What Causes Yeast Infections in Women
If you’re a woman suffering from recurring burning, itching and unwanted odour in the genital areas, then what causes yeast infections should be of great interest to you. You don’t want to be taking that regular trip to the doctor, who gives you the same old anti-fungal cream so that you can go through the same old routine. If you know what causes your symptoms you’re half way there to preventing it – permanently.
The warm, dark and moist areas of your genitals are the perfect breeding ground for an overgrowth of the candida fungus – and this is what causes yeast infections. Normally, there are other organisms present in these parts of your body besides candida, which provide “balance” to the microscopic eco-system going on ‘down there’. If this eco-system is disrupted, then one or other of the organisms can multiply out of proportion, producing the symptoms of an “infection”. If the bacteria multiply, you get ‘bacterial vaginosis’ but if it’s the candida fungus, you get what the medical profession like to call ‘candidiasis’. The first of these can generally be self-diagnosed by the “fishy” odour it produces; the second by a “yeast” odour, like that of rising bread. 
Here’s What Causes Yeast Infections
Now that we’ve established that a yeast infection results from an imbalance in your body’s eco-system, we’re in a position to outline some of the things that cause this disruption. Understanding this will help prevent future outbreaks.
Here we go . . .
Using antibiotics is probably the number one cause behind yeast infections. Antibiotics are great for killing off harmful bacteria that may be causing infections in other parts of your body, but the unfortunate side effect is, that they also destroy the bacteria in your genital regions, leaving the candida albicans fungus to thrive unchecked. A general rule of thumb should be, that whenever you need to take an antibiotic prescription, include a tub of plain (unsweetened) yoghurt in your grocery order. Yoghurt contains a bacterial culture which is good for the ‘flora’ in your intestinal tract, as well as other areas of your body.
Clothing Materials that don’t allow your body to ‘breathe’ also contribute to what causes yeast infections. The ideal under clothing for women is to wear no knickers at all, but this is not always practical. So the next best thing is to look for cotton underwear rather than nylon, and if you can handle it, without any dye or bleach. It may not be the sexiest look but it will reduce your likelihood of contracting a yeast infection. Oh, and need we say it? Make sure you change regularly and keep it clean.
Chemicals are another culprit behind what causes yeast infections. You may think you’re doing yourself a favour by washing your genitals with antibacterial soap or lotions, but by ‘cleaning yourself out’ down there, you could be upsetting the balance and setting yourself up for candida overgrowth. Just a good flush out with clean water while showering should do the job quite well. Apart from that, your vaginal area should be left to look after itself, as it usually does the job quite well. Beware also of perfumes, deodorants and other scented products getting anywhere near your vagina, as well as scented tampons or sanitary pads, bubble bath lotions or bath salts that contain disinfecting ingredients. Apart from the bacterial issue, chemicals can also cause allergic reactions which is what causes yeast infections as well.
Some Condoms that contain lubricants such as spermicides which are also designed to kill viruses to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) will also kill off the bacteria that keeps the candida at bay.
Diet: There are some things that candida loves and one of them is sugar. After all, it is used elsewhere with another kind of yeast as part of the fermentation process. In order to control candida growth you need to limit it’s supply of sugar. This not only means cutting back on your intake of sweets, soda drinks and the like, but also foods that are readily converted to sugar through metabolism by your liver. Consequently, diabetics are more susceptible to what causes yeast infections than healthy people. Processed foods, unsprouted grains such as the ground wheat found in breads and cakes are therefore included. Too much fruit is also taboo. Stick to a protein rich diet or basically, any good weight loss diet and you’re pretty safe.
Fluctuating Hormone Levels are another big player in favour of yeast infections. Yeast doesn’t like an acidic environment and changing hormones in a woman can affect your pH levels so that they are less acidic. Under such conditions, candida yeast infection thrives. Women on the pill often complain of monthly recurring yeast infections. Older women on hormone replacement therapy, or taking steroidal drugs for ailments such as arthritis can also be more susceptible.
Having unprotected sex with your partner while they have a candida infection is another item in the list of what causes yeast infections. Both partners need to ensure they are free from symptoms otherwise you’ll just keep transfering it back and forth. Men can also have yeast infections but their symptoms are not always so obvious, so a level of trust with your sexual partner should be involved.
Finally, a poor immune system is a perfect target for yeast infections. If you’re suffering from a chronic illness such as diabetes, leukemia or the like, apart from the drugs you’re taking that won’t help, a weakened immune system is less able to maintain the necessary microbal balance so that the candida fungus doesn’t get out of control. We could also include in this, those times when you’re generally feeling run down or fatigued. Your immune response is low and this is what causes yeast infections – not only in the vaginal area but also in the throat and intestines.