What is a vaginal fungal infection?
What is a vaginal fungal infection?
In the vagina live bacteria and fungi. That is very normal. There is a natural balance between the different types of bacteria and fungi.Sometimes your balance is disturbed. Certain fungi will prevail. A fungal infection occurs. Another name for this is candida infection.
What are the symptoms of vaginal fungal infection?
In case of a fungal infection, you may suffer from:- Itching in the vagina;
- White, sometimes crispy-yoghurt-like vaginal secretion without odor;
- A red, swollen and painful mucous membrane of the vagina;
- Pain or burning sensation, whether or not pissing or freeing.
How does a vaginal fungal infection develop?
The cause of a fungal infection in the vagina remains unclear. It does not come through contamination. But there is more fungal (candida) in the vagina than normal.The following factors may interfere with the balance between bacteria and fungi in the vagina:
- For hormonal changes, fungi sometimes appear to grow better. For example, around the menstrual period or during pregnancy.
- Thorough washing of your vagina with soap (also neutral soap) irritates the mucous membrane, which can increase the number of fungi.
- Antibiotics can kill certain types of bacteria in the vagina, giving fungi the chance to expand.
- Other medicines, such as corticosteroids, may also increase the risk of developing fungal infections.
- Women with diabetes are more likely to have vaginal fungal infections.
- Often none of these causes play a role and we do not know why a fungal infection occurs or regularly returns.
There is no evidence that wearing tight clothes, pantyhose or tampons increases the risk of fungal infections.
How is a vaginal fungal infection detected?
A vaginal infection of the vagina is usually recognized by the complaints (itching, burning sensation), the type of secretion (white, crispy-yoghurt) and the vagina's mucous membrane that is irritated (red). If you have no other complaints (such as abdominal pain or bloody secretion) a fungal infection is likely. Sometimes the GP needs to investigate the secretion to be sure.The first time you come to the GP with these complaints, he / she can do a physical examination. The general practitioner will ask you to dispose of your underwear and to lie to the research bank. Spread your legs a little and try to relax. The GP then gently spreads a spreader (duck or speculum) in the vagina to view the mucous membrane. If necessary, the general practitioner can take some separation for research with a cotton swab.
Have you ever had a fungal infection and you recognize the complaints? (Has any treatment with medication helped you?) Then you probably have a fungal infection again. This is more common. Physical examination is not always necessary.
What can you do with a vaginal fungal infection?
To prevent fungal infections or speed up recovery, you can do some things. Try to disturb the natural state of the vaginal mucosa as little as possible.- Rinse off the pubic area with warm lukewarm water when cleaning. That is enough. It is not necessary to wash you more often or better. The inside of the vagina cleans itself.
- Do not use vaginal rinse, soap, deodorant or other agents such as tea tree oil.
- These agents may irritate the vagina's mucosa. There is no evidence that they help.
- Also the use of garlic, probiotics or yoghurt with Lactobacillus Acidophilus does not help.
- Freeing if the vagina is still dry can irritate the mucous membrane.
- Take the time to get excited for sexual intercourse.
- Use a (neutral) lubricant if necessary.
- Avoid vaginal sex as long as the vagina's mucous membrane is still dry or still aches.
Medicines in vaginal fungal infection
A fungal infection often happens on its own.Have you recently had complaints of a white pomegranate yoghurt secretion and a lot of itching? And no bother of other complaints like stomach ache or bloody secretion? Then a fungal infection is likely:
- You can then wait for the complaints to proceed automatically.
- Are the complaints very annoying or do they last for a long time? Contact your doctor.
At the first time your doctor may investigate you. In consultation with you, the GP can prescribe a medicine.
Have you had the same complaints before?
Has any treatment from the GP been helpful? Then you probably have a fungal infection, which occurs more often.- You can then wait for the complaints to proceed automatically.
- If the complaints are very annoying, or keep them on for a long time, you can contact the GP or go to the drugstore for a treatment.
Medicine in the vagina
The GP may prescribe a vaginal capsule of miconazole. Bring it as deeply into the vagina as possible. You do this once, in the evening before going to sleep.Miconazole is only given to you on prescription. If the pharmacy has no vaginal capsule, you can use another form of administration or another antifungal agent (clotrimazole).
There are several antifungal agents (in addition to miconazole also clotrimazole or butoconazole) in different forms of administration (vaginal tablets, vaginal ovules or vaginal creams).
Cotrimazol can also be purchased without a prescription (see Self-care).
You usually use them for 1 to 3 days. The different forms of administration work equally well.
Apply a medicine to the vagina works best on days when you are not ill.
The vaginal treatment generally has few side effects: sometimes it gives a burning feeling.
A vaginal cream (miconazole or clotrimazole) can also be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
After insertion of the medicine into the vagina, the complaints may last for a few days.
pay attention
- You may not use Miconazole with some blood thinners (anticoagulants). Therefore, always read the leaflet first.- Vaginal antifungal agents may damage the rubber of a condom or pessary. If you have an antifungal agent in your vagina, a condom or pessary is not reliable. Only 3 days after application of the antifungal agent, a condom or pessarium will be protected as it should.
Self-care?
Everyone can buy anti-fungal clotrimazole (vaginal cream or vaginal tablet) without prescription, including women who have the first symptoms of a fungal infection. However, because some of these women eventually do not seem to have fungal infection, we recommend that everyone go to the GP for the first time. Even if the complaints come back and self-purchased medicines do not turn out to help. Or if the complaints change. Always read the package leaflet before use.Medication to swallow
What kind of medicine do you like? Then your GP can prescribe an antifungal medicine that you must take. You swallow once a capsule of fluconazole. This probably works as well as vaginal treatment. But there are also disadvantages. There is much more of the drug in the blood. As a result, more side effects are possible: gastrointestinal complaints, headache, taste change and rashes.In pregnancy or breastfeeding
Are you pregnant or are you breastfeeding? Then you can not swallow antifungal medicine. However, you may use miconazole cream or clotrimazole cream or vaginal ovules: insert deeply into the vagina for 3 days in the evening. In pregnancy if necessary 1 week.With itching on the pubic lips
If you have a lot of itchy dandruff, you can apply an antifungal cream (miconazole or clotrimazole) for external use: Apply the cream thinly twice a day until itching is over.In case of serious complaints
In a severe infection with a lot of redness, swelling and vaginal bleeding or vomiting, it may be necessary to use the medication longer or to repeat the treatment. The GP will discuss this with you.Partner not treated with me
Your partner does not need to use medication unless the partner has complaints. A man with a fungal infection can suffer from a burning sensation of the acne.A candida infection is not contagious or sexually transmitted (soa).
How is the vaginal fungal infection further?
A fungal infection in the vagina can not be harmful. The balance between bacteria and fungi is often recovered automatically. Follow-up of the mentioned advice helps.Sometimes it takes only weeks before the secretion and itch pass.
In some women, vaginal fungal infections occur regularly. Then discuss with your GP what you can do best. Or look at I often have a fungal infection in the vagina.
When contacting a vaginal fungal infection?
Contact your doctor:- If you first have complaints that are associated with vaginal fungal infection:
- (White, fragile secretion, red, swollen vagina, pain or burning sensation, whether or not peeing or freezing);
- If your doctor has detected a fungal infection and the complaints (with or without treatment) have not decreased after 2 weeks;
- If your GP has previously detected a fungal infection (and a possible treatment then helped) and you recognize the complaints and have not become less after 2 weeks
- If you have purchased medicines (clotrimazole vaginal cream or tablet) at the pharmacy or drugstore, and this has not helped adequately;
- If complaints persist
- If you also get other complaints (such as pain in the lower abdomen or fever);
- If vaginal discharge changes (see also When contacting vaginal secretion).
More information about a vaginal fungal infection
The information about a Vaginal fungal infection is based on the Scientific Directive for General Practitioners, the NHG Standard Fluor Vaginalis.>>> How to cure candida naturally and permanently ? <<<
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