According to experts, 50% of women will, by their mid 20’s, experience a vaginal yeast infection. Half of those women will suffer through 4 or more infections a year.
Vaginal yeast infections in 2002 alone cost women over a half a billion dollars on over the counter medications for this extremely common infection.
Vaginal yeast infection affects women with poorly controlled diabetes, immune system dysfunction, or women with immuno deficiencies more than most, and they seem to be the most at risk for recurrent infections. Depressed immunity may occur as a result of nutritional deficiencies, medications, pregnancy, or serious illness. Scientists know that since 1960, immune function in adults has declined by 25%.
There is believed to be some kind of t-cell lymphocyte problem that allows colonization by the mycelial form of candida in the vagina. Once established it begins to reproduce the spore form of candida, which as the ability to split itself in two and multiply at an astounding rate, it can double every hour.
It has also been proven that the normal vaginal flora is greatly altered in women with vaginal candida yeast and that many times candida can live right along side acidophilus without any problems.
Many women also have been found to have low zinc plasma levels, which reduces immune function. In some women it has been found that there is a defect in a prostaglandin secretion by the patients macrophages which blocks the proliferatory response of the lymphocytes that kill yeasts.
Other patients have decreased killing function by peripheral neutrophils, and deficiencies in IgA secretory component in vaginal samples. IgA deficiencies are very common and the condition is for life. Of course excessive glucose levels are a problem and this can be secondary to low grade bacterial infection
The immune system problems above have been clearly linked to estrogen dominance. In a scientific study done in 1999 by Paul L. Fidel Jr., Jessica Cutright, and Chad Steele of Louisiana State University, and published in the American Society of Microbiology in 2000. They found that progesterone has no effect on vaginal candida in mice but excess estrogen promoted its growth. They also found that excess estrogen reduced the ability of skin cells, and the t-cells that protect them, to prevent colonization of candida on the vaginal walls.
Estrogen is also responsible for glycogen levels in the vagina and glycogen feeds yeast. It has also been linked to breast cancer and reduced function of the Thymic gland. The Thymic gland helps immune system t-cells that are grown in the bone marrow mature. At a certain stage of t-cell growth in the bone marrow they migrate to the thymic gland to mature. Upon maturity of the t-cells, the thymic gland releases them into the body.
To find out if you might be estrogen dominant click here.
Diflucan is the most popular prescribed drug for vaginal yeast infections, and most doctors usually prescribe one to three tablets thinking this will solve the problem. 99% of the time it doesn’t, since the yeast has spread and become too deeply ingrained in the tissues where it actually hides from the drug. The infection disappears but usually always seems to return in a short time. Continued use can cause an adaption of candida where other species like candida glabrata take up residence, glabrata is more resistant to diflucan, almost immune.
Boric acid suppositories are also commonly prescribed and do kill all species of candida in the vagina unlike Gynazole-1 which does not, even though they claim it does. Send them an email and be persistent and they will admit that fact.
The problem with all these common medications is they in no way shape or form treat the cause of vaginal yeast infection. Even powerful anti-fungals can be hit and miss since there is no way to determine when to stop taking these drugs without testing. This problem is compounded by the fact fungi have the ability to build resistance to modern drugs like bad bacteria. All too often the yeast infection returns in a very short time, requiring more drugs. You continue on this vicious circle of relief, then flare up, not to mention some potentially dangerous side effects.
The taking of antibiotics is a major cause of vaginal yeast infection as well as intestinal yeast infections. Most of the time the yeast has actually spread through the anus to the vagina. Rectal itching is the most common symptom that confirms this is indeed what is happening but this can also indicate parasite infestation.
Women who wear synthetic pantyhose a lot, have three times the vaginal yeast infection rate of women who wear cotton underwear, due to the fact cotton allows the natural vaginal secretions to dry and synthetic materials do not.
Women are exposed to more chemicals than men due to commercially made cosmetics, facial cleansers and moisturizers, body lotions, and perfumes. All these chemicals within these products gradually wear down the immune system allowing yeast to eventually take control, usually after some kind of illness. They are also xenoestrogens and act like estrogen in the body.
The general consensus is that most recurrent cases of vaginal yeast infection are due from the transmission from the gastrointestinal tract and estrogen dominance. Allergies have also been reported to cause recurrent vaginal yeast infections and are usually caused by leaky gut syndrome which is positively linked to yeast infection of the intestines.
Another cause is sex with a partner that drinks beer. Beer is made out of brewers yeast and grains. These grains are usually moldy and not fit for food processing. The male that drinks beer can develop yeast infection of the skin on his penis. He has no problems with it and is totally unaware because the outside temperature of the skin is around 77 degrees, so it lies dormant. But once inside the vaginal canal, which is a very warm and inviting place for yeast to grow, it can become active. This can produce a vaginal yeast infection in the female very quickly.
Many women will have a vaginal yeast infection but absolutely no yeast cells in their stool, confirming that sex is most definitely the cause.
Some women actually misdiagnose a bacterial infection as a yeast infection, but the treatment is close to the same as far as safe and natural alternatives are concerned since they are caused by the same thing, a lack of good bacteria in the body.
