Got Yeast! A Guide to Diagnosing Yeast Infection in Women
The female human body is an organic machine made of nerve, muscle
and bone. It can nurture babies for up to nine months. But, like all
machines, it is prone to the occasional malfunction, such as, well,
getting candidiasis - better known as a yeast infection, or in this case
vaginal thrush. So how do you go about diagnosing yeast
infection?
Not Quite Yeast, Actually...
To begin, vaginal
thrush is not brought about by yeast. The infection is actually caused by
a fungus called Candida albicans which has yeast-like properties. It grows
naturally in warm, moist, dark regions of the body, like the mouth and the
vagina. Its growth is kept checked by a kind of beneficial bacteria which
also grows in the human body. The job of Candida albicans is to search for
harmful bacteria and destroy them.
The problem starts when the good
bacteria that monitor the growth of Candida albicans die, either because
of antibiotics or a weak immune system. Once these bacteria die, Candida
albicans grow rapidly and spread aggressively. Add to this the fact that
all candida fungi can pass through muscle or organ walls in the body (it
has been known to penetrate intestinal walls), and there you have it - an
infection that irritates the vagina as well as the vulva.
So How Do
You Diagnose It, Really?
The first step to determine the symptoms.
The most telling symptom is if your body releases a white or whitish-gray
discharge which comes out clumpy and has a smell that reminds you of bread
or beer. Other common warning signs include severe itching, a burning and
tingling sensation, and even soreness, all of which make walking,
switching positions, urinating and sexual intercourse difficult. Some of
these symptoms may be heightened through exposure to chemicals, such as
perfumes and household cleaning materials.
Sufferers are also more
prone to develop allergies through inhaling airborne mold. Damp, dark
locations can make them feel worse. They may also display a craving for
sugar, breads, carbohydrates and alcohol, though sufferers may not
necessarily be tolerant to alcohol. But even then these symptoms
altogether may make you a candidate for another infection called bacterial
vaginosis, which merits its own article.
With these symptoms in
mind, the next step is to visit your obstetrician-gynecologist or ob-gyne.
The ob-gyne will begin questioning you about your symptoms, your medical
history and your exposure to certain chemicals. He or she will take a swab
of your vaginal discharge, and inspect the presence of candida from this
sample under a microscope. The ob-gyne may also ask you to assist him or
her in identifying the exact location of the itching or pain using a
magnifying lens.
Keep in mind that not all doctors are able to
diagnose thrush or yeast infections properly. There are times that the
indicators could be signs of thrush as described here, and there are times
that they may actually be symptoms of a kind of vaginitis, most likely
bacterial in nature. Also, when left unchecked, thrush may cause dangerous
side-effects, such as endometriosis, ovarian dysfunction and the release
of toxins which may further jeopardize your immune
system.
Diagnosing yeast infection can be difficult, mostly because
its symptoms are no different with those of other illnesses affecting the
genital region. Therefore, it is extremely important to be pro-active in
getting an accurate diagnosis as soon as you experience the warning
signs.
You must able to recognize and keep track of what is going
on with you in your genital region. And you must be very forthcoming when
asked about the medication you are taking and the products you are
using.
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Article Source: www.ArticleFog.com.
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