What is a yeast infection?

 What is a yeast infection?

How do you know if you have a yeast infection? A fungal infection, also called candida, can be very annoying and does not always go away on its own. A fungal infection can develop in different places on your body, for example on your feet, on your skin or in your mouth. Also, more than half of the women will have to deal with a vaginal fungus at some point in their lives.
The most well-known types of fungal infections are:

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• Vaginal yeast (also called vaginal candida)
• Skin fungus (also called ringworm)
• Athlete's foot (also called swimmer's eczema)

When do I call the doctor in case of an infection caused by fungus in the vagina?

 When do I call the doctor in case of an infection caused by fungus in the vagina?

Make an appointment with your doctor in these situations:

• if you have complaints for the first time
• if the complaints have not decreased after 2 weeks
• if you have bought a medicine yourself and it has not helped enough
• if the symptoms keep coming back
• if you also get other complaints, such as abdominal pain or fever
• if the mucus from your vagina is a different color (yellow-green, brown, or red) or smells bad

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Medicines for inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

 Medicines for inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

The doctor can prescribe a pill or cream for the vagina. This ismiconazole for vaginal application .

• The pill or cream takes you as deep as possible into the vagina. You do this at night before going to sleep.
• The drug kills fungus.
• Another anti-fungal medicine is clotrimazole for vaginal application . You can also buy this without a prescription at the drugstore.

It doesn't matter if you use a cream or pill in the vagina, they work just as well. After a few days the symptoms go away.
It is best to put the medicine in the vagina when you are not on your period.

There are few side effects: sometimes the drug gives a burning sensation in the vagina.

Pay attention:

• Miconazole should not be used together with some blood thinners. Therefore, always read the package leaflet first.
• Anti-fungal medications can damage a condom or pessary. They are not reliable the 3 days after.
• Medicine to swallow
• There is also a pill that you can take against inflammation caused by fungus (this one is calledfluconazole ).
• This probably works just as well as the vaginal treatment.
• Taking a pill can cause more side effects. There is much more medicine in the blood. As a result, more side effects are possible: abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, change in taste, spots, lumps and itching.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding
You can use the vaginal cream or pill as usual.
Insert it deep into your vagina for 3 evenings before going to sleep. Sometimes it may take a week.
You should not take any anti-fungal medicine.

• If you also have itching on your labia
• You can apply a cream (miconazole or clotrimazole) to your labia.
• Do this twice a day, until the itching is gone.
• It is a different cream than the vaginal cream.

In case of severe complaints You
may have a severe inflammation. At the entrance of your vagina it is very red, thick and there are wounds .
Then it may be necessary to use the medicines for a longer period of time. The GP will then discuss this with you.

If you have a partner
Your partner does not need to take medication.
Only if your partner has complaints himself, then it is better for your partner to also take medication. Your partner may have received a lot of fungus from you and therefore develop an infection himself.
Complaints in a man can be: a burning sensation on the penis and red or white spots on the glans.

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Treatment of inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

 Treatment of inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

An inflammation caused by fungus in your vagina often goes away on its own.
The symptoms often disappear after about 2 weeks.

If you have symptoms for the first time:

• You can wait for them to pass on their own.
• Does it bother you a lot? Call your doctor. They can examine you and determine whether a medicine in the vagina can help.
• It is better not to buy such a medicine yourself if you have complaints for the first time. You are not yet sure whether you have an infection caused by fungus.

If you have had the symptoms before:

• You can wait and see if the symptoms go away on their own.
• Does it bother you a lot? Or do they last longer than 2 weeks?
• Then you can buy a cream or pill for the vagina at the drugstore.
• Or make an appointment with your doctor.

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Advice on inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

 Advice on inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina

Try not to irritate the inside of your vagina. Then the natural balance with fungi and bacteria can return.

• Wash the outside of your vagina with lukewarm water. That's enough.
• There is no need to wash more often or better. The inside of the vagina cleans itself.
• Do not use soap or special agents for your vagina, such as rinses, deodorant or tea-tree oil.
• These agents can irritate the mucous membrane of the vagina. They do not help against mold.
• Also, taking garlic, probiotics or yogurt with Lactobacillus Acidophilus will not help.
• Take the time to get aroused during sex. Let your vagina get moist before having sex. Or use a lubricant. Don't free when it hurts.
• Do not use spermicides. These can irritate the vagina.

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How do I know if I have a yeast infection in my vagina?

 How do I know if I have a yeast infection in my vagina?

You usually notice from your complaints that you have an inflammation due to fungus in your vagina.

The first time you come to the GP with these complaints, the GP can examine you.
The doctor will then ask you to take off your underwear and lie down on the examination couch.
Spread your legs a little and try to relax. The doctor will then carefully insert a spreader into your vagina. This allows the doctor to view the mucous membrane.

• You may also have other complaints, such as abdominal pain or blood in the mucus. Then the doctor removes some mucus with a cotton swab.
• This is being investigated to know for sure whether or not it is inflammation from fungus.
• Your doctor can also have this mucus tested for STIs , if you could have an STI .

Have you ever had an inflammation due to fungus and do you recognize the complaints? Then you probably have it again. Examination of the vagina is often not necessary.

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Why do I have a yeast infection in my vagina?

 Why do I have a yeast infection in my vagina?

It is often not clear what causes an inflammation caused by fungus in the vagina.

These things make it more likely:

• soap, also neutral soap.
• This irritates the mucous membrane. This allows fungi to grow.
• medicines, for example:
• antibacterial medicines (antibiotics)
• These medicines can kill certain types of bacteria in the vagina. This allows fungi to grow.
• hormones that inhibit inflammation (corticosteroids)
• diabetes
• changes in hormones, for example if you have your period or are pregnant
• You cannot get a fungus in the vagina from someone else. It is not contagious, not even through sex. Everyone already has these fungi on the skin and mucous membranes.

Tight clothing, panty liners or tampons will not cause inflammation due to fungus.

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