Yeast Infections And Pregnancy

It has been found that during one phase or the other, most women are likely to acquire infections in their genital organs. This is due to the high complexity of their hormonal changes, menstrual cycles, pregnancy or menopause that they experience during their lifespan.

Pregnancy is a god gift for womens, but if not taken care of, it too may invite yeast infections. One thing is important to notice here that Yeasts are normally present in the vaginal tract of most womens. It, however, is not pathogenic always, but when coupled with changes in the biochemicals of the body, these populations of normal flora microorganisms is likely to change/ fluctuate, thus inviting yeasts to flourish in a slightly warm and moist environments of our body parts.

Yeast Infections are also commonly known as Vaginal Candidiasis, Vaginitis, Vulvitis, Vulvovaginitis, Monilial vaginitis, etc. But the most common occurence of vaginal yeast infections is related with Candida albicans. This fungus, Candida is supposed to be the main agent spreading this type of infections among the women of all ages.

Three factors are mostly important in the cause & occurrence of vaginal yeast infections, They are.....

1. Diet (especially, if you are taking a sugar/ carbohydrate rich diet, the yeasts will definitely love it.)
   
2. Lifestyle
   
3. Personal Hygiene

But, if we concentrate on the cases of yeast infections occuring in pregnant womens, it is mostly due to the following reasons.....

1. Higher Estrogen Levels during the months of Pregnancy,
2. Higher Production of Glycogen by the body in case of Pregnant womens (this, in itself supports yeasts, as they like to flourish in the environments wherever glycogen is high, that is why they not only increase their population density n these environments but they also stick to the side walls of vagina promoting and nourishing themselves.
   

Administering antibiotics for a long time may result in eradicating helpful or friendly normal flora organisms and providing yeasts a nourishing and dominating environment to overpower the bacteria. The yeasts are fast to dominate their bacterial counterparts and thus will usually grow well in these areas where moisture and warmness is good enough for their own growth and reproductive rate

The early signs and symptoms during pregnancy include, vaginal itching, redness, irritation and vaginal inflammation or swelling, burning sensation during urination and pain during sexual intercourse, and also a thick, whitish, odorless vaginal discharge resembling to creamy cottage cheese.

The good thing, and I know you mothers are already itching to know, yeast infection mostly does not have any negative effects on the baby inside the womb. And generally, the infection does not affect the overall development of the baby as well.

Another important thing is that treating yeast infection cases in pregnant women is moreover same with the treatments available to normal yeast infection cases. However, it would be better to consult your family doctor since you don't know what possible effects the medicine does to your body. There are also over the counter antifungal creams that could be prescribed to you by your family doctor. There might be specific products that are intended for yeast infections in pregnant women.

It is said that fifteen percent of all pregnant women will experience yeast infection during their pregnancy. Pregnancy and yeast infection might be hard to separate. But the thing is yeast infection can be treated.