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Well Womens guide to Candida
It is part of my quest for well women to try to find solutions to these conditions. Probably one of the most annoying problems that can crop up, is Candida. This is really distressing, particularly if you suffer from it regularly. Recurrent episodes affect your self esteem and of course, your sex life, as well as being sore and irritating. The problem is caused by a Yeast bacteria which is already present in the body getting out of control. The most common to cause it is Candida Albicans and this is mainly the case, but the more resistant, Candida Glabrata will also cause it. It is present in the intestines, mouth and vagina and is normally kept under control by friendly bacteria in the body, however when it gets out of control and the balance is disrupted it wreaks havoc, then the problem escalates. The vagina is one of the areas that Candida causes a major problem. Although the acidic conditions normally prevent it from getting out of control, the vaginal tissues are more susceptible and sensitive to irritation and therefore provide the ideal environment for it to thrive. The yeast thrive in a warm moist environment with low acidity and a good supply of sugar and once the pH of a healthy vagina is disrupted (acid/alkali balance), yeast has the ideal breeding ground. Symptoms Itching Burning Soreness Swelling Yeasty smelling thick white discharge Painful urination
You may have all of these symptoms or less and the degree can range from mild to severe. Sex can be painful and indeed anything that rubs the tissues, like tight underwear or jeans can cause extreme discomfort as well as providing a warm moist environment for yeast to thrive. The discharge can also vary from a little to a lot and be very thick or less thick. The smell is distinctive however, and smells strongly of yeast. Risks and Causes Antibiotics A course of antibiotics can be the trigger of Candida infection for many women, as whilst antibiotics treat many infections, they also kill all the friendly bacteria such as lactobacilli which are responsible for keeping these Candida in the vagina under control. When lactobacilli are destroyed, yeast in the vagina is no longer controlled and it can take over. Also if your body is run down from fighting infection, Candida takes over and multiplies. The Contraceptive Pill The pill can affect our ability to process sugar due to its effects on the hormones within the body responsible for metabolism. For this reason, Thyroid disease and Autoimmune sufferers and diabetics are very susceptible to yeast infections due to both metabolic and blood sugar control problems. It feeds on excess sugar in the body and this causes it to grow. Diabetics have increased sugar in their urine which can feed the yeast in the genital area.
IUD (Inter Uterine Device) Some of the side effects of the IUD can be responsible for Candida infection and women using this are more susceptible due to heavy bleeding and the increased risk of vaginal and uterine infections. Some women are also allergic to spermicides, latex in condoms and the rubber in caps and diaphragms. The symptoms of this allergy can be similar to thrush, but the treatment is different. This is why it is especially important to get a diagnosis from your doctor in order that you can receive the correct treatment. It is also thought that a high sugar diet and regular consumption of alcohol can contribute to thrush as can large amounts of tea and coffee and a diet high in dairy products. Other causes Being an autoimmune disease sufferer Read this article for more insight into the Candida/Autoimmune Disease link. Chemical containing perfumed soaps, bubble baths, lotions, vaginal washes and douches can irritate and/or damage vaginal tissues as can excessive washing or rubbing with towels or wash cloths resulting in thrush due to damage to vaginal tissues. Washing powders and fabric conditioners contain perfumes and chemicals too!! Consider a change to a non biological sensitive skin formula which is also environmentally friendly. Use an organic unscented natural soap to wash the area and nothing else. Menstruation Menstrual blood can change the vaginal environment as can tampons and towels. Unchanged tampons remaining in the vagina for long periods of time will dry out the vagina causing a change in the pH. Towels that are not regularly changed cause a warm moist environment in which yeast can thrive and multiply. It is also known that the material used to make the towels pantyliners and tampons could be contributory as these materials can contain bleach and other chemicals which are disruptive to the vaginal environment. Natural products using organic unbleached cotton are available to buy and I highly recommend them, and if you are a regular sufferer, are preferable to the usual products on the shelves. The more you do to discourage it the better!
Pregnancy Pregnancy is often our first experience of Candida infection. This is due to the high hormone levels causing high levels of sugar in vaginal discharge. Whilst the yeast infection does not harm the baby, some are born with thrush which is usually in the baby’s mouth and can be treated very easily with medication. It is recognisable as white spots in the baby’s mouth but if left untreated can make feeling difficult.
Sex Thrush and yeast infections are not sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and you can get yeast infections even if you have never had sex. However you can pass Candida on to your partner during sex and men are more likely to develop it in this way than women. Thrush in women is caused by the above causes and vaginal changes rather than by contracting it from sexual contact. The main reason that sex causes thrush is that the chemical balance is disrupted during penetrative sex due to inadequate lubrication. Oral sex can also alter the pH as can semen. Considering sex is meant to be pleasurable, it is probably the most distressing of problems when candida appears as a result and can ruin our sex lives, especially when it turns into a chronic condition. A weak immune system, stress, illness, and a run down disposition can also make your body less able to fight infection therefore increasing the likelihood of developing thrush and yeast infections, and it becomes a vicious circle as Candida ruins your immune system when it becomes a chronic condition. It has even been suggested that it aggrevates autoimmune disease and in some cases, can actually cause it. Please see my list of solutions at the bottom of this page.
Diagnosis It is very important to see your doctor to confirm Thrush rather than self diagnosing, even if you have had Thrush before and know the symptoms. Too many products are now available over the counter and it is indeed tempting to go along to your pharmacist instead of seeing the doctor. What is important to realise is that many other vaginal infections are similar to Thrush symptomatically. One thing you do NOT want to happen is that through using Thrush medication unnecessarily, the yeast will build up a resistance to the treatment causing chronic problems. Check with a doctor especially if you have never had Thrush before, are pregnant or your Thrush medication is not working. The most prudent action is to see your GP and ask for a swab to be taken. This is the only way to rule out other infections. Check the symptoms below Thrush: Thick white discharge smelling of yeast – soreness – swelling – itching – redness – burning Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): Greyish white discharge – strong fishy smell – burning – soreness - itching – no swelling Trichomoniasis: Thin frothy white or greenish yellow discharge – very strong fishy smell – vaginal itching and soreness
Treatment (Also see my list of resources and solutions below) As Candida is a fungus it requires anti-fungal treatment which is available as cream for application to the vagina, pessaries for insertion and capsules to be taken orally from your doctor. However, I favour natural methods and this is how I have become virtually Candida free (see below) There are two types of cream on prescription one of which is used on the exterior vaginal area (vulva) and one which is used internally. These are best applied at night. Pessaries are inserted and work from within. They need to be inserted high up into the vagina. It is very important to complete the course in order to make sure the Candida infection is cleared. Capsules are usually taken as a one off for a day only. There are various active ingredients in the medication and the usual one is clotrimazole. Other anti fungal ingredients may be econazole, miconazole, fenticonazole and nystatin. Nystatin may be less effective than the others and take longer in general. Miconazole should not be taken if you are taking Warfarin as a blood thinning medication as Miconazole can cause bleeding and bruising when taken alongside Warfarin. Women who get recurrent Thrush (more than 4 times a year) may be given preventative pessaries to be taken once or twice a week over a longer term, say 3 to 6 months. Recurrent Thrush is usually a sign that yeast infection has taken over the body, usually the intestines, therefore the only method of medication that will be effective is oral capsules.Oral capsules can also have side effects such as nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, skin rashes and diarrhoea. The only safe medication to take during pregnancy is Clotrimazole. Any iodine based cream used for long term prevention should not be used in pregnancy. If you think you have Thrush and are also pregnant, always consult your Doctor or midwife. Do NOT take over the counter preparations without first consulting a doctor or midwife. Do NOT use oral capsules to treat Thrush during pregnancy or when breast feeding. Pessaries and creams can also damage condoms or diaphragms in turn rendering them useless as contraception.
Alternative Treatments (my much preferred methods!! b>Calendula pessaries can be obtained from health shops and the instructions should be carefully followed. A garlic clove wrapped in muslin and inserted into the vagina overnight can be effective as it has strong anti fungal and antiseptic properties. However you will definitely smell very strongly of garlic the following morning, so be prepared!!!! Tea Tree Oil on the end of a tampon and inserted can be effective and there is scientific research to prove that tea tree oil helps in the treatment of Thrush. It can also be applied to dampened cotton wool and used to wipe around the vagina. It can also be applied to panty liners or towels. Tea tree oil will sting but this should reduce after a while. Vinegar is acidic and may be helpful in restoring the balance. Mix one tablespoon with one pint of water and use to wash the vaginal area. Remember not to scrub as this will defeat the object. Natural Live Yoghurt can also be used, either by eating it regularly or inserting it on a tampon as it contains lactobacillus acidophilus, which helps to restore the balance throughout the body. Eating the yoghurt is probably best as it has to pass through the stomach and intestines and therefore can address the problem of yeast throughout the system which then passes to the vagina. Lactobacillus acidophilus is also available in health stores as a supplement and regular use will help keep the intestines clear of Thrush. Click here to buy Acidophilus Tablets There is also a cream called Bio-fem Actigel which is good for both Thrush and Bacterial Vaginosis and I have had some excellent results with this. It is developed by doctors and gynaecologists and is very effective. It is based on natural plant extracts and is gentle and soothing. It has a patented 2QR complex that blocks the adhesion of harmful bacteria and neutralises them effectively.The pH is 4.1 so is complimentary to the natural vaginal pH of 3.8 to 4.5. The good bacteria (lactobacilli or lactic acid bacteria) are stimulated in their development and the gel creates an optimal and natural flora that prevents discomforts.
Click HERE to buy Bio-Fem Actigel
This wash can be used daily to either treat existing Thrush or as a preventative measure. It contains lactic acid which helps maintain the balance in the vagina. However if you are concerned like I am about chemicals in products, then please check the ingredients on their website before using. Sodium laureth sulphate is in this product and some of the other ones I mention on my Chemicals page. Chemicals in the washes can can only make things worse. Using organic pure unscented soaps without parabens and chemicals will certainly help. I have now at last found this natural lactic acid wash Aloe Vera Gel or juice will help soothe the horrific itching and burning and can be used during treatment as will very cold water or ice cubes. Keep some organic 100 per cent pure Aloe Vera Gel in the fridge. Try this product too called Threelac
Prevention is better than cure
All said and done there are many things you can do to help prevent Thrush Eat yoghurt with lactobacillus acidophilus, or take lactobacillus acidophilus supplements regularly.
To see how probiotics can help irritable bowel syndrome, please click here
Wear 100 per cent cotton pants/underwear and don’t wear clothing which is too tight as this will cause friction and a warm moist environment. Do not leave tampons or internal contraception in the vagina for too long. Use Organic panty liners, tampons and towels as these do not cause irritation. They are not made from chlorine bleached cotton or synthetic materials. I have personally noticed a big difference when using these. For Natural organic tampons click here For natural organic sanitary towels and panty liners click here. Common sense, but always wipe from front to back as Candida in the bowel will spread to and affect the vagina. For the same reason ensure your partner takes extra care during sex regarding contact with the anus and your vagina. Use fragrance free toilet paper, preferrably organic and without bleach. After intercourse, apply bio-fem actigel so that it can work to correct the balance in the vagina. Use regularly. When taking antibiotics think about using anti fungal treatment or preferrably Bio-Fem at the same time, but also consider that using too much of these medications (except Bio-fem) can make the yeast resistant. Avoid perfumed vaginal deoderants, washes, bubble bath, lotions or powder in the vaginal area. The chemicals in these products are too harsh for the delicate vaginal tissues. Opt for natural organic fragrance free soaps as even the 100 per cent natural fragrances with essential oils can aggravate vaginal tissue.
Some other products that can help if not completely erradicate candida infection are: Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) Live Cell Oxygen Immunocomplex
Aidance Femmisil,
Colloidal Defence by Harmonic Innerprizes,
Threelac Candida Treatment,
Sovereign Silver Colloidal,
Chamae Rose
See also Embarrassing Problems Also, for complete immune support and much much more, please take a look at this product which is a solution not only for Diabetics, but for anyone looking for a natural safe product to benefit the whole body Essiac is natures alternative remedy that helps to build a strong immune system and amazing results have been achieved.
Please go to my Eczema page - and Cystitis page - for many more remedies that will help erradicate this condition such as Serrapeptase, Zell Oxygen and Colloidal Silver
Books on the subject? Candida Albicans: The Non-drug Approach to the Treatment of Candida Infection
Beat Candida Through Diet: A Complete Dietary Programme for Sufferers of Candidiasis I thought this one was particularly interesting One & the Same: Connecting Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Candidiasis & Immune System
Candida is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease as it is a yeast infection usually present in most women whether it causes symptoms or not, but it can be passed to your partner. To read more about sexually transmitted diseases such as Herpes Simplex, Chlamydia etc, please click here To read about Bacterial Vaginosis please click here
Please click here to go to books about other problems
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