At some point in their lives, 75% of women will experience the discomfort of a yeast infection. Symptoms include vaginal itching and burning, irritation accompanied by swelling and redness, and painful urination.

Another common complaint with yeast infection sufferers is pain after sexual intercourse. An odorless vaginal discharge may be present and this can range from a watery substance to a thick, white, cottage cheese like consistency.

Candida Albicans is the culprit for the symptoms of a yeast infection. This bacterium is present in the vagina of every women in small numbers. However, a change in environment can cause an overgrowth, which leads to a yeast infection. Some common disruptions that can cause this in an otherwise healthy vagina include an elevation in sugar levels, douching, diabetes and antibiotic use.

Pregnancy is another cause of yeast infections due to the hormonal changes it causes. Other causes include tight or poorly ventilated clothing, sexual transmission, an injury to the skin cells and membranes of the vagina or vulva, birth control pills, chemicals and prescription medication, a weakened immune system and poor diet.

Treatments are plentiful. Perhaps the most common is prescribed oral medication received from a doctor. This drug is Fluconazole. Anti fungal vaginal medications in the form of creams, suppositories or tablets available by prescription or over-the-counter are also common.

Candida infections can be prevented by avoiding antibiotics when they are not prescribed, wearing loose fitting clothing, avoiding douching and perfumed soaps and keeping the area dry at all times.

Eating yogurt or taking probiotics will keep your body’s beneficial bacteria levels high, and this will prevent the Candida from mutating into a fungus. The cultures in yogurt will replace the unhealthy yeast bacteria. Applying cider vinegar to the infected area will create an environment that the yeast can’t live in. Make sure you dilute the vinegar first.

So no matter what treatment you pursue, treat your infection from the root cause. You’ll prevent any further outbreaks if you tackle the infection from the cause. Before you choose your treatment you must get a correct diagnosis from your doctor first so you know you’re actually treating a yeast infection and not something else.