What is a vaginal yeast infection?

 What is a vaginal yeast infection?

In a yeast infection, the balance of the natural bacteria and fungi in the vagina is disturbed. In addition, the fungus Candida is abundant. This is a yeast (a type of fungus) and that is why it is also called a Candida infection.

What exactly causes a Candida infection or why it regularly comes back is unclear. However, some conditions can disturb the balance in the vagina:

• with hormonal changes (e.g. menstruation or pregnancy) fungi have a greater chance of growing;
• washing the vagina frequently with soap (neutral and perfumed) can irritate the mucous membrane of the vagina, causing more fungi to develop;
• antibiotics can eliminate certain bacteria in the vagina making fungi more likely to expand;
• certain medications, such as corticosteroids, can increase the chance of developing fungi;
• women with diabetes have a higher risk of fungal infections.
• There is no evidence that tampons, tight clothing or panty liners increase the risk of yeast infection. Also, a vaginal yeast infection is not contagious or sexually transmitted. The fungi have always been present on the skin and mucous membranes. It is the excessive presence of a fungus that eventually leads to an infection.

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