What You Need to Know About Yeast Infection Treatments
Can You Use Vaginal Probiotics as a Yeast Infection Treatment?
Candidiasis a strain of fungus that lives in the vagina. Overgrowth of this fungus causes yeast infections. There are many kinds of Candida strains, and any of them can cause yeast infections, but the Candida albicans strain typically causes yeast infections.
While it may seem scary to think there is always fungus living inside your body, it is completely normal. There are many kinds of microorganisms that all live in your body. These microorganisms are essential for vaginal health. While Candida is a healthy part of this community, sometimes overgrowth happens and causes a yeast infection.
The healthy community of bacteria is commonly known as probiotics. Another common type of bacteria is Lactobacillus, which also lives in the vagina. This type of bacteria functions to keep Candida and other types of bacteria from overproducing.
Some studies show that using vaginal probiotics can be an effective yeast infection treatment for women.
What are Vaginal Probiotics and Do They Work?
Historically, women have used yogurt for its probiotic yeast infection treatment. Scientists haven’t believed this to be effective, but recent studies show that it may be a better treatment than they originally thought.
There have been several studies that show yogurt’s effectiveness in treating yeast infections. In 2012, a study including 129 women used honey and yogurt to treat their yeast infections. Theyfound that this mixture had a similar healing effect as antifungal medications. While the honey-yogurt mixture better eliminated symptoms, traditional medicines were better at clearing the infection itself. Another study was conducted in 2015, which yielded similar results.
Another study conducted in 2015 found that using both prescription antifungal medication with supplemental probiotic support made the antifungal medication more effective. The combination of these two treatments also made the return ofa yeast infection less likely. This suggests that preventatively using probiotics can help women who frequently get yeast infections.
Since the study samples are small, it’s difficult to conclude them until they’re tested further. However, these studies seem to indicate there are little to no risks for using probiotics to treat yeast infections. Along with antifungal medications, probiotics for women may be a useful treatment for those who regularly get yeast infections.
How Can I Try Vaginal Probiotics?
If you’re interested in trying vaginal probiotics, there are several different forms you can choose from. One method is the capsule or suppository. These contain probiotics that will fight off the overproduction of the fungus causing the infection. Look for a treatment that includes Lactobacillusnear the front of the ingredient list, such as Pro-Fem.
If you’d rather take your medication orally, you can also find an oral probiotic treatment. These can take anywhere from one to four weeks to restore vaginal health.
What are the Risks of Using Probiotics?
There aren’t many risks associated with using women’s probiotics, since they already exist in your body. Adding more typically doesn’t have any harmful effects. If you are a reasonably healthy person, you may experience some mild side effects such as bloating and gas.
The only exception is if you have a weakened immune system. Whether you have a weakened immune system from treatment or an underlying condition, it’s best to contact your doctor before using probiotics.
When Should I See a Doctor for a Yeast Infection?
You should make an appointment with your doctor if you’ve never had a yeast infection before. Yeast infection symptoms can sometimes look like other things including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacterial vaginosis, and some sexually transmitted diseases. It’s best for your doctor to rule out these other possibilities, especially since they can sometimes cause pregnancy and fertility issues. Over time, you’ll get better at recognizingthe yeast infection symptoms.
If you take treatment and don’t notice any improvement in your symptoms after seven to fourteen days, you should contact your doctor. It could be a different type of infection that needs different treatment. If it is a yeastinfection, your doctor may prescribe antifungal medication.
The Bottom Line
While there hasn’t been a lot of studies to show women’s probiotic effectiveness for treating yeast infections, there is some indication that it can work. It can be especially helpful for those who experience unwanted side effects with traditional medication. You can safely try using probiotics to treat yeast infections. Talk to your doctor if you have a weakened immune system before trying probiotics.
What Are Yeast Infection Symptoms?
Common yeast infection symptoms are:
- Burning or pain during urination or sex
- Vaginal soreness
- Redness around vagina
- Vaginal itchiness
- Swelling around vagina
- Sore vagina
- Rash around vagina
- Grayish-white discharge
- Clumpy vaginal discharge
Grayish-white vaginal discharge can sometimes look like cottage cheese, and sometimes it looks more watery. The severity of symptoms depends on how long you’ve had the infection. Left untreated, symptoms of yeast infections tend to get worse.
What Causesa Yeast Infection?
Your body is home to trillions of microorganisms, including fungus and bacteria. Candida, a naturally occurring fungus, resides in the vaginal area with Lactobacillus bacteria. Lactobacillus keeps Candidafrom overgrowing. But if there’s an imbalance or the Lactobacillusisn’t working well, an overgrowth of Candidacauses an overgrowth of yeast. This overgrowth will trigger the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections.
The imbalance of microorganisms can be triggered by several factors. They are:
- Antibiotics (which can decrease Lactobacillus bacteria, leaving Candidaunchecked)
- Weakened immune system
- Pregnancy
- Lots of sugary foods in the diet
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Hormonal imbalance, including near your menstrual cycle
- Diabetes
Most of thetime, yeast infections are caused by the Candida albicans strain. Luckily, yeast infections are also easily treatable. If you have recurring yeast infections, another type of Candidastrain may be the cause. Talk to your doctor. They may order some tests to identify what strain is causing your infections so you can better treat them.
