Vaginal Thrush Causes

Vaginal thrush is a yeast infection caused – in the main – by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans within the vagina. This organism is normally present in a healthy vagina, but is kept under control by yeast-inhibiting bacteria. However, if something happens which changes the pH (acid/alkaline) balance within the environment of the vaginal, the yeast is able to start reproducing out of control, creating the thrush infection.

Here is a list of vaginal thrush causes:

Being run down/weak immune system: If you are run down, from fatigue, stress, illness, due to antibiotics, poor nutrition, or because your body is busy fighting another infection, yeast may seize the opportunity to multiply. HIV sufferers are particularly prone to vaginal thrush.

Antibiotics: As well as fighting infections, antibiotics can kill “friendly” bacteria such as lactobacilli, that keep yeast under control. Antibiotics don’t affect the yeast themselves, but, by destroying the bacteria, will change the environment enough to encourage candida growth.

Diet: Certain foods have an impact on thrush. The yeast feeds on sugar, so anything that creates a sugary environment can encourage yeast overgrowth.

Diabetes: Diabetes-sufferers are much more likely to get thrush, because diabetes increases blood sugar levels, which may, in turn, increase the sugar in vaginal secretions. In addition, diabetic women also tend to have high sugar levels in their urine, and this may contribute to thrush by feeding yeast in the genital area just outside of the vagina.

Contraception: Some studies, suggest that women who use the Pill are more likely to develop thrush, and have recurrent thrush, because it affects hormones that can affect a woman’s ability to metabolise (process) the sugar that the yeast feeds on. Women who use an IUD may also have an increased risk of developing vaginal and uterine infections, which can lead to thrush.

Periods: Some women tend to get thrush just before or after their periods. Menstrual blood can change the acidity of the vagina, and, as a result, some women get thrush during their periods. Tampons and towels can also play a part in creating the right environment for thrush. For example, if a tampon is left in too long (more than about 12 hours), it can dry out the vagina, change the pH balance and trigger thrush. Unchanged towels can also create a moist, warm environment around the vulva, and yeast thrives under these conditions.

Pregnancy: Women often have their first attack of thrush while they are pregnant. There will be dramatic changes in hormone levels during pregnancy, which will create high levels of sugars in vaginal secretions. If these extra sugars aren’t broken down quickly, candida will feed on them to grow.

Perfumes, deodorants and washing: Perfumed soaps, vaginal deodorants, douches, disinfectants and scented bubble baths can all irritate or damage the delicate tissues of the vagina and vulva, or change the pH in the vagina. In addition, too much scrubbing, excessive washing or rubbing hard with a towel may do damage. These can all cause vaginal thrush.

Sex: Although vaginal thrush is not a sexually transmitted infection, sex can still play a role in its development. Penetrative sex can irritate the vagina, particularly when there is very little lubrication. In addition, semen may change the acidity of the vagina which can then cause thrush. Some studies suggest that oral sex increases a woman’s risk of developing thrush. Thrush can also be passed on to a partner during sex, however, men are more likely than women to get thrush through sex.

Tight/synthetic clothing: Tight trousers, leggings, synthetic knickers or tights will prevent air from circulating and can create a warm, moist environment, which is ideal for thrush to develop.

This list covers most of the causes of vaginal thrush. Knowing these causes is a good start to helping you avoid, or deal with any vaginal thrush infection in future.

CLICK HERE FOR RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS TO VAGINAL THRUSH CAUSES

Recognising Vaginal Thrush Symptoms

Most women will suffer from thrush at least once during their lives and lots will have more than one occurrence. For some unlucky women, thrush is a recurring nightmare that will affect her lifestyle, self-image and sex life. In fact it may even be an indication of a much more serious health problem.

Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of the yeast that is already present in all areas of the body. The most common form of yeast giving rise to thrush is known as Candida albicans, which is why thrush, or yeast infection is scientifically known as candidiasis. Another more resistant yeast called Candida glabrata can also lead to thrush.

The vagina is one of the areas of the body most likely to be affected by thrush, even though, under normal circumstances, the environment within the vagina is too acidic for yeast to get out of control. The problems occur when small changes in the environment make it a great breeding ground for yeast, leading to the onset of thrush.

These changes can be caused by a multitude of factors such as the use of contraceptives, antibiotics, allergies, diabetes, diet, the use of perfumes, hormonal changes during pregnancy, tight clothing, a weak immune system and sex.

Symptoms of vaginal thrush infection

If you are suffering from a vaginal thrush infection, you may have mild symptoms or severe ones. In addition, you may have a single symptom, or several. The important thing is to be able to recognise some of the telltale signs and take immediate action. The symptoms to watch out for are as follows:

Burning and itching: Itching and burning are usually the most common symptoms of thrush and are often the most distressing. The burning and itching can be so painful that it is difficult to resist scratching, although this will only make the problem worse.

Swelling, soreness and pain: Too much yeast irritates the delicate tissues of the vagina and genital area, causing it to become swollen, sore and red. This in turn will lead to pain during urination, when the urine stings the inflamed tissue. Sex will probably also be painful. In fact, anything that causes touching or rubbing of the area, e.g. walking or the act of sitting, might be painful.

Discharge: The discharge caused by thrush is usually (but not always) white and thicker than a woman’s regular discharge. The kind of discharge which is usually linked to thrush is yoghurt-like in appearance and smells strongly of yeast. However, some women will have a watery or mild-smelling discharge. The amount can also vary from a little to a lot.

One of the problems with the symptoms of vaginal thrush is that they are very similar to the symptoms of other problems. For example, if you are experiencing an unusual vaginal discharge, it may also be that you are suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis (characterised by a greyish-white discharge with a strong fishy smell), or Trichomoniasis (characterised by a thin, frothy white or greenish yellow discharge with a very strong fishy smell).

The important thing is to react quickly to any symptoms and seek a medical diagnosis as soon as possible. Once a confirmed diagnosis of vaginal thrush is received, you can then start on the process of relieving the symptoms and addressing the underlying causes.

CLICK HERE TO RELIEVE VAGINAL THRUSH SYMPTOMS

Dealing With Fungal Vaginal Infection

The problems caused by a fungal vaginal infection are so common that the inflammation and infection of the vagina and vulva (known as vulvovaginitis), is the most common gynecological disorder in the USA today. This infection can be extremely uncomfortable with symptoms including itching, irritation, or pain in the external genital area (the vulva) and pain in the vagina during intercourse. In addition, vaginal discharge can often be heavier than usual, discoloured (yellow, gray, or greenish), and often has a very unpleasant odour.

Vaginal discharge is actually quite normal in women of childbearing age. In healthy women, it is made up of aging cells cast off from your vaginal walls, secretions from the cervix that help protect your uterus from infection and aid in fertility, and chemicals produced by vaginal bacteria and yeasts. The discharge is usually odourless.

The vagina is home to a variety of microscopic organisms, all living in a harmonious, acidic environment that prevents the overproduction of any one species and repels foreign invaders. The best way to ensure that a fungal vaginal infection does not occur is to ensure the environment remains healthy by adopting a varied, healthy diet and maintaining a proper weight. Reduce stress, e.g. via regular meditation and exercise, wear “breathable” clothing (loose, garments with mainly natural fibres) and avoid sexually transmitted infections by using condoms and a spermicide.

Yeast infections are probably the most common type of vulvovaginitis, with the classic symptoms of vulvar itching, redness, and irritation. Painful urination is also common as well as the tendency to urinate more frequently. If the infection is severe, the vulva can become swollen and fine breaks, called fissures, may appear. The vaginal discharge will become thicker whiter and curd-like (similar to cottage cheese in texture and appearance). The inflammation of the vulva and vagina and dryness of the area also makes intercourse very painful.

Preventing the fungal infection caused by yeast overgrowth can often demand a radical change of lifestyle because of the many factors that can cause this overgrowth. A variety of factors such as poor genital hygiene, use of oral or vaginal antibiotics, obesity, pregnancy, tight clothing and diabetes tend to disrupt the normal balance of vaginal organisms, causing the yeast fungi to reproduce rapidly, leading to the symptoms of yeast infection. In other cases, the immune system can get badly suppressed by chronic illnesses as AIDS, the use of oral contraceptives, and eating large amounts of sugars, starch, and yeasts.

Treating the symptoms of vaginal fungal infection caused by yeast overgrowth usually involves using prescribed or over-the-counter medication, such as Monistat, Boric Acid, Femstat cream, or Terazol. However, with so many possible causes of vaginal yeast infection, it is important to adopt a very holistic approach to curing this form of fungal infection. In extreme cases, a complete change of lifestyle may be required. This encompasses all the areas mentioned above, including change of diet, good exercise, improved hygiene, reduction of stress, wearing different clothes, etc. It’s only by adopting long-term sustainable changes to how you live, that you will be able to prevent the recurrence of vaginal fungal infection.

CLICK HERE TO CURE FUNGAL VAGINAL INFECTION PERMANENTLY

Natural Candida Cures – Digestion and Diet

Natural candida cures are the holy grail for the many sufferers of candida yeast infections, or to give it its proper name, candidiasis. But with a little bit of knowledge, some research and utilising some of the products already in our kitchen cupboards, its relatively easy to implement a natural and holistic regime for curing this problem.

Candida is a yeast that lives in our intestines and mucous membranes, usually living in harmony with the acidophilus and bifido bacteria that keep candida under control. Rather than being just a harmful organism, candida is actually very important to the body’s function, it’s main role being to absorb any putrefied food matter in our digestive system before any potentially harmful bacteria can have a feast, multiply, and create health problems. In addition, when we die, candida acts to decompose the body.

There are many factors that can create the situation where the candida in your body starts to grow out of control, leading to the well-known and widely varied symptoms of yeast infection, everything from vaginal discharge, to chronic fatigue. Over-the-counter and prescribed medications such as antibiotics are commonly used to cure the symptoms of yeast infection, however, it is now becoming more and more accepted that the proper way to attack the problem is to address its root causes and adopt a natural and holistic regime for curing candidiasis.

Implementing Natural Candida Cures

So how do we do this? Here are some useful strategies:

Improving digestion: The key to curing candida is in cleaning up the digestive system. A high fibre diet and drinking lots of water are great ways to achieve this. If you suffer from diarrhea or constipation, Psyllium or Yellow Dock herb, both available in capsule form can help to tighten the colon and cure the problem.

Supplementing your diet with probiotics such as yoghurt will replenish the acidophilus and bifido bacteria in the intestines. While these bacteria will not kill candida, they inhibit candida’s growth and, generally, clean up the bowels. Chlorophyll-rich foods, like leafy green vegetables and alfalfa, also promote acidophilus growth and discourage yeast reproduction.

Cleansing the liver is also important, since it can get filled with candida toxins as it filters the blood. Daily supplementation with herbs like, dandelion root, golden seal, wormwood Oregon grape root, goldenseal and barberry, is highly recommended, although the latter two should be avoided when pregnant. Again, drinking lots of water is essential for internal cleansing.

What not to eat: Candida feeds on sugar so you need to reduce your intake as much as possible. Unfortunately, despite the prevailing advice on the health benefits of eating lots of fruit, a low sugar diet involves avoiding most fruit, except the low sugar ones like strawberries, cherries, and papayas which can be eaten in strict moderation. Also say goodbye to wheat, rye, milk, cheese, alcoholic or caffeinated beverages, potatoes, honey, mushrooms, and vinegar: all these foods promote yeast growth or can aggravate already present yeast colonies. Also avoid soy sauce and mayonnaise.

Carbohydrates eventually break down to glucose (sugar) in the digestive tract, so keep to a low-carb diet and also avoid starchier vegetables like sweet potatoes, parsnips, and winter squashes.

What you can eat: Despite the long list above, there are a wide variety foods you can eat for a candida friendly and interesting diet. These include (subject to any individual allergies and preferences) fish, poultry, meat, all vegetables, brown rice, eggs, seeds, all nuts except cashews and peanuts, herb teas, beans and lentils, goat milk, corn, quinoa, buckwheat, and oats. You can also check out your local health store for sugar free breads made of millet and consider eating corn tortillas to replace wheat bread.

When the yeast infection symptoms disappear, the forbidden foods can be re-introduced into your diet, although very slowly and in limited amounts to start with. It is also advisable to avoid eating any refined sugars for at least 6 months after your recovery.

These are just some of the natural and holistic strategies for curing candida. In addition to these, there are many herbal products that can be used to aid the process, but make a start with controlling your diet and improving your digestion and you should see improvements very quickly.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE NATURAL CANDIDA CURES

Finding A Permanent Cure For Candida

If you are suffering from the effects of a candida-related infection, you will probably know that finding a cure for candida is easy – the problem is finding a good, permanent cure! This is because standard candida cures usually focus on dealing with the symptoms, rather than the root causes of the infection.

So what is candida and why does it occur?

Candida – or more accurately Candida Albicans – is actually a yeast-based organism that lives naturally in the gut. In a normal healthy person, it poses no problems and is kept in check by beneficial gut bacteria, such as Acidophilus. However, if something happens that causes it to start growing out-of-control (in the gut or in other areas of the body), this can lead to the development of a serious infection called Candidiasis, which causes a wide range of symptoms, including what is commonly known as thrush.

There are too many symptoms of the infection to list in this article, except to say that they can vary from extreme fatigue to abdominal bloating and brain fog. However, be warned; if left unchecked, candida can spread throughout the body and cause some extremely serious problems depending upon the organ infected. In the kidneys it can cause blood in the urine, in the heart it can lead to heart murmurs and valve damage, in the lungs it can cause bloody sputum (mucus discharge), in the eyes it can cause pain and blurred vision and in the brain it can cause seizures and acute changes in mental function or behaviour.

But let’s assume that you have already been to see your doctor and candida infection had been diagnosed. The question now is, how do you a cure it? Naturally, your doctor will have probably prescribed something – a cream or a course of antibiotics – to address the symptoms you are experiencing. But what can you do over the longer term as a permanent cure for candida?

The key is to deal with the problem holistically and naturally. Candida is a natural living organism, that doesn’t cause any problems in a healthy body. So your objective is to simply try to live a healthy lifestyle! This involves restricting the growth of the organism via a low-carb diet (it feeds on the sugar created when carbohydrates break down in the body). Good, healthy fruit and vegetables, organic meats (free from the residues of antibiotics) and regular intake of pro-biotic yoghurts are also important. In addition to these, the following are also worth investigating:

Pau d’Arco is thought to be a very effective cure for candida. Pau d’Arco is extracted from the inner bark of the Tabebuia Impetiginosa or Tabebuia Avellanedae trees. These trees are also known as Taheebo trees and are most commonly found in South America and sometimes in Central America. Pau darco has been used throughout history by cultures such as the Incas, Aztecs and Indio tribes. The bark is shredded and made into a tea, which you can buy at local health stores.

Tea tree oil is another herbal remedy that has shown good anti-fungal properties, as well as anti-Candida properties.

Grapefuit seed extract is known to have antifungal properties that have made it an important part of successful anti-candida regimes.

Natural oils from cayenne pepper, cloves and especially oregano have been tested and shown to help Candida sufferers.

These are just a few of the wide range of strategies and treatments you can use to create a permanent cure for candida. Just do your research, change your lifestyle and you should be fine.

CLICK HERE FOR A PERMANENT CURE FOR CANDIDA

Male Yeast Infections – How to Deal With Them

It is amazing how much time we men spend NOT talking about male yeast infections. Sounds like a strange thing to say, but its true – yeast infection is an incredibly common problem amongst men, however, because it is such an embarrassing ailment and because we guys are ridiculously shy about discussing our medical problems, it never gets spoken about. If you asked 100 people about yeast infection, probably 95 of them would suggest that is something that females suffer from.

But male yeast infections are very real and very common. And what’s more, they can lead to a range of very, very serious, long-term medical problems. But what are they? Well, very simply, they are exactly the same yeast infections that affect females; caused by an overgrowth of yeast-based fungus within the body, particularly the main infection causing organism Candida Albicans. One type of yeast infection which is specific to men is Candida Balanitis, which is the inflammation of the end of the penis (the glans).

So what are the symptoms?

Male yeast infections can result in anything from zero obvious symptoms, to common symptoms such as rashes or blisters (usually on the shaft and head of the penis), itching or burning, a thick, creamy discharge and painful urination and/or sexual intercourse. However, these are just the obvious symptoms – a host of other non-obvious symptoms include a bloated stomach, blurred vision, constipation, bad breath, indigestion, frequent intestinal gas, abnormal loose stools, sexual dysfunction, frequent fatigue and loss of energy, irritability, athlete’s foot, memory loss, and mood swings. Just like women, men can also suffer from oral yeast infection, often characterised by a furry white coating on the tongue.

Naturally, all these symptoms can be mistaken for completely different medical problems, which helps to explain why, given the lack of understanding of yeast infections, many men don’t even realise that they have this problem. That’s why it is so important for men to overcome their natural reluctance and go see a doctor if any (or a multiple) of these problems occur. This is also particularly important since a bad case of yeast infection, if left untreated, can result in some serious, long-term, potentially life-threatening problems.

How to you get it and how do you get rid of it?

Male yeast infections occur in a variety of ways – anything from sexual interaction with an infected partner, through to poor genital or oral hygiene, or even wearing very tight underwear for prolonged periods. The bottom line is that anything which creates an environment that reduces the level of yeast-inhibiting bacteria within the body (or encourages the growth of the yeast fungus) will lead to infection. Other major causes are stress and diets which are high in yeast-based or sugar-filled foods (sugar is the food that the candida fungus feeds on).

Prolonged use of antibiotics can also give rise to yeast infections – which is quite ironic, since antibiotics are commonly prescribed as the cure. Most of the symptoms of infections are curable using common prescription and over-the-counter treatments, such as ointments and fungal creams. However, be warned! Curing the symptoms does not mean that you have effectively cured the problem. The root cause of your yeast infection may require a much more holistic cure, such as change of diet or even a complete change of lifestyle.

CLICK HERE FOR PERMANENT MALE YEAST INFECTION CURES

A Quick Guide To Vaginal Yeast Infection Treatment

Vaginal yeast infection treatments are many and varied, and the medical solutions usually comprise over-the-counter medicines, that tend to work by killing or inhibiting the growth of yeast within the body.

There are countless oral and non-oral treatments available such as Monistat, which is a directly-applied treatment of a cream containing miconazole nitrate, which kills fungi and yeasts by interfering with their cell membranes. It works by stopping the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol, which is an essential component of fungal cell membranes. The disruption in production of ergosterol disrupts the fungal cell membrane, causing holes to appear in it.

This is just one of a variety of directly-applied treatments, including creams and suppositories (such as vaginal boric acid capsules), which are used as vaginal yeast infection treatments. Alternatively, there are oral treatments, such as anti-fungal medication, that can be used.

Many of these treatments are fully available over-the-counter and women can get these treatments without prescription. However, self-diagnosis is extremely dangerous, given that many of the symptoms of vaginal yeast infection are also symptoms of other problems such as bacterial infection or sexually transmitted diseases. So the essential course of action, if any of these symptoms occur is to immediately seek expert medical help, in order to get a proper diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, you will be advised on potential treatment. However, there are other, non-medical solutions for the treatment of vaginal yeast infection. For example, lubricants and contraceptives can help to improve symptoms. Additionally, to reduce the symptoms or protect yourself protect yourself against your chances of redeveloping the condition, you can start avoiding foods that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. These are the staple foods that yeast fungi feed on, so by avoiding them, you are inhibiting yeast growth and giving yourself a highly effective vaginal yeast infection treatment.

Additional natural treatments include the classic treatment of applying yogurt to the infected area or eating it in your lunch. Tea tree oil is also one of the more proven methods of vaginal yeast infection treatments, as is apple cider vinegar diluted with water. Other natural treatments include changing diet, by avoiding white flour and white rice, soft, moldy cheeses, fermented products, etc., and eating more vitamin-C rich foods and vegetables such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, and many others.

There are many natural vaginal yeast infection treatments that can be found in the comfort of your own home. These can be used as part of a holistic approach to curing the infection, which will be much over effective as a long-term solution, than just relying on prescribed or non-prescribed medication.

Vaginal Yeast Infection Symptoms – What Are they?

Vaginal yeast infection symptoms are most commonly thought to be a thick vaginal discharge and pain/burning during urination. But there are many more symptoms than this, ranging from very mild, to extremely severe and covering 3 categories; visual, sensory and odorous.

Visual symptoms include the classic discharge which is usually described as looking like cottage cheese, redness around the vagina, or a vaginal rash and a swollen or inflamed vagina and/or vulva.
A sufferer may also feel symptoms such as burning or itching, soreness, pain when passing urine, during menstruation and also pain during sex. Symptoms of vaginal yeast infection also include a very strong odour, particularly common if discharge is present.

These are the most common symptoms, but few people realise that there are also other signs that could be an indication of vaginal yeast infection. These include headaches, feeling irritable and run-down and becoming depressed and fatigued. In addition, pain in the joints, memory problems and difficulty experienced in learning new things can also be indicative of vaginal yeast infection.

As you can see, there are a number of additional symptoms that – at first glance – don’t seem to have any connection to a vaginal yeast infection problem, which can make identification very difficult. In addition, vaginal yeast infection symptoms can vary on an individual basis and will also change over time, which means that on certain days you may notice some symptoms while a few days later you might start noticing completely different symptoms. Because of this, you may not even notice that you might have a yeast infection.

The other problem is that these symptoms are also common to a host of other potential illnesses and medical complaints, including sexually transmitted diseases, so self-diagnosis is s very bad idea. The bottom line is that all of the above symptoms are indicative that there may be something seriously wrong with you, so your first action must be to seek medical help in order to get a proper diagnosis.

Once the official diagnosis of vaginal yeast infection – or to give it its proper name of vaginal candidiasis – has been made, the next stage is obviously to start taking steps to cure the symptoms. Fortunately, vaginal yeast infection symptoms can usually be easily treated – and that’s the problem! It’s relatively simple to deal with the symptoms, by using prescribed medication as well as avoiding douching, feminine hygiene sprays, the use of scented sanitary pads/tampons and perfumed soaps or toilet paper. But this might just be a temporary measure and you may find that the symptoms will continue to recur.

This is because vaginal yeast infection is very much influenced by lifestyle and so the best long-term solution is to tackle it in a holistic fashion by addressing a range of lifestyle factors. The bottom line with vaginal yeast infection is that dealing with the symptoms is easy – but dealing with the underlying problem may require a lot more thought and effort.

DOWNLOAD OUR RECOMMENDED VAGINAL YEAST INFECTION SYMPTOMS RESOURCE HERE

Male Yeast Infection Symptoms – And How to Deal With Them

Male Yeast Infection

With candida yeast infection being such as common female complaint, most people are still surprised that males suffer just as much from this problem. One of the problems is that yeast infection or thrush can be a very embarrassing complaint and men in particular can be reluctant to face up to medical problems and seek medical help to deal with them. This is why male yeast infection is a subject that is rarely discussed, even though it’s estimated that 95% of people will suffer from this problem as some time.

Symptoms of male yeast infection

So what are the symptoms of male yeast infection? Well many of them are actually quite similar to those of female infections, including itching and burning sensation of the infected area, slight swellings, and maybe even slight discharge. Obviously the genital area is the most common site for infection and other symptoms may include painful urination, pain during sex and a rash, flakiness or red spots along the shaft and near the top of the penis. Oral infection is also a common problem, with symptoms including a thick white coating on the tongue and red or white patches around the inner surfaces of the mouth.

Some less obvious symptoms of male (and female) yeast infection also include changes in dietary preferences (such as a sudden craving for sweets and carbohydrates), gas, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, constipation, bad breath, and mood swings. Even symptoms such as arthritis, depression, chronic rashes, poor memory and many others, could indicate the presence of a yeast infection.

What to do next?

A big problem is that male yeast infection symptoms are very similar to those of other (often more serious) complaints. Also, if you look at some of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s easy to see why sometimes they are mistaken for natural signs of getting old, growing up, or maybe even just part of a normal life. The important thing is to listen to your body. You will know if something is wrong and if you develop some of the symptoms the first thing to do is to seek expert medical advice. Don’t take any chances, or hide behind embarrassment – by delaying dealing with the symptoms you could be storing up major health problems for the future.

But what else can you do? A few things you can do immediately are:

IMPORTANT – Avoid sexual intercourse until the symptoms have been investigated.
Avoid wearing tight clothes.
Improve your genital/oral hygiene

Once you have received a proper diagnosis and yeast infection has been confirmed, you then have a wide variety of potential strategies available to you. The main thing to remember is that medical solutions (such as creams or antibiotics) will be provided to relieve the symptoms, but – if the problem is deep-seated or recurring – you will probably have to adopt some more fundamental changes in your life, e.g. change of diet, in order to fully cure your yeast infection problem.

DOWNLOAD OUR RECOMMENDED MALE YEAST INFECTION RESOURCE HERE

Thrush Infection – The Facts

The Truth About Thrush Infection

Do an Internet search on “thrush infection” and you will find a wealth of information. Despite this, few people really are properly informed about thrush, which is a real shame, given that it is such a common complaint that has such a wide variety of symptoms and such a large number of sufferers – it’s estimated that around 90% of the US population suffers from some type of thrush infection at some time.

So what is it thrush infection?

Thrush infection is also known as yeast infection, yeast overgrowth or Candida Albicans (to give it the correct scientific name). It’s actually a fungal infection caused by an overgrowth of the candida bacteria. As with most bacterial fungi, it is most likely to occur in areas of the body where there is a lot of warmth and moisture. This is why the most common infections take place in the mouth and the vagina.

Vaginal thrush infections are particularly common, recurrent and troublesome, and often occur when the vaginal balance changes from acid to alkaline (sugary), due to by such things as the use of antibiotics, hormonal changes, stress, monthly periods, lack of sleep and diabetes. Other causes include birth control pills, pregnancy, poor hygiene and sexual intercourse. Diet is also a major factor – overuse of foods such as sugar, caffeine, cheese and yeast-based foods can cause problems.

What are the symptoms?

There are many more symptoms of thrush infection than people realise. Symptoms vary from mild, to acute, with sudden, nasty embarrassing symptoms, or chronic, with more systemic symptoms. However, the most common symptoms are itching, burning, soreness, swelling of the vagina and vulva (outer area of the vagina), and a yeasty-smelling discharge. Amongst men, telltale symptoms include red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin as well as the itching and soreness. Pain during urination is also common for both male and female sufferers.

Another common problem is nipple yeast infection, particularly among breast-feeding mothers. Symptoms include sore nipples, red or pink nipples, itchy or burning nipples, puffy, dry, or flaky nipples and breast pain during or after feedings.

Oral thrush infection symptoms include a thick white coating on the tongue and white or red patches on the inner surfaces of the mouth.

Treatment

There has been significant growth in the use of natural and holistic therapies for treating the main types of thrush infection. This is due to the fact that standard anti-fungal drugs and creams will treat the symptoms rather than the root cause of the infection, often leading to recurring problems. Sufferers are increasingly beginning to realise that long-term cures require attitudinal and lifestyle changes, including changes of diet, rather than just popping and few pills or applying a cream.