The vagina harbors hundreds of different types of microorganisms. Some are particularly common, such as lactobacilli.
These bacteria produce an acid that lowers the pH of the vagina, limiting what can live there and protecting against certain infections.
Candida yeasts are also usually present in small amounts.
Most of the time, these fungi are harmless. The body's immune system keeps them in check while other microorganisms, such as lactobacilli, fight and compete with them for nutrients and territory.
But under certain conditions, Candida can cause yeast infections. One species in particular, called Candida albicans, is a common culprit in vaginal thrush, or yeast infections, affecting 3 out of every 4 people with vaginal yeast infections.
So, how exactly does a yeast infection occur?
Candida albicans yeasts are shape-shifters.
And when the balance inside the vagina is disturbed—such as when the pH rises or there are fewer microbes to contend with—Candida albicans can assume its disease-causing forms.
They multiply and metamorphose—changing their round structures for long threadlike structures called hyphae. Then, they release enzymes that break down the epithelial cells lining the vagina and dissolve into the tissue.
Immune cells attack the site, producing some of the most recognizable symptoms of yeast infection: itching, burning, swelling and redness. They can also be accompanied by changes in vaginal discharge, the fluid that comes out of the vagina frequently to keep it healthy and clean.
During a yeast infection,
the discharge may be thick and white because the vagina is shedding more epithelial and Candida cells. A few major factors, such as antibiotic treatment and a weakened immune system, can make people more susceptible to vaginal yeast infections.
When one's immune system is compromised, by illness or otherwise, their body may be unable to effectively control Candida.
And in treating bacterial infections, antibiotics kill harmful bacteria, but they can also kill off beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacilli, allowing Candida to grow more easily.
Many other factors also help establish the stage of a yeast infection.
Hormonal changes and diet alter the vaginal microbiome. Semen is relatively basic, so it can disturb the pH of the vagina.
Tight, non-breathable, and damp clothing creates moisture and is thought to facilitate a Candida-friendly environment. Soap can damage the protective mucus that lines the vagina, making it easier for candida to pass through.
This is why many doctors recommend gently washing the vulva with water. And yet it's important to clean from front to back to wood introducing curved carved this will is ather potentelle harmful microbes into were wegna.
Most yeast infections are mild and clear up within two weeks.
Antifungal medications usually offer reliable treatment by reducing the number of Candida cells, allowing the immune system and other microorganisms to regain control.
And interestingly, the solution to treating some yeast infections may be more yeast. Early studies with probiotics, which contain harmless yeasts that we use in drinking and baking, have shown promise in keeping Candida under control while reducing inflammation.
But some yeast infections require more extensive treatment. About 5 to 10 percent of people with vaginal yeast infections experience at least 4 yeast infections a year. For some of them, the cause appears to be genetic.
Some people have gene variants that make it difficult for their immune system to recognize and regulate Candida cells.
But why so many people get recurrent infections is currently unclear—and much more research is needed. In fact, it basically does everything we just talked about.
We don't know enough about the vaginal microbiome.
This is probably due to stigma and underfunding when it comes to topics that traditionally fall under the "women's health" umbrella.
For example, although erectile dysfunction affects a much smaller percentage of people than vaginal yeast infections, about 6 times as much research has been done on the topic.
Hopefully, we'll soon have a better understanding of the multitude of microorganisms that comprise us—and the best way to keep them in balance.
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