Definition Of Yeast Infection:
A yeast infection is an infection that is caused most often by a species of yeast that is known as Candida albicans.Usually, the infection is limited to the mucous membranes and to the skin unless the person has a very weak immune system. The yeast grows well in moist and warm conditions and where skin comes together.
Common Types Of Vaginal Infections
Burning, itching, and an unpleasant odor are just some of the common symptoms of vaginal infections. But treatments vary by condition, so its important to know which type of vaginal infection you have.
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Vaginal infections and vaginitis, or inflammation of the , are very common so much so that most women will experience one or the other, and likely both, during their lifetime.
Symptoms of either a vaginal infection or vaginitis may include vaginal discharge, itching, burning, pain, and a strong odor.
While some vaginal infections are caused by sexually transmitted diseases, other very common ones are not.
Some women seem to be more prone to vaginal infections than others for reasons that are not entirely obvious, says Gregory R. Moore, MD, MPH, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Stamps Health Services at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.
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Do I Have Chlamydia Or A Yeast Infection
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Chemicals Allergies And Vaginal Irritation
Vaginal itching and irritation may be caused by an infection, but sometimes a different culprit is to blame: chemical irritation or allergies.
Women may also become allergic to certain substances, such as sperm, dyes, soaps, birth control products , and hygiene products. With allergies, the womans immune system overreacts to these substances, leading to vaginal irritation, itching, and burning.
Management of chemical irritation or allergies involves finding out which chemical or substance is causing your symptoms so that you can avoid it. Your doctor can help you narrow down the cause and give you tips on how to cope until the reaction goes away. Your doctor will also help rule out other possible causes for your symptoms, such as infections, decreased estrogen levels due to menopause, or skin conditions.
Vaginal irritation and itching can also be caused by other conditions, and some of these conditions can cause serious complications if they are not properly diagnosed and treated. Thats why its important to see your doctor to find out the cause of your symptoms and get appropriate treatment, rather than trying to treat the problem yourself.
Chlamydia And Yeast Infection: How Do You Get Infected
While yeast infections result from the unbalanced ph levels of our body, you dont get one from anywhere. Instead, vaginal candidiasis occurs due to leading a life with poor hygiene and overuse of antibiotics that mess up your metabolism, while chlamydia is mainly transmitted sexually.
Having multiple partners for those who are sexually active puts one at higher risk of getting chlamydia. Alternatively, if you had chlamydia in the past, it can recur even if you have undergone successful treatment.
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What Complications Can Result From Chlamydial Infection
The initial damage that chlamydia causes often goes unnoticed. However, chlamydial infections can lead to serious health problems with both short- and long-term consequences.
In women, untreated chlamydia can spread into the uterus or fallopian tubes and cause pelvic inflammatory disease . Symptomatic PID occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of women with untreated chlamydia.30,31 However, chlamydia can also cause subclinical inflammation of the upper genital tract . Both acute and subclinical PID can cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus, and surrounding tissues. The damage can lead to chronic pelvic pain, tubal factor infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy.32,33
Some patients with chlamydial PID develop perihepatitis, or Fitz-Hugh-Curtis Syndrome, an inflammation of the liver capsule and surrounding peritoneum, which is associated with right upper quadrant pain.
In pregnant women, untreated chlamydia has been associated with pre-term delivery,34 as well as ophthalmia neonatorum and pneumonia in the newborn.
Reactive arthritis can occur in men and women following symptomatic or asymptomatic chlamydial infection, sometimes as part of a triad of symptoms formerly referred to as Reiters Syndrome.35
What Else Could It Be
What if your , your discharge is different than usual, or you start experiencing pain when you pee or have sex , but your home test shows its not a yeast infection? There are a bunch of other things that can cause these symptoms. Unfortunately, all of these require going to the doctor to check out, because they dont have home tests, and most also require medications to clear up. Letâs learn about them!
One note about vaginal discharge. It changes throughout your menstrual cycle, and thatâs totally normal. It can range from no color at all to a milky white, and the amount can also change during your cycle â for instance, most people discharge more when theyâre ovulating, and of course, when theyâre turned on! So if the only symptom you have is more discharge than usual, you probably donât need to panic.
OK, now lets learn about the other things that itchiness and unusual discharge might be.
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Culture Of Candida Chlamydia And Cervical Epithelial Cell Lines
Candida albicans SC5314 cultures were routinely cultured overnight at 30°C in YPD . Overnight cultures of C. albicans were washed with sterile dH2O and counted before transferring cells to medium 199 at 37°C. Chlamydia trachomatis Serovar E and C. muridarum Weiss stocks were prepared in Hec-1B cells grown in bead culture as previously described . HeLa cells were maintained in Modified Eagles Medium supplemented with 10% FBS, and gentamicin . Short tandem repeat profiling was performed by the American Type Culture Collection to authenticate the identity and/or origin of all cell lines used in this study . All cell lines were tested for Mycoplasma by PCR and found to be free of contamination .
Yeast Infection Vs Chlamydia
Because yeast infection symptoms are similar to those of chlamydia and bacterial vaginosis, they can be easily confused.
One of the most significant differences between yeast infection and chlamydia is their spread. Candida overgrowth causes vaginal candidiasis, while chlamydia is among the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections. The two also have different symptoms. They differ in the vaginal discharge they cause, the itchiness level they create, and come with other various symptoms interchangeably.
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Immunofluorescence Assays And Confocal Microscopy Analysis
Methanol or formaldehyde-fixed samples were stained with BioRad anti-MOMP or LPS Pathfinder stain or with a mouse anti-Chlamydia MOMP antibody /rabbit-anti-mouse Alexa Fluor 488 combination. C. albicans was either stained with aniline blue or visualized by differential interference contrast microscopy. Samples were examined and imaged using a Zeiss Axiovert microscope and Zen 2012 software. Intensity of fluorescent staining/area was measured by imaging 5 random fields from triplicate experiment samples at 200× magnification using set exposure conditions. Confocal images of chlamydial inclusions were captured on a Leica TCS SP8 with Leica LASX software at 1000× magnification. Imaris imaging and Leica LASX software were used to analyze the images.
Syphilis Is An Insidious Disease
Syphilis occurs in three stages: in the first stage ulcers form, in the second there is a rash and inflammation of the lymph nodes, in the third the brain, heart and other organs can be affected.
An estimated 6.3 million people were infected with syphilis in 2016.
Syphilis can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or childbirth. In 2016, an estimated 200,000 stillbirths occurred among 988,000 pregnant women infected with syphilis. Syphilis is the second most importantcause stillbirth worldwide and can also lead to other adverse birth outcomes such as death of the newborn, congenital anomalies, prematurity and low birth weight.
The risk of syphilis should not be neglected if you are at risk or notice symptoms of the disease, you must undergo timely examination and treatment. Syphilis can be treated with a simple penicillin regimen.
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Whats The Difference Between A Yeast Infection And Bacterial Vaginosis
Infectious Diseases, Women’s Health
Sometimes vaginitisor vaginal inflammationcan be so mild you may not think anything out of the norm is happening. Other times, vaginitis is accompanied by pain and discomfort, which may point to a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis.
The problem? Both issues share common symptoms, which can make it hard to distinguish which one you are experiencing.
Rachel Urrutia, MD, an OB-GYN at UNC Medical Center and assistant professor at the UNC School of Medicine, explains the difference between the two and when you should see a doctor.
Otc Treatments Vs Seeing A Doctor
If you have had yeast infections before and you are certain that is what youre experiencing, then you should be fine buying OTC medications for it. If time passes and the medications obviously arent doing anything, youll want to see a doctor as soon as possible.
If youve never had yeast infections or just arent sure, visiting a doctor is the best option. Better safe than sorry by making assumptions when lab tests can easily provide a diagnosis and a doctor can treat you while also answering all of your questions.
Do you need a doctor you can trust to give you a medical diagnosis and provide treatment? We have an incredible team that youll feel comfortable with and that can assist you! Reach out to us today if youd like to schedule an appointment.
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What Is Yeast Infection
Yeast infection targets those areas where there is moisture and is unhygienic. Yeast belongs to the Fungi kingdom and is a eukaryotic cell type having a single cell with the presence of a nucleus in it.
It grows rapidly in those areas which have good moisture and warm temperature. Weak immunity is a big factor in the spread of yeast infections to other body parts.
Intake of unnecessary or unprescribed medicines and antibiotics may cause Yeast infections. Antifungal powders can be used for the cure of yeast infections.
A Word From Same Day Std Testing
Yeast infections and STDs are unpleasant topics, but ones that every woman should strive to understand. Knowing what to do if youre worried about your sexual well-being is the first step toward maintaining your health. If youre concerned about your condition at the moment dont wait another second. Call us here at or else find a testing location near you. You can get the tests you need performed today, and put your mind at ease knowing youve made the best choice for yourself and your partner.
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Im Pregnant How Does Chlamydia Affect My Baby
If you are pregnant and have chlamydia, you can pass the infection to your baby during delivery. This could cause an eye infection or pneumonia in your newborn. Having chlamydia may also make it more likely to deliver your baby too early.
If you are pregnant, you should get tested for chlamydia at your first prenatal visit. Testing and treatment are the best ways to prevent health problems.
Other Things It Could Be
If youve been having symptoms of a yeast infection for weeks and treatments dont seem to be offering any relief, you might be dealing with something else.
Yeast infection symptoms can resemble those of other vaginal health issues, so its important to make sure you know what youre treating before you choose a medication.
If you use antifungal treatments when you dont have a fungal infection, your symptoms probably wont improve.
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How To Test For Chlamydia
If you think you may have chlamydia, its best to get tested. As most women dont experience any symptoms, its crucial to do a test whenever in doubt. If for any reason you cannot see your doctor, you can order an STD test online.
MyLAB Box will allow you to take a vaginal swab and send it to a laboratory. Youll receive your lab-certified results within five days along with free medical advice on what to do in case you test positive. Go ahead and order your test kit today.
Chlamydia is fortunately easy to treat with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. The most common are:
- a single dose of azithromycin
- one week treatment with doxycycline
Make sure that during your treatment, you should avoid having sex and your sexual partner should get treatment at the same time. Its very important to start your Chlamydia treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated Chlamydia can cause:
- Fallopian tube inflammation
All of these conditions can have a very negative impact on your overall health as well as fertility. Once you know youve got Chlamydia, start your treatment promptly and stay healthy!
A Look At Yeast Infections
Most yeast infections are mild and can clear up within a few days with OTC treatment or prescribed medications. But others can be more severe and may take up to two weeks to clear. Some mild yeast infections can occasionally go away without any treatment and the help of home remedies, but more often than not, you will need OTC or prescription medications to treat the yeast infection.
If you choose to treat your condition with OTC medication or natural remedies and the symptoms dont go away, you need to see a medical professional who can diagnose and treat you. You may be dealing with something other than a yeast infection.
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Is This More Than Just A Yeast Infection
Two lesions on the patients labia arouse suspicion of a second problem. An STD expert tracks down a diagnosis other clinicians might miss.
This is the third of a three-part series on sexually transmitted infections. The previous installments appeared in the May and June issues.
A 32-year-old woman presents with complaints of vaginal discharge, discomfort, and itch of two days duration. In the past year, she has had three yeast infections, which she self-treated, with good response. She reports no other symptoms. Her menses are regular, with the last menstrual period two weeks before. She had a normal Pap smear at her annual visit six months ago.
When she was 20, she had chlamydia but has had no other sexually transmitted diseases . She reports five lifetime sexual partners and has been with her new partner one month. They use condoms most of the time for vaginal sex. Her partner is asymptomatic.
Her external genitalia are shown in Figure 1. On speculum examination, the vaginal mucosa is noted to be slightly erythematous and a white cheesy discharge is found. The cervix appears normal, without lesions or discharge. A swab test of the cervix is negative, and no friability is noted. A bimanual exam is normal, with no cervical motion tenderness. The normal-sized uterus is nontender, with no masses, and normal adnexa. There is no inguinal lymphadenopathy.
What Is Noninfectious Vaginitis
Noninfectious vaginitis usually refers to vaginal irritation without an infection being present. Most often, this is caused by an allergic reaction to, or irritation from, vaginal sprays, douches, or spermicidal products. It may be also be caused by sensitivity to perfumed soaps, detergents, or fabric softeners.
Another form of noninfectious vaginitis, calledatrophic vaginitis, usually results from a decrease in hormones because of menopause, surgical removal of the ovaries, radiation therapy, or even after childbirthâparticularly in breastfeeding women. Lack of estrogen dries and thins the vaginal tissue, and may also cause spotting.
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Is It A Yeast Infection Or Something Else Four Conditions To Consider
Vaginal concerns can be a common occurrence. Sometimes the cause is obvious such as changes in menstrual cycle, sexual activity or a new product you may be using. Other times, the cause is not as clear.
Since many have had a yeast infection before it may be easy to assume your recurrent symptoms have the same cause, however that is not always the case.
A vaginal yeast infection is a common fungal infection that causes burning, itching, discharge and discomfort in the vulvar and vaginal areas, said Jennifer Nelson, DO, an internal medicine-pediatric specialist at Banner University Medicine Internal Medicine Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Although its common, many other vaginal conditions can mimic a yeast infection but require different treatment. This is why its always important to discuss symptoms with your doctor to ensure that you are receiving the correct treatment.
As Dr. Nelson mentioned, there are a few common conditions that can be mistaken for yeast infections. She walked us through four other important vaginal health issues to consider when these symptoms arise.
Are There Free Or Pay For Clinics To Get Tested For Yeast Infections And Stds
- Free clinics in your area that can test or diagnose yeast vs STD infections may be located by contacting your local Community Health Center or simply by going to the internet and searching for free clinics in your area.
- Almost all pay clinics and urgent care centers can test you for yeast infections and STDs.
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When Can I Have Sex Again
If you were diagnosed with chlamydia, wait to have sex again until you have finished your treatment.
For some antibiotics, such as doxycycline, this means may need to wait 1 week to have sex, or until you have completed your prescribed course of treatment.
If you were prescribed a single dose of medication, like azithromycin, wait 7 days after taking the medication before having sex.