Yeast infection: we are all familiar with the concept and, unfortunately, most of us had to deal with it at some point. Yeast infection, also known as candidiasis is one of the most common types of fungal infection, affecting a great number of men and women. It is caused by an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida Albicans, found mostly in the vaginal flora and the digestive tract. While its symptoms are mostly irritating rather than truly health threatening, it is still a condition that needs to be dealt with.
The symptoms include soreness, itching or a burning sensation of the genital area, along with a whitish discharge. However, in some cases, symptoms have been known to include bloating, discomfort, cramps, sinus or respiratory tract infection, sometimes even a feeling of “not being yourself”, a state of vague mental confusion.
Now, this may sound a bit frightening but there is no need to worry. There are ways to deal with this and ways to make this problem go away completely and that's exactly what we will be discussing next. But first…
Why there is no need to panic
It's only natural to be worried when you feel something is wrong with your body. Health is, after all, one of our primary concerns. A medical exam is the best way to properly diagnose any symptoms you might experience. There are many sources of information on how to get rid of yeast infections and, most importantly, you have to realize it is a very common problem and, like any medical matter, nothing to be ashamed of.
Methods on how to treat fungal infections are numerous and we will discuss them further on but the most important thing is to have a confirmed diagnosis for the symptoms you are trying to treat. A medical exam for the affected area is the safest course but there are also home test kits which you can use, with a high degree of reliability. Overall I would recommend sticking with the medical exam option, as the safest course of action but the choice is ultimately yours.
How do you get rid of a yeast infection: sources of information
Once your diagnosis has been confirmed, you know what you are dealing with. So the question is no longer one of determining the problem but how to you get on fixing it. So how do you get rid of yeast infection? Various sources, online and offline offer a number of solutions on this matter. If you choose to go online, you should obviously stick to trusted medical websites. Their databases usually contain definitions of Candida itself, causes for your current problem, symptoms and a variety of treatments.
The other option would be to follow your doctor's advice on how to deal with the situation, especially since you should always take into account the general state of your health. If you have other chronic conditions, the treatment you'll follow should be chosen accordingly. Now, if you are with me so far, let's move on to what you are really interested in, the reason of this very article, how to get rid of yeast infection.
Common problem, many available solutions
There is a reason why so many sources of information are available in regards to this problem, it being far more common than you would think. While symptoms may vary from person to person, depending on their own immune systems' quirks, some treatments have an undisputed rate of success.
One of them would be antifungal medication such as Diflucan (fluconazole). It works as a single dose tablet which your doctor can give you a prescription for. It is considered to be one of the most effective ways of treating yeast infections. Of course, in this case we are talking about a pill which you should not use without proper medical prescription.
Self-diagnosis in this case is something achievable through the kits we've mentioned earlier before but self medication is never a good idea, no matter what kind of medicine is involved. You might have an allergic reaction or cause yourself further, long-term problems in the case of a weakened immune system. Safest course is following your doctor's advice.
Another option would be what is called a topical treatment, a common way to treating many STI infections, including treating gonorrhea. This involves a number of creams and ointments that need to be applied to the affected area. One important thing to remember if you choose this method is to continue the treatment even if the symptoms appear to subside. It is crucial for the treatment's effectiveness to follow the instructions to the letter. Now, some of these ointments and creams are sold over-the-counter, with no doctor's prescription required.
It's not a problem, of course and no reason for you to experience any side effects as long as you read the instructions thoroughly, however, if the treatment proves to be inefficient after, let's say, 2 to 3 days, best thing would be to contact your doctor and try a different alternative.
You have to understand that most of these ways of dealing with how to get rid of an yeast infection focus on stopping the outgrowth of the Candida fungus and not its complete elimination. Such a thing is impossible and it would be harmful anyway. Candida is a part of the vaginal flora and subspecies of it can be found in other bodily regions such as the digestive tract. The fungus itself is symbiotic in nature, that is, it bounds with our body in a harmless manner. What's causing the yeast infection is simply an overgrowth of this organism.
Which brings us to one more issue we need to discuss:
What really causes such an outgrowth?
Candida only acts in such manner when there is a certain weakening or imbalance in the immune system. Let's face it, we all know the causes for that, without speculating on medical reasons. I'm talking about lack of sleep or rest, stress and an imbalanced diet, some things you may recognize as staples of modern life. Our bodies are not machines where a single component can be replaced without affecting the rest and, indeed, every part has an effect on all the others. Fixing these problems should be considered a sure method of prevention, and maybe more than that
How to get rid of a yeast infection: a more permanent solution
There is a certain disadvantage to the solutions listed above, which is you never know for sure if the problem has been fixed once and for all. Symptoms may reappear after a longer period of time even though you think you got rid of them and you feel OK. They say a good doctor treats not the symptom but the underlying cause.
If that is what you are looking for, a permanent solution, there are many websites that can help you. For example just have a look at this video: http://www.yeastinfectionnomore.com. It's a comprehensive presentation meant to underline the real causes of recurring yeast infections and provide a way to deal with it once and for all.
After all, remember, we're dealing with a common problem, a problem in many people's lives.
There is no reason to let it affect yours.