Vaginal mycosis – causes, symptoms, treatment, diet, prevention

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Vaginal mycosis, also known as vaginal candidiasis, vaginal candidiasis or vaginitis yeast, is one of the most common infections of a woman’s intimate organs. It is also the only fungal infection that can be sexually transmitted. What influences the development of vaginal mycosis? How is it diagnosed and treated? Can the diet affect the recurrence of the disease? Here is all the information.

Vaginal mycosis – epidemiological data

Vaginal mycosis (fungal vaginosis, vaginal fungal infection) is a condition where affects a very large number of women all over the world. It is estimated that 75 percent. women at least once in their life go through fungal infections of the intimate parts. At least 50 percent. of them will relapse. Asymptomatic carrier fungi of the genus Candida (vaginal yeasts – they are responsible for the development of vaginal mycosis) affects 5–55% of the female population. American data indicate that mycosis of intimate places causes over 10 million visits (annually) of women to a gynecologist in the USA and over 500 million global consultations.

Vaginal flora

He lives in the vagina of a sexually mature woman more than 100 kinds of microorganismsboth aerobic and anaerobic. There are about 100 bacteria in one milliliter of vaginal secretion, of which they are the predominant lactobacilli, the so-called Doderlein sticks. Proper bacterial flora protects the vagina against the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms. When the number of Doderlein sticks decreases, the vaginal reaction increases towards alkaline values ​​and infection occurs. Estrogens are mainly responsible for the proper development of the microflora that protects the vagina. This is evidenced by the sterile vagina of a female newborn, which in the first 2-3 weeks of ectopic life resembles the microflora typical of a woman’s vagina, which is the result of stimulation of the development of lactobacilli in the newborn’s vagina by the mother’s estrogens.

Until menstruation begins, girls have no lactobacilli in their vagina and the vaginal discharge is less acidic. In the pubertal period, as a result of stimulation by estrogens produced by the ovaries, lactobacilli begin to dominate and account for approx. 96 percent. normal vaginal microflora. This condition provides the vagina with adequate protection against pathogen infections. In the last days of the cycle, just before the onset of menstruation, the vagina is the least moisturized and therefore more vulnerable to infections. The pH of the vagina increases during this phase of the cycle. The less acidic environment of the vagina allows an infection to develop.

The composition of the vaginal microflora in a woman during menopause is similar to that of girls before puberty – the number of lactic acid bacteria is reduced, and at the same time the vagina is more often colonized by gram-negative bacilli, which is influenced, among others, by Estrogen deficiency and thinner vaginal mucosa. It leads to imbalanceand sometimes complete destabilization of the vaginal ecosystem. The consequence is the uncontrolled development of undesirable pathogenic microorganisms.

Vaginal mycosis – symptoms

Vaginal mycosis, the symptoms are mainly on the mucous membranes, especially at the entrance to the vagina, there is a white coating on the labia, redness and swelling, accompanied by persistent itching, burning and discharge. Do vaginal discharge always indicate a medical condition and indicate vaginitis? Well no. If a woman’s vaginal secretions are milky in color or clear, odorless and slippery to the touch, they are a sign of health and part of a woman’s physiology.

The color and consistency of vaginal discharge changes depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. In the first phase of the cycle, by day 8, most women experience vaginal dryness. During ovulation, the mucus is abundant, colorless, and pulling, which protects the sperm against the acidic reaction of the genital tract. In the third, the so-called in the luteal phase, until the onset of menstruation, the mucus is thick and lumpy to protect the vagina from pathogenic microbes. However, if there is yellow or green discharge, they have an intense, often fishy smell, they may indicate a bacterial infection.

White, dense, cheesy discharge is a typical symptom of developing vaginal mycosis, as is the thin and watery discharge that gives the characteristic whitish sheen of the vagina and vulva. There also appear white lumps in the vaginacoming out cheesy vaginal dischargeand sometimes even green mucus and at the same time greenish discharge. The immediate cause of yeast infection is fungal growth with kind Candida(hence the name vaginal candidiasis). The most common pathogen responsible for 70–95% of infections is vaginal Candida albicans, followed by C. glabrata (5–10%) and C. tropicalis (5%). Very often, infection occurs as a result of a disturbance of the natural biocenosis of the vagina, which opens the way to the development of thrush and other infections.

Vaginal discharge is usually accompanied by burning, itching, soreness of the vagina and vulva, pain during urination and during sexual intercourse. If you notice symptoms that may indicate vaginal yeast infection, contact your gynecologist as soon as possible, who will apply appropriate and effective treatment after performing the appropriate tests. Until then, exercise sexual restraint and do not take any countermeasures to combat the effects of the infection, such as frequent irrigation. It is estimated that 5-55% of women the course of fungal infections may be asymptomatic.

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Vaginal mycosis – causes of development

The causes of vaginal mycosis are varied. Young women are particularly vulnerable to infections of intimate parts. The peak incidence of vaginal mycosis falls on the period of high sexual activity (17-35 years of age). Infection occurs when the microbiological balance of the vagina is upset. This is influenced by:

1. early age of sexual initiation,
2. intercourse during menstruation,
3. oral or anal sex,
4. the use of an intrauterine device and lubricants,
5. improper intimate hygiene (irrigation and the use of preparations for intimate vaginal hygiene that violate the vaginal microflora),
6. glucocorticoid therapy,
7. endocrine diseases, e.g. uncontrolled or poorly conducted diabetes, Cushing’s disease,
8. immune disorders (AIDS, steroid therapy, immunosuppression),
9. surgical procedures within the reproductive organs (hysterectomy),
10. irrational and inappropriate use of antibiotics that destroy the body’s bacterial flora (mainly antibiotics from the group of cephalosporins, penicillins and tetracyclines),
11. synthetic underwear (causing local increase in temperature and humidity), long baths with the use of sponges and washcloths, which can harbor mushrooms,
12. the use of tampons or scented panty liners, which may irritate the lining of the uterus.

They favor the development of clinical changes changes in the hormonal status of the organism (pregnancy, puerperium, hormone replacement therapy, combined hormonal contraception), dietary mistakes (excess sugars), iron deficiency, antibiotic therapy, glucocorticoid or immunosuppressive treatments, and diabetes, obesity, cancer, avitaminosis, coexistence of sexually transmitted diseases, stress and frequent use of public swimming pools and toilets. There are many factors contributing to the development of vaginal mycosis.

In men, genital mycosis can develop in the same way as it does in women. In men who have sexual intercourse with infected women, it may develop urethritis (discharge from the urethra with the accompanying reddening of its external opening). Moreover on the glans and foreskin white, small lumps or vesicles may appear, and erythema-exfoliating patches, prone to oozing, are often seen in the scrotum and groin. The lesions are accompanied by itching and burning.

Newborns born to mothers suffering from genital thrush are at risk of developing the so-called oral thrush. Therefore, during this time, try to take special care of intimate hygiene. If you notice a white coating in the vagina, milky discharge with an unpleasant odor, lumpy mucus, spots in the vagina (watery discharge may also appear), contact your doctor immediately.

Also, follow intimate hygiene lotions with the appropriate pH, which it is safe for pregnant women. Use condoms during intercourse to prevent transmission of harmful microorganisms. When you notice disturbing symptoms of vaginal mycosis, contact a gynecologist who will select the treatment so that it is not harmful to the fetus. During pregnancy, a woman’s immune system is weakened and infections threaten both the mother and the baby. Undiagnosed and untreated vaginal mycosis in pregnancy can lead to inhibition of intrauterine growth of the fetus, premature drainage of amniotic fluid, premature birth and even miscarriage.

Diagnosis and treatment of vaginal mycosis

In the course of vaginal mycosis, no changes in the pH value are observed (normal vaginal ph – below 4,5). Positive culture towards Candida in the absence of clinical symptoms, it is not an indication to start treatment because Candida albicans is present in the vagina of one in five women of childbearing age. Therefore, in order to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform a microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge and collect material for mycological culture. After diagnosing a disease such as vaginal mycosis treatment is based on taking antifungal drugs in vaginal tablets, globules or creams. The form of the administered drug depends on the medical history, the severity of the symptoms, the frequency of the disease, the previously occurring side effects and the possibility of the patient being pregnant.

The duration of therapy, depending on the preparation used, ranges from one day to two weeks. Oral treatment is used in justified cases. A man should also see a doctor; treating yeast infection in both partners is an essential condition for preventing recurrence of the disease. In the case of recurrent fungal infections, it is worth limiting the consumption of sugar and choosing products rich in vitamins and microelements.

The antifungal drugs used are divided into:

1. antibiotics (polyenes: nystatin, natamycin and amphotericin B),
2. antifungal antiseptics (iodine, phenol, sulfur compounds, alcohols, organic and inorganic acids),
3. chemotherapeutic agents.

The most commonly used are antifungal drugs – these include imidazole derivatives.

You can order Dermoxen BACTOR antibacterial vaginal globules without a prescription, which support the body in the fight against fungal and bacterial vaginosis.

Treatment of pregnant women struggling with candidiasis consists in taking:

1. in the first trimester – vaginally nystatin or natamycin,
2. in the second and third trimesters: local treatment as in non-pregnant women,
3. oral treatment of pregnant women is contraindicated.

Vaginal mycosis and period – treatment

Vaginal mycosis and your period? This is the question that many women with vaginal thrush ask themselves. Treatment should be based on taking medications prescribed by a doctor, but when bleeding begins, it should be discontinued (we are talking only about vaginal preparations) because their action will not be effective (the active substance will flow out along with the blood after dissolving). Further treatment should begin as soon as bleeding has stopped.

Research shows that supplementation with chromium, zinc, magnesium, selenium and silicon has a beneficial effect in the treatment and prevention of the further development of the disease. Herbs, mainly sage, linden inflorescence or nettle inflorescence, can also show some kind of effectiveness.

Vaginal mycosis and diet

Women who quite often struggle with mycosis of intimate areas should pay special attention to their diet. Some products can exacerbate the appearance of vaginal mycosis, mainly simple sugars. Their excess causes pathogenic microorganisms to multiply faster in the body and “attack” the weakened organism. In the case of vaginal mycosis, after the treatment, the body is weakened, which favors the development of re-inflammation.

Women, especially those struggling with recurrent vaginal mycosis, should avoid products and white bread prepared with white flour, sweet cakes, sweets, bars, sweet juices and drinks, especially carbonated, sweetened cocoa, flavored yoghurts, breakfast cereals with added sugar, sweet fruits (bananas and grapes). During treatment, women should also eliminate vaginal candidiasis from their diet milk products. They provide a kind of breeding ground for bacteria to multiply. This is because these products contain lactose, which is milk sugar, which promotes the growth of fungi of the species. Candida.

Well, you should give up yoghurts, milk desserts, cottage cheese and, of course, milk. In addition, the diet should not contain products rich in yeast, or those where they have been used in some way – wine, beer, pickles, mustards.

Products that should be eliminated from the diet of women diagnosed with vaginal mycosis:

1. highly processed food (instant soups, ready-made sauces),
2. yellow cheeses (especially fatty ones) and blue cheeses,
3. sprouts,
4. vinegar, mustards, ketchup,
5. large amounts of coffee and tea

Products that should be included in the diet:

1. whole grain products, preferably rye or spelled bread, oatmeal,
2. sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, linseed,
3. lean poultry and beef,
4. lean fish,
5. olive oil,
6. sour fruit,
7. eggs,
8. seasonal vegetables,
9. drinking water.

Sauerkraut and cucumbers are especially recommended, as they contain lactic acid that is valuable for women – they provide the body with probiotics necessary to repair the intestinal flora and genital tract.

If so, she gets diagnosed Candida ambicns in the vagina, the patient should carefully examine her diet in order not to exacerbate the disease symptoms and cause further recurrences of yeast infection.

In gynecology, probiotic preparations are usually available in the form of vaginal globules or oral tablets – of course, the patient decides about the form of use. However, it is worth remembering not to use the globules during menstrual bleeding, because the blood washes everything out and eliminates all the effects of the treatment.

Prophylaxis of vaginal mycosis

By following a few simple guidelines, you can reduce the risk of infection:

1. limit the number of sexual partners (the fewer partners, the lower the risk of infection),
2. avoid using vaginal irrigation, as it may destroy the natural bacterial flora,
3. do not use intimate deodorants or perfumed pads and panty liners,
4. use small amounts of specially designed liquids with a pH of 5,5, i.e. with a pH similar to the vaginal environment, which protect against inflammation and at the same time maintain the optimal pH, moisture and lubrication of the skin and mucosa. For additional protection, you can use preparations with the addition of lactic acid,
5. wash thoroughly (twice a day) and dry intimate places after bathing.
6. take care of the hygiene of intimate places,
7. do not use sponges or washcloths. Pathogenic fungi may persist and develop on their surface,
8. do not use soap used for washing hands or the whole body,
9. avoid long baths,
10. do not use other people’s towels and underwear,
11. in public toilets do not sit directly on the toilet seat,
12. avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear and underwear made of synthetic fibers,
13. reduce body weight if you are overweight or obese,
14. use prophylactic antifungal treatment with antibiotic therapy or when you use glucocorticoids, especially when you have recurrences of vaginal mycosis,
15. if you develop a vaginal fungal infection – do not self-medicate, consult your gynecologist.

It is also recommended to use proper hygiene of erotic gadgets, including their disinfection with special agents (e.g. MED Clean Spray Pjur erotic accessories cleaning fluid) that have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.