Yeast Infection During Pregnancy
Yeast infections are a common side effect of pregnancy. Women are more likely to get a yeast infection while pregnant than during any other life change, and it's most likely during the second trimester. While vaginal yeast infections are most common, they can also occur in the mouth or on the skin, so be aware that symptoms could show in a variety of places. Of course, due to pregnancy, it's most likely that if you have a yeast infection, it will be a vaginal one.
Why Does Pregnancy Make A Yeast Infection More Likely?
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Since yeast infections are caused by an imbalance of the typical yeast and acid levels of the infected areas, things that can affect the pH balance of your body or feed the naturally occurring yeast that resides there can create a yeast infection. Hormonal changes can influence the normal acid balance in your body, so any additional hormone therapy you may be doing can exacerbate it as well.
Another issue can by a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes. This condition can lead to high blood sugar, which puts a higher sugar content into your bodily fluids. Yeast is fed by warmth and sugar, so the sugar content can lead to overgrowth of yeast in many cases.
Other risk factors include antibiotics and steroids, douching, and vaginal intercourse— since things like blood and semen can affect yeast production, and yeast infections are transmittable between individuals during sex.
What Does A Yeast Infection Look Like?
The symptoms of a yeast infection are fairly similar no matter where the infection happens to be taking place. The most telling symptom is usually a somewhat white discharge (though occasionally with a yellow or green tint) that is cottage cheese-like in consistency and smells yeasty, like fresh bread or dough. Other symptoms include a large amount of discharge, as well as itching and redness of the infected area. If it is a vaginal infection you may even experience a burning sensation during urination or sexual intercourse.
Many of these symptoms are shared with other, more serious conditions, such as certain STDs and bacterial vaginosis. If a health care professional has ruled out a yeast infection as the cause of your symptoms, make sure to get tested for BV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis.
How Can I Be Tested For A Yeast Infection?
Having your obstetrician or gynecologist test you for a yeast infection is a relatively easy and painless process. A standard swab is used to remove discharge from the affected area, and then examined through a microscope. For vaginal infections, a clinician is usually able to diagnose a yeast infection through a simple examination, though in a small number of cases the culture may be sent to a lab for further testing.
How Can I Treat My Yeast Infection When I'm Pregnant?
Since pregnancy makes many treatments difficult or potentially dangerous to the baby, most physicians recommend only vaginal creams and suppositories for vaginal yeast infections— pills haven't been shown to be safe for pregnant and lactating mothers. It's important to clear up the yeast infection before the baby's birth, however, as untreated yeast infections may pass to the baby's mouth during delivery if you're not careful and cause an oral yeast infection. Though this condition (called "thrush") is easily treated with a medicine called Nystatin, everyone wants their children to be born as healthy as possible— so take care of yourself to help take care of your child.
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