Signs that you have yeast infection

At some point in life, most women experience the unpleasant burning and itching sensation of a vaginal yeast infection (thrush). If you're prone to this problem, natural supplements may help to strengthen your overall defenses against yeast overgrowth.

What It Is
The organism responsible for the majority of yeast infections, Candida albicans, is normally present in the body in small and harmless amounts. Under certain conditions, however, yeast multiplies rapidly and causes uncomfortable symptoms. Like most fungi, C. albicans thrives in warm, moist areas, such as the vagina. Other species of Candida may also contribute to yeast infections.

What Causes It
Anything that disturbs the normal balance of yeast and bacteria or the pH (acid/base) level in the vagina can create ideal conditions for yeast to grow uncontrolled. The normal vaginal environment can be upset by something as simple as the wearing of tight jeans or nylon underwear. The risk of yeast infections is also increased by hormonal changes during pregnancy by the use of birth control pills or spermicides and by diabetes.

In addition, a yeast infection is likely to develop when the immune system is weakened by illness, stress or lack of sleep, or if it is severely compromised by HIV infection or chemotherapy. Taking certain antibiotics, such as ampicillin or tetracycline, often leads to yeast infections, because these drugs destroy not only the bacteria causing the illness, but also the 'friendly' bacteria that keep yeast levels in check.

Symptoms

• Intense genital itching.
• Inflammation and redness in the external genital area.
• White, curd-like or thick vaginal discharge that may smell 'yeasty' (like bread) or is odorless.

When to Call a Doctor

• If you experience any of above symptoms for the first time.
• If vaginal discharge has a strong, foul-smelling odor or is tinged with blood.
• If symptoms don't disappear in five days despite treatment.
• If the yeast infection returns within two months.
• Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

How Supplements Can Help
Start taking the supplements at the recommended dosages from the time you first notice symptoms until the infection is gone. Except for the suppositories, they can all be used in combination with prescription or over-the-counter yeast treatments. Strengthening your immune system with vitamin C and echinacea helps your body fight an acute yeast infection. The herb echinacea seems to stimulate white blood cells to destroy the yeast, and vitamin C may inhibit yeast growth. If you are susceptible to yeast infections, take echinacea for three weeks, stop using it for a week, and then resume: use for six months along with vitamin C and acidophilus.

Boost your body's supply of friendly bacteria by taking supplements of acidophilus and bifidus: these are especially important if your infection is linked to antibiotic use. Also add FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), because these indigestible carbohydrates feed the helpful bacteria and promote their growth.

If you would rather not use standard anti-yeast creams, try ready-made suppositories of either tea tree oil or vitamin A and calendula. Clinical studies show that tea tree oil is an effective antifungal agent. Vitamin A supports the healthy maintenance of the mucous membranes that line the vagina; the herb calendula has anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.

What Else You Can Do

• Wear cotton underwear. Stop wearing pantyhose.
• Don’t use deodorized tampons, feminine sprays or commercially prepared douches.
• Use a mild, non-perfumed soap to wash the vaginal area.
• Eat yoghurt with live (active) cultures. Some studies show that having a cup a day reduces the incidence of yeast infections.

Facts and Tips

• Men can get genital yeast infections, too, especially if they are uncircumcised. The only sign may be an inflammation of the head of the penis, but often there are no symptoms at all. A man with a yeast infection may infect his partner and should be treated.
• In place of suppositories or capsules, make a douche from one of the following: 2 teaspoons each of powdered acidophilus and bifidus in a liter of warm water; lukewarm pau d'arco tea; or lukewarm goldenseal tea. Douche twice a day for up to seven days, using 2 cups of liquid each time. Pau d'arco is also effective as a tea, tablet or extract.
• Eating garlic regularly helps to reduce the growth of the C. albicans organism. Cutting back on sugar (including fruit) and refined carbohydrates also helps, since yeast feeds on sugar. (The yeast used as a raising agent for bread is not the type that causes yeast infections.)

Latest Findings
Many women can't correctly identify the symptoms of a yeast infection, according to a recent US study. Nearly 90% of women who had never had a yeast infection -and 65% of those who had - were not able to accurately 'diagnose' the infection after reading medical descriptions of this and other gynecological problems. Many said they would use over-the-counter yeast creams to treat more serious conditions (pelvic inflammatory disease and urinary tract infections), for which such remedies are ineffective. Be sure to get a proper diagnosis before treating a vaginal infection on your own.