Don’t ignore that discomfort and constant itching downsouth, it may be something more serious than JUST an itching.
Candida or yeast is a common cause of vaginal infections. In addition to making you uncomfortable and constantly itchy, it can affect you fertility potential, if the infection goes beyond control.
There are several microbes, mostly harmless, that reside in our body organs and play their respective roles. Similar is the case of certain fungus like Candida which normally resides in the mouth, gut and vagina of all women. As long as their number is limited they are beneficial, but with overgrowth, they become a problem. Normally, the acidic pH of the vagina prevents the multiplication of Candida. But conditions like illness, menstruation, birth control pills causes a change in acidity of the vagina leading to increase in the yeast growth.
A study was conducted in 263 women of whom 217 were infertile, and 46 were pregnant, to detect if Candida can be a cause of infertility. Upon performing various serological tests, 122 women (56.2%) who were infertile were found positive for Candida infection, while 11 of the fertile women (23.9%) were found positive for the infection. Fifty-six women were treated with ketoconazole, to eliminate the infection. Five out of 56 treated women achieved pregnancies within 6 months of treatment. This study shows the link between the fungal infection of Candida and infertility.
Candida and Fertility
Your risk of infertility depends on the nature and severity of the infection. If the infection is mild and you get the infection once or twice a year, you can treat it easily by following certain home remedies and using antifungal medications. But you may have itching and slight burning during sexual intercourse. It would be advisable to avoid sex in this condition as the infection can be passed easily to your partner.
If the infection occurs regularly, the vaginal flora becomes unbalanced, making it harder for the sperm to reach the uterus. An imbalance in vaginal flora impairs the vaginal mucosa’s ability to fight infections or diseases, thus affecting your fertility. Frequent fungal infection also affects the pH of the vagina, making it difficult for the sperm to reach the uterus.
How do I know if I have Candida infection?
The biggest concern here is how we can know whether we have a fungal infection. Because the earlier you detect the problem, the earlier you resolve. You can perform the fungal test even at home.
Saliva spit test
After waking up early in the morning, spit saliva in a glass of water. Healthy saliva will be clear and floats on the top. But if you find projections moving downward in the water or becoming cloudy, it indicates a positive test for candida.
The other test is blood test which is usually suggested by your physician to detect the type of fungus causing infection.
How does the primary infection take place?
Below are the risk factors which can increase your chances of fungal infection:
- High consumption of sugars
- Repeated use of antibiotics and oral contraceptives- this reduces the immune system
- Tight synthetic underwear- causes yeast overgrowth in vaginal infection
- Excess alcohol consumption
Home remedies to treat yeast infections
Certain food and lifestyle changes may reduce your risk of getting infected with the fungi.
- Avoid eating white flour, rice, and sugar
- Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, and organic plain yogurt.
- Take garlic capsules as they improve immunity and resistance towards infection.
- Apply topical applications containing lavender, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil to relieve itching and burning.
If the infection does not subside with home remedies, seek your doctor’s advice. Usually a course of antibiotics that act against fungi would be enough for treating it.
Do not let Candida create havoc in your reproductive system. Be wise enough to prevent it; if you already have the infection, be smart enough to treat it!