Some yeast can be found harmlessly inside our bodies but when
they grow and multiply, they become a yeast infection. It is
necessary to know the causes of yeast infection and how it
affects you so that predominately preventive measures can be
taken. There are mainly three things that can make you
susceptible to yeast infections.
First, during pregnancy, your increased estrogen level causes
your vagina to produce more glycogen, making it easy for yeast
to grow there. Yeast infections are very common in pregnant
women, especially during the second trimester. This type of
yeast infection is hard to prevent, as the causes of yeast
infection in pregnancy is natural. However, you can help by
wearing loose fitting, cotton underwear, avoid taking baths and
limit your intake of sugary food as yeast needs sugar to grow.
Second is by taking antibiotics. As stated earlier, there are
many yeast organisms present in our bodies, which are not
harmful. Bacteria also live inside our bodies, which is
essential to our health and is usually harmless. The presence of
yeast and bacteria inside our bodies should be maintained in
balance with one another. Taking antibiotics might kill the
bacteria, which allows the yeast to grow rapidly, thereby
causing yeast infection. It is important to maintain the balance
of yeast and good bacteria in our body so that we can prevent
the growth of infections. Therefore, it is advisable to only
take antibiotics when it is strictly necessary.
The third common cause is sexual intercourse. Semen is more
alkaline than vaginal fluids. Which causes the production and
growth of yeast. During sexual intercourse, some internal
tissues can become irritated and inflamed, leaving them
susceptible to infection. Some birth control devices that
contain spermicide can also cause irritation. The use of
prophylactics during intercourse can also increase irritation as
they are usually coated in spermicide.
There are other factors that might affect your vaginal balance.
Stress can be a contributing factor. If a person is stressed
your immune system becomes compromised, which invites the growth
of yeast. Staying clean is an important factor to fight the
production of yeast inside our body. If someone has a high
carbohydrate intake like alcohol and refined sugars, this
creates the perfect environment for yeast growth. A diet high in
sugary foods can lead to Diabetes, which in turn is another
cause of yeast infection. Clothing is another source of
irritation and can encourage forms of fungal growth.
Non-ventilating clothing increases warmth and moisture, the
ideal breeding ground for yeast to reproduce rapidly.
