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Recurrent Yeast Infections: How to Get Rid of Them for Good
Vaginal yeast infections are extremely common. In fact, most women will have at least one during their lifetime.
Fortunately for many women, symptoms resolve quickly with the right medication and don’t return. But for others, yeast infections become a recurring problem that interferes with comfort, confidence, and daily life.
When yeast infections keep coming back, they often signal that something deeper is going on. At Feminine Urgicare, we help women understand the underlying causes of recurrent yeast infections, creating treatment plans designed to restore balance, not just mask symptoms.
Understanding vaginal yeast infections
Your vagina is home to natural populations of microorganisms, including fungi called Candida. Yeast infections happen when these populations grow rapidly, overwhelming the vagina’s natural “defense” systems.
Most yeast infections involve Candida yeasts, which is why infections are sometimes referred to as vaginal candidiasis.
Yeast infections can cause a variety of uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms, such as:
- Vaginal itching
- Vaginal burning
- Thick, white vaginal discharge
- Pain during intercourse or when urinating
- Redness, tenderness, and swelling around the vagina and vulva
Although you can pass a yeast infection from one person to another during sex, these infections aren’t considered “true” sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) because they can happen without sexual activity, too.
Why yeast infections keep returning
In some cases, what seems like a “new” yeast infection is actually a flare-up of the original one. If treatment isn’t completed exactly as prescribed, yeast populations may not be entirely eliminated, and that means survivors can start a new population.
This is a major reason why it’s important to use the full course of medication that’s prescribed, even if your symptoms seem to have completely resolved before the medication is all used.
Other factors can increase the risk of recurrent infections by repeatedly disrupting the vaginal environment. Long-term use of antibiotics is one potential cause of recurrent infections.
While important for managing other infections, antibiotics can reduce beneficial microorganisms that normally keep yeast populations in check.
Hormonal changes from birth control, pregnancy, or perimenopause can also shift the balance inside your vagina, and so can the presence of other vaginal infections.
Lifestyle and health conditions may play roles as well. Poorly controlled diabetes and immune system disorders can interfere with the vaginal microbiome.
For example, wearing tight or non-breathable clothing, wearing clothing that’s damp from sweat, or using douches or other vaginal products can all contribute to chronic infections.
Treating and preventing recurrent infections
It can be tempting to treat recurring symptoms with over-the-counter products, but self-diagnosing a yeast infection isn’t a good idea, especially if you have recurrent infections.
Bacterial infections and STIs can cause similar symptoms but require vastly different treatments.
Treating the wrong condition delays proper care that can eradicate the germs, prevent complications, and avoid spreading infection to others.
Persistent or recurring vaginal symptoms should always be evaluated by our team to ensure an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan so your vaginal health can be restored.
In fact, because recurrent infections often involve a variety of factors, most women benefit from a personalized treatment plan.
Depending on your needs, that might mean adjusting prescription medications, optimizing your diabetes management plan, addressing underlying infections or immune disorders, or changing personal habits, like wearing different clothing or eliminating certain vaginal products.
Treatment focused on your needs
At Feminine Urgicare, our goal is to stop the cycle of repeat infections, improve your vaginal health, and help you feel comfortable again. If you’re dealing with frequent yeast infections, early evaluation is needed.
To learn how we can help you manage and overcome chronic yeast infections, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus and Clifton, New Jersey, today.