&lt;h1&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Is a Vaginal Yeast Infection?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A &lt;strong&gt;vaginal yeast infection&lt;/strong&gt;, also called &lt;strong&gt;vaginal candidiasis&lt;/strong&gt;, is one of the most common conditions affecting women&amp;mdash;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #0000ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543220/&quot;&gt;about 75% of women&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; will have one at least once in their lives.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Your vagina naturally contains a balanced mix of &lt;strong&gt;bacteria and yeast&lt;/strong&gt; (mainly a fungus called &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/vagina-itch&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;Candida&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;). Most of the time, this mix stays in harmony. But if that balance is thrown off, &lt;em&gt;Candida&lt;/em&gt; can multiply too quickly and cause an infection.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Though yeast infections &lt;strong&gt;aren&amp;rsquo;t officially &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/std-clinic&quot;&gt;STDs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, they &lt;strong&gt;can be passed between sexual partners&lt;/strong&gt;, especially during unprotected sex.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Common symptoms include &lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/vagina-itch&quot;&gt;vaginal itching&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span style=&quot;text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/vaginal-discharge&quot;&gt;unusual discharge&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, and discomfort&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;mdash;but don&amp;rsquo;t worry, it&#39;s totally treatable!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Causes a Vaginal Yeast Infection?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Here are some of the main culprits behind yeast infections:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Internal Triggers:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Antibiotics&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; These can wipe out the good bacteria that usually keep yeast in check.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hormonal changes&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Birth control, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can alter your vaginal pH.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Uncontrolled diabetes&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Elevated blood sugar levels feed yeast.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Weakened immune system&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Whether from illness, medications, or stress, a drop in immunity can open the door for infection.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Stress&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Chronic stress can throw off your hormonal and immune balance.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;External Triggers:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tight clothing&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Especially synthetic fabrics that trap heat and moisture.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Douching&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; This disrupts the natural balance of your vaginal flora.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Scented feminine products&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Including soaps, sprays, and bubble baths.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Unprotected sex&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Yeast can transfer between partners.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hot, humid environments&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Great for beach days, not so great for Candida control.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Common Symptoms of a Vaginal Yeast Infection&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some yeast infections are mild, while others can feel intense. Keep an eye out for:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Itching and irritation&lt;/strong&gt; in and around the vagina&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Thick, white vaginal discharge&lt;/strong&gt; (often odorless and &amp;ldquo;cottage cheese-like&amp;rdquo;)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Redness or swelling&lt;/strong&gt; of the vulva&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pain or burning&lt;/strong&gt; during urination&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discomfort or pain during sex&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tiny cracks or rash&lt;/strong&gt; around the vaginal area&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Say Goodbye to the Itch&amp;mdash;for Good.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h5 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Recurring yeast infections? We can help you find the real cause and keep them from coming back.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;h5 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/booking&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.eu-health.org/Files/Buttons/Booking-an-appointment-at-PULSE-CLINIC.png&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;33&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;h5 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get Long-Term Relief Now&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;h5&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h5&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How Is a Yeast Infection Diagnosed and Treated?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;When you visit your healthcare provider, they may:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Examine&lt;/strong&gt; the vaginal area.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Take a &lt;strong&gt;swab of vaginal discharge&lt;/strong&gt; for lab testing.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Treatment options may include:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Topical antifungal creams or suppositories&lt;/strong&gt; (inserted into the vagina)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Oral antifungal pills&lt;/strong&gt;, such as a single dose of fluconazole&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;OTC treatments&lt;/strong&gt; (some are available without a prescription)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your doctor may also advise on:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Avoiding scented products&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Switching to gentle, fragrance-free cleansers&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lifestyle tweaks&lt;/strong&gt; like switching to breathable fabrics or adjusting hygiene habits&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What If the Infections Keep Coming Back?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recurrent yeast infections (4+ per year) are frustrating but manageable.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Possible causes:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Previous infection wasn&amp;rsquo;t &lt;strong&gt;fully cleared&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Back-and-forth&lt;/strong&gt; transmission between partners&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Undiagnosed diabetes&lt;/strong&gt; or hormonal disorders&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Weakened immune function&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Overuse of &lt;strong&gt;douches or feminine washes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Use of &lt;strong&gt;other medications&lt;/strong&gt; that alter vaginal flora&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What your doctor might recommend:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Long-term antifungal treatment&lt;/strong&gt; (weekly for several months)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Testing for other conditions&lt;/strong&gt;, such as diabetes or STDs&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Treating your &lt;strong&gt;partner&lt;/strong&gt; if needed&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Reviewing &lt;strong&gt;hormonal contraceptives&lt;/strong&gt; or other meds&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Introducing &lt;strong&gt;probiotics&lt;/strong&gt; to restore healthy bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Prevention Tips: Keeping Candida Away&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Simple lifestyle habits can go a long way in keeping yeast infections from coming back:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wear breathable underwear&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cotton is your best friend&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Change out of wet clothes ASAP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Think gym gear, swimsuits, sweaty yoga pants&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Skip the douches&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Your vagina is self-cleaning&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Avoid scented soaps or feminine sprays&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Practice safe sex&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Yeast can be passed between partners&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Control blood sugar levels&lt;/strong&gt; if you have diabetes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Use antibiotics only when necessary&lt;/strong&gt;, and follow your doctor&amp;rsquo;s instructions&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Add probiotics&lt;/strong&gt; (in yogurt or supplements) to help support good bacteria&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Manage stress&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Your immune system will thank you&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bottom Line&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yeast infections happen to most women at some point&amp;mdash;and they&amp;rsquo;re nothing to be ashamed of. With proper treatment and a few prevention habits, you can kick Candida to the curb and keep it there.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If your symptoms are new, persistent, or recurring, don&amp;rsquo;t guess&amp;mdash;get checked. A simple visit to your doctor can rule out other conditions and get you feeling better fast.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Feeling itchy, uncomfortable, or unsure?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Don&amp;rsquo;t wait it out&amp;mdash;get checked out.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fast, friendly, and judgment-free care is just a call or click away.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.pulse-clinic.com.hk/booking&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://cms.eu-health.org/Files/Buttons/Booking-an-appointment-at-PULSE-CLINIC.png&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;33&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;h4 style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Recurring yeast infections? We can help you find the real cause and keep them from coming back.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

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