid high sugar foods
• Change your tampons and pads frequently
• Ensure that you wipe from front to back, when using the toilet, to avoid spreading the bacteria from your anus to your vagina
• Avoid very hot baths^{6 7}

Thrush, also known as a yeast infection, can happen to anyone. It is easy to spot the symptoms and treatment can be very straightforward. However, if you suffer from recurring thrush, consider taking probiotics to help you maintain the natural levels of good bacteria in your vagina.

Treatment

In most cases, it is easy to treat a vaginal infection. For complete relief, you should use vaginal pessary to treat the infection, and an external cream, which can help relieve your symptoms.

Canesten comes in a range of products like Clotrimazole (Canesten®) 100mg Vaginal Tablet, as well as external creams so you can decide which yeast infection treatment option is more suitable for you to use. Vaginal candidiasis should clear up within a week after one dose of medicine and/ or using the cream daily, when used as indicated⁸ . If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

Do not be tempted to use external cream only. It could help relieve your symptoms of yeast infection but it won’t necessarily get rid of the cause of vaginal thrush.

Consult with your OB-GYN for more information.

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.