Many readers want to know on what causes candidiasis in women. Candidiasis is an infection of the body, caused by a pathogen from the yeast family called candida albicans. Candida is a part of the indigenous flora of the body, its numbers controlled by other neutral bacteria. They became infectious if their numbers explode more than the body or neutral bacteria can destroy.
When they have sufficient numbers, they send out roots into the body’s tissues to acquire additional source of nutrients and cause infection and inflammation. Several factors influence the sudden virulence of candida.
Main Causes
Poor diet
A diet composed primarily of refined flour, saturated fats and corn syrup causes high spikes of blood sugar which provides a good constant source of fodder for the sugar-loving candida albicans. Frequent fast foods, loaded pizzas, burritos, ice cream and sweets puts a lot of sugar, fats and carbohydrates in the body, which are converted into sugar and fats for later use but inadvertently spikes up serum sugar and lipids.
Frequent use of commercial feminine wash
Feminine washes are advertised as common and essential in feminine hygiene, but the vagina needs nothing more than mild soap and water for cleansing. These commercial washes contain strong antiseptic which besides irritating vaginal walls it kills a lot of indigenous bacteria which are responsible for acidity and suppression of pathogens. When this happens, it creates a room for the growth of pathogenic candida permitting them to grow, multiply and infect the vagina.
Frequent use of certain personal lubricants
Lubricants are essential for some women who experience vaginal dryness, and lubricants are helpful in enhancing pleasure during sex. But some lubricants like flavored ones use glycerin, glycerol or glycogen as thickening agent and as sweeteners. Glycerin and derived agents are converted into sugar by candida yeast. And frequent use of such lubricants can cause candida overgrowth. What causes candidiasis in women is frequent use of lubricants containing glycerin compounds.
Abuse of antibiotics
Many broad-spectrum antibiotics today such as amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and cefalexin sold as OTC drugs are used in almost any illness like viral colds, cough or even stomach ache without supervision of the doctor. However these antibiotics cause little improvement to such illnesses and instead kill good bacteria that protect the body from candida infection.
Management and remedies
These natural remedies are helpful in preventing overgrowth of candida in the first place.
- Replace usual fastfood items with fiber-rich options which provides lower glycemic index, preventing upward surge of blood sugar in the body. Examples of these foods include whole grain, leafy veggies and root crops like yams and sweet potatoes.
- It is not harmful to use commercial feminine washes, unless it is used frequently. Use feminine wash at least three times a week only. For daily feminine hygiene use mild soap and warm water and pat dry.
- Apple cider vinegar is a much better alternative for a commercial wash. Cider vinegar, besides containing natural compounds, preserves vaginal pH better and is gentle to vaginal flora. To use, dissolve two tablespoons of cider vinegar into a glass of warm water and use as douche.
- Pick your own personal lubricant carefully and choose those without glycerin, glycogen and glycerol. Also, minimize use of flavored lubricants.
Have a dose of probiotics everyday to keep good bacteria in your vagina in good shape. Probiotics can be found on yoghurt and related products. This probiotics crowds out other pathogenic bacteria to prevent infection, and it’s useful when you are on antibiotic therapy. I hope this article answers your question ‘what causes candidiasis in women’.
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