During a lifetime, 75 percent of all women are likely to have
at least one vaginal yeast infection and 45 percent have two or
more.
80 percent of vaginal yeast infections are caused by a fungus
called Candida albicans.
Clothes, especially underwear, that are too tight or made of
nylon material can lead to yeast infections as they trap heat and
moisture.
Hormonal changes can increase the amount of sugar in vaginal
secretions, resulting in yeast infections.
You are more likely to get a yeast infection if your body is
under stress from lack of sleep, poor diet or illness. If you are
pregnant or taking antibiotics, you are also at increased risk for
infection.
The most common sign of a yeast infection is thick, white
vaginal discharge accompanied by itching or irritation.
A vaginal yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted
disease. You may develop a yeast infection even if you are not
sexually active.
Yeast infections are most commonly treated with an antifungal
cream, vaginal suppository or oral medication.
Proper treatment cures up to 90 percent of vaginal yeast
infections in two weeks or less.
To prevent yeast infections, it is best to keep the external
area of your genitals clean and dry. Wearing loose clothing and
avoiding the use of irritating soaps or vaginal sprays may reduce
the risk of contracting a yeast infection.
Most yeast infections are self-diagnosed and treated with
over-the-counter medications. The condition can be diagnosed by a
physician with a simple analysis of vaginal secretions.
Although yeast infections are not a serious condition, left
untreated they can be very uncomfortable and may persist.
It is rare to transmit a yeast infection to your sexual
partner. Your partner does not automatically have to be treated for
the condition if you have it.
Pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding should consult a
physician before using medications to treat a yeast infection. Some
common medications are not safe to use during pregnancy or
breastfeeding.
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